Harper Lin
Mario Golf 64, known in Japan as Mario Golf GB, is a 1999 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the successor to NES Open Tournament Golf and, although the first to bear the name, is considered the second game in the Mario Golf series. The game features four complete 18-hole courses, 11 golfers, and precise play control. Players can create their own golfer and build up their experience and skill levels by competing in various tournaments and head-to-head matches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | 30 June 1999 |
| Developer | Camelot Software Planning |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Platform | Nintendo 64 |
| Genre | Sports, Individual, Golf, Arcade |
| Number of courses | 4 or 6 18-hole courses |
| Number of golfers | 11 |
| Play control | Precise |
| Game modes | Speed golf, ring shot, mini golf, skins match, stroke play |
| Characters | Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario, and a few original characters |
| Connectivity | Transfer Pak to connect with Game Boy Color version |
| Sales | 37th best-selling game for the Nintendo 64, selling approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
Development and release
Nintendo initially began developing a golf game for the Nintendo 64, tentatively titled 'Golf'. They then recruited Camelot Software Planning to create a role-playing game, but Camelot wanted to make a simpler game to get accustomed to the Nintendo 64 hardware first. Nintendo was impressed with Camelot's prototype and cancelled their original golf game, assigning Camelot to develop Mario Golf 64 instead. This new golf game was announced in the February 1999 issue of The 64Dream.
Mario Golf is a 1999 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the fourth instalment of the Mario Golf series and is the first developed by Camelot Software Planning. It is the successor to NES Open Tournament Golf and, although the first to bear the name, is considered the second game in the Mario Golf series.
Mario Golf was designed to simplify the game of golf, removing its complicated real-life aspects. The gameplay is simplified to provide an easier experience while retaining common elements such as character statistics and variables affecting ball shots. In addition to traditional stroke play, there are other modes such as mini golf, speed golf, ring shot, and a skins match. Players can choose from a variety of characters, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario, and a few original characters. There are eight courses plus a training range in the Nintendo 64 version.
The Nintendo 64 version received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator website Metacritic. The game sold approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide, with 650,000 copies sold in North America and Japan, and 200,000 elsewhere. It was re-released on the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console in 2008 and 2015, respectively, and on the Nintendo Classics service in 2022. The Game Boy Colour version was also re-released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2012.
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Gameplay
Mario Golf 64 is a sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the fourth instalment of the Mario Golf series and was released in 1999. The gameplay is simplified compared to previous golf titles, making it easy to pick up and play without the complicated aspects of real-life golf. However, it retains certain elements such as character statistics and variables that affect ball shots, including wind strength and direction, rain, ball spin, and course topography.
Players can choose from a variety of characters from the Super Mario franchise, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario, Bowser, and original characters like Kid, Plum, Sonny, and Harry. Each character has unique attributes that influence their performance on the golf course. The game features four complete 18-hole courses, with each course having its own unique features and challenges adapted from the Nintendo world.
Mario Golf offers a range of gameplay modes to keep players engaged. In addition to traditional stroke play, there are modes such as speed golf, ring shot, mini golf, and skins match. Speed golf challenges players to complete a course or a section of it as quickly as possible, with the player's time recorded for each hole. Ring shot involves hitting the ball through rings placed on the course, while mini golf offers a more condensed and playful version of the game. Skins match is another variation of golf included in Mario Golf.
The game also includes multiplayer modes, allowing players to compete against each other or play alongside CPU players. The Transfer Pak accessory for the Nintendo 64 allows players to connect the game with its Game Boy Color version, enabling the exchange of characters and data between the two platforms. This feature enhances the gameplay experience by providing access to additional characters and content.
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Reception
Mario Golf, also known as Mario Golf 64 in Japan, was released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. It is the fourth instalment of the Mario Golf series and the first developed by Camelot Software Planning. It is considered the first game in the modern "Mario Sports" line.
The game received "universal acclaim" according to review aggregator Metacritic. GameSpot described the game as easy to play, praising its simple features and its ability to "remove the guesswork for gamers who are not familiar with the subtle nuances of golf". IGN also praised the game, stating:
> "When it comes to the intricacies that make golf the most loved and frustrating game on the planet, Mario Golf has it all. Challenging, but you will be drawn into it because of the nature of golf and your fear that the 'little cartoon game' is mocking you."
IGN also called the Game Boy Colour version of the game "an absolutely brilliant rendition of golf, and a perfect game for the go". In Japan, Famitsu gave both versions of the game a score of 30/40.
Mario Golf sold approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide, with 650,000 copies sold in North America and Japan, and 200,000 elsewhere. It was re-released as a Nintendo 64 "Player's Choice" title and has since been re-released multiple times on other Nintendo consoles.
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Characters
Mario Golf 64, released in 1999, features 14 playable characters, including classic Mushroom Kingdom characters and one-off human characters. Only four characters are unlocked at the beginning of the game, and players must defeat the locked characters in the Get Character mode to unlock them.
The characters available in the game include Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Baby Mario, Wario, Bowser, Plum, Kid, Azalea, Sherry, Joe, Putts, Grace, Tiny, and Gene. Players can also unlock four additional characters by using the Transfer Pak to transfer game data from the Game Boy Color version of the game. These characters include Kid, Azalea, Sherry, and Joe.
Each character in the game has three alternate outfits that players can choose from. Additionally, players can make their golfer play left-handed by holding down the L button while selecting their character. Players can also make their characters taunt or cheer by pressing different directions on the D-pad or the C buttons while waiting for their turn.
Mario Golf 64 offers a variety of gameplay modes, such as speed golf, ring shot, mini golf, and skins match. The game simplifies the complexities of golf, making it accessible to players unfamiliar with the sport while retaining elements like character statistics and variables affecting ball shots, such as wind strength, direction, rain, and character attributes.
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Re-releases
Mario Golf 64, the 37th best-selling game for the Nintendo 64, was first released in 1999. Since then, it has been re-released multiple times on different platforms.
In 2008, the Nintendo 64 version of the game was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console. Seven years later, in 2015, the game was re-released on the Wii U Virtual Console. The game was also re-released as part of the Nintendo Classics service in 2022.
In addition to these re-releases, Mario Golf 64 was made available to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers in April 2022. This allowed players to access the game through the Nintendo 64 games library by updating the N64 app to version 2.2.0.
The game has received multiple re-releases, ensuring that modern gamers can still experience the classic Mario Golf 64 on newer platforms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mario Golf 64 was released on 26 July 1999.
The game was released on the Nintendo 64.
The game was developed by Camelot Software Planning.
Mario Golf 64 is a golf game featuring characters from the Super Mario franchise.
