Mario Golf (series)

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Previous logos
Previous logos
Previous logos

The Mario Golf series is a series of spinoff games, known for bringing the Mario universe to golf. Starting on the Nintendo 64, after having spiritual predecessors on the NES, this series has crossed over to five different platforms and utilized system linking in fun ways. The Game Boy versions stand out particularly as they combine role-playing game (RPG) elements into the single player campaigns. It is the sister series of the Mario Tennis series.

All the games before Mario Golf were developed by Nintendo R&D2. Mario Golf and all subsequent games in the Mario Golf series have been developed by Camelot Software Planning.

Installments

Direct

Title
Cover, original release and system Synopsis
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)
File:MG64.PNG
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One of two titles named Mario Golf, the Nintendo 64 version was a 3D golfing simulator featuring the standard cast of Mario characters along with some new ones that have not appeared since. Players could choose to play through tournaments and special challenges in the single player mode. The meat and potatoes of the multiplayer side of the game were the strokes and match play modes. Special modes included a mini-putt mode (called "Putt-Putt") and a practice mode.

This game could link up to Mario Golf for the Game Boy Color (GBC) with the use of the Transfer Pak. Characters trained in the GBC version could then be played in the N64 version like any other character.

The game also had human characters like Harry and Plum.

Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)
North American (E3 1999) box art for Mario Golf on Game Boy Color
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Instead of attempting to best the technologically superior Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf, developer Camelot instead included a feature in both games that allowed them to interact. The premise of the Game Boy Color version was also very different. There were still tournaments, stroke play, and many other modes, but what stood this version apart was that much of the single player mode was played as an RPG. Players chose one of four characters and conquered the challenges of the golf world.

The game also featured a multiplayer mode and special free-play modes for players interested solely in the golfing portion of the game and those who had finished or wanted a break from the main quest.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
File:ToadstoolTour.PNG
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One of the first Mario spin-off titles to hit the Nintendo GameCube (GCN), Toadstool Tour took the basic formula of the N64 version and made only minor revisions. The main appeals of this version were the highly updated graphics and improved swing system. New guides on the interface showed players exactly how much power they needed to land the ball exactly where they wanted it. Players still needed to factor in the wind, the ball lie, and deal with their slicing or drawing the ball.

The game had the ability to upload characters from Mario Golf: Advance Tour via the Gamecube Game Boy Advance Link Cable.

Mario Golf: Advance Tour
The front North American cover for Mario Golf: Advance Tour
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Continuing the plot of Mario Golf for GBC, Advance Tour followed Neil and Ella, two fledgling golfers, in their quest to become world-class golfers. It was very similar in content to its predecessor. The game was very impressive from a visual standpoint, using pre-rendered sprites and Mode 7 scaling for the golf courses.

To top it all off, players could upload their trained-up Neil and Ella characters onto Toadstool Tour, along with their custom taunts and support messages which could be used in game when playing with a CPU or human controlled character. Also, based on the number of Best Badges earned on Toadstool Tour, new features, such as special versions of every hole in Advance Tour, could be unlocked.

Mario Golf: World Tour
Box art for Mario Golf: World Tour
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Mario Golf: World Tour is a recently released title in the series for Nintendo 3DS, produced by Camelot. It introduces a number of new features into the series, including gyroscope support, online multiplayer, Item Shots, and downloadable content. Like Mario Tennis Open, it features Miis as playable characters and unlockable outfits for them.

Indirect

Title
Cover, original release and system Synopsis
Golf (NES and Nintendo PlayChoice-10)
File:Golf Boxart.PNG
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Golf was made in 1984. This game is much older and less common than the next golf title for the NES. The Nintendo PlayChoice-10 version was only made in America. Mario was the only playable character in the game, appearing in blue pants and a white shirt.
Golf (Famicom Disk System)

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There were five separate titles made for this system. Golf was just a port of the NES version. Golf: Japan Course is a simple update to the 1984 original, although Mario is in his normal outfit. Golf: US course, released 6 weeks later, is more open, and a bird's-eye-view of the courses is not available during gameplay, making it a bit more challenging. In this game, Mario wears a blue shirt and red-and-white striped overalls.

Golf: Japan Course was involved in a major contest. After finishing all the holes, players had an option of saving their score. If the score was high, the score could be recorded into a special blue disk that came with the game and sent via Disk Fax to Nintendo in Kyoto. The top 100 scorers received a plaque with their names on it, as well as a golden Disk Card containing a harder golf course. 4900 other contestants also received the disk. This game is known as Golf: Japan Course (Gold).

