Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

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This article is about the Nintendo 64 game named Mario Golf. For the Game Boy Color game of the same name, see Mario Golf (Game Boy Color). For the Mario Golf series, see Mario Golf (series).

Mario Golf
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online
Release date	Nintendo 64: Template:Release Virtual Console (Wii): Template:Release Virtual Console (Wii U): Template:Release Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online: Template:Release[?]
Language(s)	English (United States) Japanese
Genre	Golf
Rating(s)	ESRB: - Everyone CERO: - All ages ACB: - General USK: - All ages
Mode(s)	Single-player 1-4 player multiplayer
Format	Nintendo 64: Game Pak Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download Nintendo Switch: Digital download
Input	Nintendo 64: Nintendo 64 Controller Wii: Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Nintendo 64 Controller
Serial code(s)	NUS-NMFJ-JPN (Japan)

Mario Golf is the first installment for the Mario Golf series to be developed by Camelot Software Planning. It was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. Though several sports games featured Super Mario characters in the past, Mario Golf is considered the first game in the modern "Mario Sports" line. It would be followed by several titles encompassing a variety of sports. Its Game Boy Color counterpart was released later that same year.

The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008 and the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2015, and was released on Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online on April 15, 2022.

Introduction

Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Plum are making some shots on the golf course. As each of them make their shots, their names appear on screen. They are each complimented for their amazing shots, as they each try to make a hole in one. Later, as the four are fetching their balls, Mario already spots his ball. Peach then calls Mario over to see if the ball in front of her is hers. Mario checks to see, but the ball actually belongs to Yoshi (or Donkey Kong). Another ball suddenly zooms in, and the ball turns out to be Baby Mario's. Yoshi carries Baby Mario on his back (or Donkey Kong would carry Baby Mario), as their names appear on screen, surprising Mario and Peach, who laugh it off. Luigi then looks for his ball, but soon spots it, while spotting Toad with an O.B flag in the process. Luigi slaps his face, and shrugs, not knowing that Mario, Peach, and Plum are standing around him, laughing. Lakitu then flies by, as the game's logo appears on screen.

Gameplay

Mario Golf is a golf game which combines largely traditional mechanics and gameplay devices with a presentation from the Super Mario universe, featuring the Super Mario franchise roster and hazards.

The basic gameplay uses the typical "sliding bar" mechanism of most golf video games, with several variables which must be anticipated, such as character attributes, wind strength and direction, rain, ball spin, and course topography. The gameplay modes include speed golf, ring shot, mini golf and skins match. The sun sets when the player gets to the last six holes of the main courses, in any mode.

Players can play most of the multiplayer modes with CPU players by selecting a character and pressing while holding down . However, Club Slots and Mini-Golf do not allow CPU players.

In this game, the golf ball makes a different sound when it bounces on the green than when it bounces on the fairway. In later games, both terrains produce the same sound for the ball.

Scores

Depending on how many strokes the player required to take to hit the ball into the hole, players receive a score and a name for the score. The following is a list of them, from best to worst scores:

Name	Image	Description
Hole-in-One		The player has sunk the ball in the hole with one stroke. It is the easiest to receive in Par 3 holes, though possible in Par 4 or 5 holes as well.
Albatross		The player has sunk the ball three below par. It is possible to receive only in Par 5 holes.
Eagle		The player has sunk the ball two below par. It is most common on Par 5 holes, although it is possible to get on some Par 4 holes.
Birdie		The player has sunk the ball one below par. It is the lowest score in tournament mode that gets the player birdie badges.
Par		The player has sunk the ball without taking any extra strokes or having less strokes.
Bogey or more		The player has sunk the ball above par. When players have scored worse than a Bogey, a number indicating the number of extra strokes taken is shown instead.

Game modes

Mario Golf features 10 game modes:

Tournament

• Number of Players: 1

This mode consists of a tournament between the human player and 29 computer players in an 18-hole course (though the computer players aren't seen except in the leaderboards). Despite this, there are only 14 playable characters in this game. The CPU player names range from characters from franchises such as Super Mario to The Legend of Zelda to Star Fox, as well as the first names of real people, usually localisers and voice actors. The player's objective is to finish the tournament in the top three positions to earn a Trophy. The player earns the most Course Points when they finish a tournament in 1st place. Birdie Badges can also be earned by finishing a hole with Birdie or better. While selecting a tournament, Boo Classic is misspelled as "Boo Clasic". While continuing a hole on either the Yoshi Championship or the Boo Classic, their tournament names will also be swapped.

