Mario Golf: Advance Tour

It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information.

Mario Golf: Advance Tour
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console (Wii U)
Release date	Game Boy Advance: Template:ReleaseVirtual Console (Wii U): Template:Release[?]
Language(s)	English (United States) French (France) German Spanish (Spain) Italian Japanese
Genre	Role-playing, Golf
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone PEGI: - Three years and older CERO: - All ages
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Input	Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Game Boy Advance: Gamepad

Mario Golf: Advance Tour is the fourth installment of the Mario Golf series and the Game Boy Advance counterpart of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour for the Nintendo GameCube. It continues the RPG-style of the Mario Golf series. It is advertised as being Role-Playing Golf. The game was re-released on the Wii U's Virtual Console in August/September 2014.

The game is compatible with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter.

Controls

Menu

• - Confirm
• - Back
• - Select
• - Left-Handed Character
• - Star Character
• - Change Clubs (once unlocked)

Field

• - Confirm
• - Back
• - Move
• - Menu
• - Change Clubs (in Menu Screen)

Golf

• - Start Swing/Choose Power (automatic)
• - Choose Power (manual)
• + - Topspin
• + - Backspin
• + - Super Topspin
• + - Super Backspin
• - Change Direction/Change Clubs
• - Increase Power Bar
• - Decrease Power Bar

Characters

The game features eight playable Mario characters in all, four of which have to be unlocked. There are also even more exclusive human characters that Camelot made for the game. The two main characters in Mario Golf: Advance Tour can be transferred to the Nintendo GameCube game Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour if the Player uses the GBA to GameCube link cable. Star versions of the Mario characters can be unlocked by beating them in a Character Match, which increases distance but decreases impact. Character stats can also be altered by using Custom Clubs that have been obtained in the Story mode. Character statistics are listed below.
Drive - How far the ball travels in the air for on a perfect shot with a driver (1W).
Trajectory - What direction the ball travels in when hit. For right-handed players, if the ball curves to the left, it's a draw; to the right, a fade; far to the left, a hook or far to the right, a slice, and vice-versa for left-handed players.
Height - How high or low the ball travels in the air. The higher the ball travels, the more affected by wind it is, the higher it bounces, and the more it is affected by spin. The lower it is, the less it gets affected by wind; additionally, it makes the ball bounce further, roll more and get more affected by lie.
Impact - The amount of the sweet-spot marker left for certain shots. Less makes bunker shots much harder to land and often results in mis-hits.
Control - The amount of movement away from the targeted spot when hit off the perfect impact point. The higher the amount, the less the ball moves from the target spot.
Spin - The amount of affect spin has on the ball. Having a higher amount will mean that the ball will roll further with the use of spin.

Player Characters

The player can select either Neil or Ella as their player character once the game begins. The character not selected with become the players doubles partner. Both characters names can be changed, within a 5 character word limit. Neil and Ella's starting stats can be changed by earning EXP to level up, up to a maximum level of 99. Leveling up will allow the player to increase shot distance, impact, control and spin, as well as straightening, lowering or heightening the trajectory of the shot. Listed below is the starting statistics of both characters.

white		white
Drive	205 yards	Drive	200 yards
Trajectory	+2 (Draw)	Trajectory	±0 (Straight)
Height	-1	Height	+3
Impact	+4	Impact	+5
Control	+4	Control	+6
Spin	-3	Spin	0

Quick Play Characters

These characters are usable for Quick Play in both single player and multiplayer. Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Waluigi are playable in a handheld console Mario Golf game for the first time after previously being playable in at least one home console installment. The characters originating from outside the Mario Golf series have unlockable Star versions that will dramatically increase shot distance will also lowering Impact. These can be unlocked by beating the character in a Character Match.