The final golf game for the FDS is Golf: US Course (Gold), a harder version of Golf: US Course. While rare, it is unknown how these were originally obtainable. Although Golf: US Course had a contest similar to Golf: Japan Course, the main prize was a golden Punch-Out!!.

Golf (Game Boy)

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This Game Boy game was released in 1990. It was basically a port of the NES version. The player had a bird's-eye view of the course. Mario, of course, was at the tee.
NES Open Tournament Golf
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This NES game was made in both America and Japan, featuring Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Princess Daisy. Also, various other humans made their appearance, including Steve (beginner), Mark (amateur), Tony (semi-professional), and Billy (professional). In the American version, the graphics differ slightly, and the soundtrack has been changed.

A version of this game was made for the Nintendo PlayChoice-10 in America, called Mario's Open Golf.

Mobile Golf
MobileGolfBoxart.gif
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Being released for the Game Boy Color as well, this game was very similar to its predecessor. Mobile Golf was only released in Japan. Its main innovation were multiplayer games within a mobile phone network via a special adapter.
Mario Sports Superstars
MarioSportsSuperstarsBoxArt.png
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A Nintendo 3DS game that was released in March 2017. Golf, developed by Camelot like the main series, is included as one of the five sports available. In addition, Baby Luigi and Pink Gold Peach, both characters that have yet to be playable in the main Mario Golf series, are playable in this game.

Gameplay menu

In the five installments of the Mario Golf series, many gameplay menus appear. Below they are listed alphabetically.

Menu Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Mario Golf: Advance Tour Mario Golf: World Tour
Club Slots Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Connectivity Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Coin Shoot X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg
Match Games (Doubles) X mark.svg Check mark.svg1 Check mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Match Games (Singles) Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Mini Golf Check mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg
Near-Pin X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Point Tourney X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg
Ring/Gate Shot Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
RPG style Story Mode X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Sidegames X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Skins Match (Doubles) X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Skins Match (Singles) Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 Check mark.svg2 Check mark.svg2
Speed Golf Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Star Tournament (Doubles) X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Star Tournament (Singles) X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Stroke (Doubles) X mark.svg Check mark.svg1 Check mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Stroke (Singles) Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Tournament (Doubles) X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Tournament (Singles) Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Training Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
World Tournament X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg

1 - Only Dune Club in sidegame of Alternate Game
2 - Only Multiplayer

Course

In the five installments of the Mario Golf series, many courses appear.

Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Mario Golf: World Tour

Playable characters

In the eight installments of the Mario Golf series, many Mario characters appear. Below they are listed alphabetically.

Character Golf (NES), (FDS), (GB) NES Open Tournament Golf Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) Mobile Golf Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Mario Golf: Advance Tour Mario Golf: World Tour Mario Sports Superstars
Baby Luigi X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg
Baby Mario X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg
Birdo X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 Check mark.svg
Boo X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Bowser X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Bowser Jr. X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Princess Daisy X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Diddy Kong X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Donkey Kong X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Foreman Spike X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg
Gold Mario X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg3 X mark.svg
Kamek X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg
Koopa Troopa X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg
Luigi X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg1 Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Mario Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg1 Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Metal Mario X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2
Mii X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg
Nabbit X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg3 X mark.svg
Paratroopa X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg
Princess Peach X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Petey Piranha X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg
Pink Gold Peach X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2
Rosalina X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg3 Check mark.svg
Shadow Mario X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg
Toad X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg
Toadette X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg3 X mark.svg
Waluigi X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Wario X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg1 Check mark.svg2 X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg
Yoshi X mark.svg X mark.svg Check mark.svg1 X mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg Check mark.svg

1 - The character is unlockable, but available by default in multiplayer.
2 - The character is unlockable.
3 - The character is available as DLC.

Trivia

  • A golf course appears in the background of the Mushroom Kingdom stage of the Adventure Mode of Super Smash Bros. Melee, as a reference to the Mario Golf series. The Mario Golf series is also mentioned in Luigi's Diary in Paper Mario.
  • Mario Golf is referenced in the Death Note manga, when Ryuk asks Light Yagami if he wants to play Mario Golf.
  • In Nintendo Monopoly, there is a Coin Block/Brick Block card that rewards the player with $100 for winning a golf tournament.
  • This series defies many common trends regarding the stats that Mario characters tend to have. For example, Mario, a balanced character in almost every game, has one of the longest drives in every Mario Golf game, while his brother Luigi, who is also often balanced, is a weak driver but has good control over the ball. Wario, typically a power character, is a middle-class driver in this series. Princess Daisy, usually a technique or balanced character, is a power-hitter similar to Mario.

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