Get Character

• Number of Players: 1

The player competes in a Match Game against another computer player. In this game, the player with the fewest strokes gets a point. However, if the player in the lead wins enough points that they would be mathematically ahead even after losing all remaining matches, the game will end early. If the game is tied after 18 holes, Sudden Death starts. If the player wins, they unlock that character.

Ring Shot

• Number of Players: 1

The player must shoot the ball through all rings while finishing at par or better. If the player does not make par, they must restart the hole from the beginning. There are six Ring Shot holes for each of the six courses, making a total of 36 holes. A new course is unlocked in Ring Shot after completing 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 holes. If 30 holes are completed, Donkey Kong is unlocked as a playable character. One Power Shot is allowed for each hole.

Speed Golf

Wario beginning a round of Speed Golf

• Number of Players: 1

The player must finish all 18 holes as fast as possible.

Stroke Play

• Number of Players: 1-4 (CPU allowed)

A standard game of golf. The winner is the player with the fewest total strokes.

Mini-Golf

• Number of Players: 1-4 (CPU not allowed)

Like Stroke Play, but in mini-golf courses. Despite the rules being the same, CPU characters cannot be played against. The player selects from two courses, and each hole is par 3. It has three settings: Green (green-themed with a normal ball speed), Slow (blue-themed with a low ball speed), and Fast (red-and-yellow-themed with a high ball speed). Luigi's Garden has the first nine holes looking like numbers 1 to 9 and the last nine holes looking like letters A to I. The first 17 holes of Peach's Castle look like the rest of the alphabet letters and Hole 18 resembles a question mark. In Training, Mini-Golf courses do not play the Training BGM and instead play their own.

Training

Driving Range logo.

• Number of Players: 1

The player can play any course and hole, as well as change the weather settings. Driving Range is only available in this mode.

Match Play

• Number of Players: 2 (CPU allowed)

Like Get Character, but with two players and there are no characters to be unlocked.

Skins Match

• Number of Players: 2-4 (CPU allowed)

The winner of the hole gets a point. In a tie, the points are carried over. The winner is the one with the most points.

Club Slots

• Number of Players: 2-4 (CPU not allowed)

Like Skins Match, but with randomized clubs (though the player can use the putter at any time). Despite the objective being the same, CPU players cannot participate.

Interactions with Mario Golf for Game Boy Color

Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 has the ability to link and exchange data with Game Boy Color version of the same game. With the use of the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak, the player can use the characters: Kid, Azalea, Sherry, and/or Joe from the Game Boy Color version to play through the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf. The unlockable characters from the Game Boy Color version: Putts, Grace, Tiny, and Gene are not transferrable.

Courses

There are eight courses plus a training range in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf. They are:

1.	Toad Highlands
	Toad Tournament
2.	Koopa Park
	Koopa Cup
3.	Shy Guy Desert
	Shy Guy International
4.	Yoshi's Island
	Yoshi Championship
5.	Boo Valley
	Boo Clasic[sic]
6.	Mario's Star
	Mario Open
A.	Luigi's Garden
B.	Peach's Castle
Driving Range

Mario's Star Holes

• Hole 1 - Yoshi
• Hole 2 - Boo
• Hole 3 - Wiggler
• Hole 4 - Cheep Cheep
• Hole 5 - Thwomp
• Hole 6 - Lakitu
• Hole 7 - Shy Guy
• Hole 8 - Piranha Plant
• Hole 9 - Bowser
• Hole 10 - Koopa Troopa
• Hole 11 - Bullet Bill
• Hole 12 - Toad
• Hole 13 - Goomba
• Hole 14 - Chain Chomp
• Hole 15 - Blooper
• Hole 16 - Princess Peach
• Hole 17 - Bob-omb
• Hole 18 - Mario and Luigi

Characters

Playable

Kid about to be transferred from the Game Boy Color version.

The following is a list of default characters in the order of which they are unlocked, with Plum, Charlie, Peach, and Baby Mario being available from the start. Each character has three alternate colors to choose from (similar to the alternate costumes in Super Smash Bros.) (players can choose the colors by using the , , and ), and each character can be chosen multiple times if there is more than one player. Plum, Charlie, Sonny, Harry, and Maple make their first appearances in any game, while Metal Mario is absent from the Japanese version.