white		Peach		white		white
Drive	212 yards	Drive	203 yards	Drive	208 yards	Drive	215 yards
Star Drive	280 yards	Star Drive	235 yards	Star Drive	250 yards	Star Drive	285 yards
Trajectory	±0 (Straight)	Trajectory	±0 (Straight)	Trajectory	±0 (Straight)	Trajectory	-6 (Fade)
Height	+4	Height	-1	Height	±0	Height	-3
Impact	+1	Impact	+4	Impact	+3	Impact	+1
Star Impact	-4	Star Impact	+1	Star Impact	±0	Star Impact	-5
Control	-4	Control	+3	Control	±0	Control	-4
Spin	+5	Spin	-5	Spin	±0	Spin	+2
white		Joe		white		white
Drive	215 yards	Drive	220 yards	Drive	225 yards	Drive	230 yards
Trajectory	+1 (Draw)	Trajectory	+3 (Draw)	Trajectory	±0 (Straight)	Trajectory	±0 (Straight)
Height	-3	Height	+3	Height	-1	Height	+2
Impact	+3	Impact	+2	Impact	+1	Impact	+2
Control	+3	Control	+4	Control	+1	Control	+2
Spin	-1	Spin	+1	Spin	-3	Spin	±0
Unlock	Doubles Story Match #1	Unlock	Singles Story Match #1	Unlock	Doubles Story Match #2	Unlock	Singles Story Match #2
Tiny		white		Gene Yuss		white
Drive	260 yards	Drive	240 yards	Drive	250 yards	Drive	270 yards
Trajectory	+4 (Draw)	Trajectory	-2 (Fade)	Trajectory	-4 (Fade)	Trajectory	+2 (Draw)
Height	+4	Height	+1	Height	-2	Height	±0
Impact	-2	Impact	±0	Impact	-1	Impact	-3
Control	-1	Control	±0	Control	-1	Control	-2
Spin	+4	Spin	-2	Spin	+2	Spin	+3
Unlock	Doubles Story Match #3	Unlock	Singles Story Match #3	Unlock	Doubles Story Match #4	Unlock	Singles Story Match #4
white		white		white		white
Drive	206 yards	Drive	217 yards	Drive	209 yards	Drive	210 yards
Star Drive	240 yards	Star Drive	290 yards	Star Drive	260 yards	Star Drive	265 yards
Trajectory	-3 (Fade)	Trajectory	+6 (Draw)	Trajectory	+3 (Draw)	Trajectory	-5 (Fade)
Height	-4	Height	±0	Height	±0	Height	-6
Impact	+3	Impact	±0	Impact	+3	Impact	+2
Star Impact	±0	Star Impact	-5	Star Impact	-2	Star Impact	-2
Control	+2	Control	-5	Control	-1	Control	-2
Spin	-3	Spin	+6	Spin	+2	Spin	±0
Unlock	Transfer1a	Unlock	Transfer2a	Unlock	Transfer3a	Unlock	Transfer4a

¹ - Gain some experience in Toadstool Tour.
² - Collect at least 81 Best Badges in Toadstool Tour.
³ - Collect at least 27 Best Badges in Toadstool Tour.
⁴ - Collect at least 54 Best Badges in Toadstool Tour.
^a - Unavailable on the Wii U Virtual Console re-release.

Non-Playable Characters

• Buzz
• Helen
• Piranha Plant
• Boo
• Pokey
• Toad
• Toadsworth
• Koopa Troopa
• Klepto
• Blooper
• Monty Mole
• Grampie
• Grammie
• Daisy (Mentioned)
• Birdo (Mentioned)
• Diddy Kong (Mentioned)
• Bowser Jr. (Mentioned)
• Shadow Mario (Mentioned)
• Petey Piranha (Mentioned)

Courses

Name	Image	Description	Unlock Condition for Quick Play
Marion Course		Used in the Marion Tourney.	Unlocked by default
Palms Course		Used in the Palms Tourney.	Unlocked by default
Dunes Course		Used in the Dunes Tourney.	Unlocked by default
Links Course		Used in the Links Tourney.	Unlocked by default
Mushroom Course		Used in the Mushroom Tourney.	Beat the Mushroom Tourney
Elf's Short Course		A short, Par 3 only course with 9 greens and tees.	Complete Elf's Challenge in story mode. (Unlocks 18 Hole version)
Coo-Coo Course		A run-down Par 5 hole that Grammie challenges the player to beat.	Not available in Quick Play

Additionally, Star versions of the tourney courses can be unlocked to play in Quick Play. Each of the star versions of the 18 holes must be unlocked with separate conditions, such as completing a challenge in story mode or linking to Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. If a Star hole is not yet unlocked, that hole will be the regular version of the hole.

Score table

Course	# Scores for 1st Place	# Scores for 2nd Place	# Scores for 3rd Place
Marion Course (S)	+3	+4	+5
Palms Course (S)	±0	+1	+2
Dunes Course (S)	-3	-2	-1
Links Course (S)	-4	-3	-2
Mushroom Course (S)	-3	-2	-1
Marion Course (D)	+5	+6	+7
Palms Course (D)	+4	+5	+6
Dunes Course (D)	+3	+4	+5
Links Course (D)	+2	+3	+4
Mushroom Course (D)	+3	+4	+5

Game modes

It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: include more game modes

Story

The player plays as either Neil or Ella, with whichever character not chosen becoming the player's doubles partner, and enters golfing tournaments to surpass the greatest golfer, Mario.

Quick Play

Stroke Play

A standard round of golf. Settings include changing course, tees, number of holes and green.

Character Match

Compete against a selected character in Match Play rules.

Doubles

The player selects another character to be their doubles partner and can select to play Stroke Play, Character Match, 4 Slots, 3 Slots and Skins Match.

Speed Golf

The player must play a set of holes as fast as possible.

Club Slots

Using point tourney rules, the player plays on a course that they select but are limited to the clubs that they obtain by spinning a slot machine. Clubs are reset and the slot machine is spun each hole.

Go-Go Gates

On a select few courses, the player must hit the ball through rings and complete the hole in a par or better.

Near Pin

Only Elf's Short Course is selectable. Players are scored based on how close they are to the pin.

Training

The player can select on hole from any course to practice on. Wind speed and pin position can be changed.

Star Tournament

A tournament played on the star versions of the story mode courses.

Doubles Star Tournament

The same as Star Tournament, but played in doubles.

Collectibles

The unlockable characters as seen in the intro.

Throughout the game, several collectibles appear as items that the player may find in the map. They include 1-Up Mushrooms, Drinks, and Custom Tickets.

1-Ups

1-Ups increase the players level by 1. They can be found in various places.

Bottles

Bottles can be found in various places on the map. They increase distance by 3, 4, or 5 yards, depending on the drink. There are Muscle Drinks, Hyper Bottles, and Super Bottles.

Custom Tickets

Custom Tickets are used to order clubs from the Club Maker. Different Tickets give different Clubs that the Club Maker can make.

Custom Clubs

Custom Clubs can be made using Custom Tickets at the Club Makers Shop. These will alter the characters stats.

Reception

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
Game Boy Advance	Craig Harris, IGN	9.5/10	"Video golf might not be everyone's cup of tea, but no one can deny the amount of effort that went into the creation of Camelot's latest Game Boy Advance game. From its single player elements to its GameCube connectivity, to its Wireless Adapter support, it's impossible to list every single one of the elements that make Mario Golf: Advance Tour such an amazing GBA title; everything that made Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, sans the 3D graphics, good has been improved upon for the portable rendition. The GBA game is far more realized a golfing design than its console brother, offering an immense amount of challenge in its wonderfully constructed gameplay. Its mechanics are easy to grasp for those just looking for plug-and-play action, as well as incredibly deep for those who want a lot more control in their virtual swing."
Game Boy Advance	Lauren Fielder, GameSpot	7.2/10	"All in all, Mario Golf is an excellent adaptation of the N64 title, and it's a Game Boy experience that stands well on its own. The music is even reflective of the N64's - it varies, depending on how well you're doing, and it's constant without being annoying. The only thing missing, audiowise, are the taunts, and frankly, you'll probably do just fine on your own."
Game Boy Advance	Tom Bramwell, Eurogamer	8/10	"With Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Camelot proves it has that shrewd appreciation of what keeps people coming back to the likes of Toadstool Tour, Tiger Woods and the console Links - and also like those games it renders the sport with a degree of artistic licence. The result is a game that you can pick up and play, but won't necessarily be able to turn off and put down for several hours if you do, and the only drawbacks are that it sometimes looks a bit ropey, it doesn't quite manage to pull off the RPG idea completely, and the lack of a proper putting game detracts a little bit from the final few feet of every hole. But, in all honesty, if our SP's battery hadn't run down last night and the power cable hadn't proved elusive, we might have sat up in bed playing it until we had piranha plants burnt into our retinas. As it is, we're up at dawn to try and convince you to buy it. Well, if you want portable golf, just do. Ho-kay?"
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		84
GameRankings		85.41%

Staff

Main article: List of Mario Golf: Advance Tour staff

Pre-release and unused content

It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: tcrf:Mario Golf: Advance Tour has more info.

An earlier build features a different layout for the Marion Clubhouse than in the released game.

This section is a stub. You can help the Super Mario Wiki by expanding it.

References to other games

• Super Mario 64 - An arrangement of "Inside the Castle Walls" can be heard in part of the music on the Mushroom Course.
• Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour - The music and overall structure of Mario Golf: Advance Tour are similar to this game.
• Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) - Kid, Sherry, Joe, Azalea, Putts, Grace, Tiny, and Gene Yuss reappear in this game. Also, the story mode is nearly identical to this game.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Golf: Advance Tour.

• 

  Neil

• 

  Ella

• 

  Mario

• 

  The main characters

Media

Title Screen

File infoMedia:MGAT Titlescreen.oga 0:16

Marion Club

File infoMedia:MGATMarion Club.oga 0:30

Main Menu

File infoMedia:MGATMain Menu.oga 0:30

Marion Club Course

File infoMedia:MGATMarion Club Course.oga 0:30

Hole in One

File infoMedia:MGATHole in One.oga 0:30

Birdie

File infoMedia:MGATBirdie.oga 0:19

Par	File infoMedia:MGATPar.oga 0:19

Bogey

File infoMedia:MGATBogey-Lose.oga 0:20

Double Bogey

File infoMedia:MGATDoubleBogey.oga 0:24

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	マリオゴルフ ＧＢＡツアー[?] Mario gorufu GBA tsuā	Mario Golf: GBA Tour

Trivia

"Albatross" misspelled

• When the player prepares to putt for an albatross, the "Albatross Putt" text spells "albatross" as "albatoross".
• The BGMs played during the chance for getting a Par (or higher) and Bogey (or lower) are swapped compared when they are played in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
• Wario and Waluigi's voices are played incorrectly when selecting them in the character menu. Wario uses Waluigi's voice and vice-versa.
• Peach, Wario, and Waluigi all strike poses from a certain frame shot of their losing animations from Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour as their selection image. Peach and Wario use a frame from their bogey animations, and Waluigi uses his double bogey's (and lower).

External links

• The intro footage.