Kid, Joe, Sherry, and Azalea can also be unlocked through a Transfer Pak. In the Virtual Console port and Nintendo Switch Online, the Transfer Pak feature to transfer these characters from the Game Boy Color version was removed.

Default characters
Plum "For a beginner, Plum has a good shot, but she could use a little more power." Drive: 208 yards Shot: Low and Straight Nice Shot Effect: Ray			Charlie "Charlie started playing golf just to be cool, but now he's hooked. His ability, however, is the real question..." Drive: 210 yards Shot: Low Fade Nice Shot Effect: Ray			Peach "Peach is an easy-to-play character. She lacks power but shoots straight." Drive: 212 yards Shot: High and Straight Nice Shot Effect: Ray			Baby Mario "Baby Mario has a powerful swing for someone who's shorter than most clubs!" Drive: 215 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Fireball
Default multiplayer characters (unlockable in single-player)
Luigi "Always in the shadow of Mario, Luigi's fade ball forms the core of his attack." Drive: 220 yards Shot: Low Fade Nice Shot Effect: Ray To unlock: Character Match #1				Yoshi "Yoshi handles his clubs skillfully for nice, straight shots." Drive: 230 yards Shot: Standard Straight Nice Shot Effect: Rainbow To unlock: Character Match #2				Sonny "A bright and happy golfer, Sonny is very talented and sticks to a traditional play style." Drive: 240 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Ray To unlock: Character Match #3
Wario "Wario's distinct club-wiggling play is backed by a smooth and powerful swing." Drive: 250 yards Shot: Low Fade Nice Shot Effect: Thunder To unlock: Character Match #4				Harry "Totally confident in his play, Harry's philosophy is "If I play my best game, I'll win!" Drive: 260 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Ray To unlock: Character Match #5				Mario "Mario is a popular character who boasts a highly-refined technique. He's always anxious to get out on the course!" Drive: 270 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Fireball To unlock: Character Match #6
Unlockable characters
Maple "This energetic gal is the best female player on the circuit." Drive: 245 yards Shot: High and Straight Nice Shot Effect: Ray To unlock: Collect 50 Birdie Badges.				DK "With strength on his side, DK only needs one hand to swing his club around like a twig!" Drive: 275 yards Shot: Low Fade Nice Shot Effect: Rainbow To unlock: Collect 30 Stars in Ring Shots.				Bowser "Bowser can boast the most power on the course. Just looking at his massive girth is enough to blow you away!" Drive: 280 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Flame Ray To unlock: Character Match #7
Western-only characters
Metal Mario Drive: 285 yards Shot: High Draw Nice Shot Effect: Fireball To unlock: Collect All 108 Birdie Badges.
Transfer Pak characters
Kid "A vibrant, active young boy. Kid's been playing golf since he could walk, resulting in an impressive golf technique for someone his age." Initial drive: 202 yards Initial shot: High Draw			Joe "King of the dance floor, Joe brings the rhythm and stamina he's gained as a dancer and applies it to his golf game!" Initial drive: 205 yards Initial shot: High and Straight			Sherry "Sherry's mother got her started playing golf, but her talent makes it clear that she's not just appeasing her mother." Initial drive: 200 yards Initial shot: High Draw			Azalea "A former track star, Azalea's competitive spirit has put her at the top of her class!" Initial drive: 204 yards Initial shot: Low Fade

Non Playable

Boo		Boo points in what direction the wind blows, and marks how fast it goes.
Bubba and Cheep Cheep		One of these two fish may appear if the ball goes into a water hazard.
Goomba		A Goomba appears from out of the hole if the ball is sunk from at least 30 metres/90 feet.
Fly Guy		Fly Guy is shown being blown around when starting holes with strong winds.
Lakitu		Lakitu holds a camera to use when viewing ahead far distances. He also holds a light at the beginning of Speed Golf.
Monty Mole		Monty Mole pops out of the hole to look around if the ball is sunk from at least 10 metres/30 feet.
Toad		Toad appears waving a flag when the ball is shot out of bounds.
Ukkiki		Ukkiki slides down the pole when a pin shot is made.

Tournament board names

These appear intermixed with playable character names in the leaderboard in Tournament mode. Many are cameos and other references, including to real-life employees and associates of Nintendo at the time.

Andy Andross Armond Baby Bowser Big Bob-Omb Big Mr. I. Big Penguin Bill Bloober Bob-Omb Bonooru Boo Bub Bubba Buzzy Chain Chomp Charles Cheep Cheep Chill Bully Christian Chuckya Colin Dampe Darunia David Deku Scrub

Dex Dorie Ed Erich Falco L. Faran Fire Bros. Fly Guy Fox Gail Goomba Goron Kid Greg Haley Hammer Bros. Henry Ingo Inpa Jen Jessica Kate Ken King Zora Kobe Koopa Lakitu

Larry Lemmy Link Ludwig Malon Mark McCloud Michael Michelle Mido Mike Monty Mole Morton Mr. I. Nabooru Navi Paratroopa Pauline Penn Phil Pidgit Pierre Pigma Podoboo P. Zelda Rauru

Red Beezo Rex Rutooo Saria Scuttle Bug Sheik Shy-Guy Skull Kid Sledge Bros. Slippy Snifit Spike Spiny Star Wolf Sumo Bros. Talon Terry Tim Toad Tom Ukkiki Unagi Wendy O. Whomp Wiggler

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Golf (Nintendo 64).

• 

  Mario

• 

  Luigi

• 

  Princess Peach

• 

  Yoshi

• 

  Baby Mario

• 

  Wario

• 

  DK

• 

  Bowser

Quotes

Main article: List of quotes from the Mario Golf series § Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

Staff

Main article: List of Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) staff

Reception

Mario Golf garnered generally favorable reviews. GameSpot describes the game as easy to play, by having simple features and by "removing the guesswork for gamers who are not familiar with the subtle nuances of golf" that may put off many players. IGN stated "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".

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
N64	Aaron Boulding, IGN	8.3/10	"Mario Golf is fun, plain and simple. It's better than Waialea Country Club hands down, offering a much richer game of golf. While I eventually learned to tune out the cartoon-style characters and focus on the tougher parts of the game, it may be tough to reel-in those 19 year-olds like Nintendo wanted because it just doesn't look like a game they'd enjoy. That's too bad because there's plenty of fun underneath all of those layers. There are better sports games out there to be sure, but right now, Mario Golf should be the golfing game of choice."
N64	James Mielke, GameSpot	8.7/10	"Although Mario Golf is a little on the cutesy side, anyone who wants a great golf game need look no further. There really isn't much of a choice, even if there were, Mario Golf would likely be your best bet anyway. This is a top-quality golf game, despite the cartoony premise. Anyone who would turn a blind eye to Mario Golf because of its exterior qualities will be missing perhaps the best golf game on a console. With an extensive amount of options in either single-player or multiplayer, Mario Golf is the game that will keep on giving. It's not like golf games suffer from the need to update on a yearly basis, like, say, hockey games. Therefore, to say that this game has lasting power would be an understatement. While a true golf fanatic would certainly enjoy this, perhaps the most important thing is that it's user friendly enough to appeal to the masses. As far as golf games go, and as a game in general, Mario Golf comes highly recommended."
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		91
GameRankings		87.32%

Sales

Mario Golf is the 37th best-selling game for the Nintendo 64, selling approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide - 650,000 copies each in North America and Japan, and 200,000 elsewhere - and it would later be re-released as a Nintendo 64 "Player's Choice" title.

References to other games

• Super Mario Bros. - One of Bowser's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the green skin that Bowser had in his first appearance. A cover version of the overworld theme plays in Mario's Star and during part of the credits. A cover version of the underground theme is heard during the player's attempt to score a birdie.
• Super Mario World - Yoshi's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the Red Yoshi, the Blue Yoshi, and the Yellow Yoshi.
• NES Open Tournament Golf - One of Peach's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is her green dress and Daisy's blue dress.
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - Yoshi's sound effects were taken from this game.
• Super Mario 64 - Names of several characters in this game appear on the score Board, and many sound effects from this game such as camera change are used. Also Metal Mario is playable and has the same sound effects. Mario's Hole-in-one animation is the same as his victory animation from this game.
• Wario Land II and Wario Land 3 - One of Wario's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the monochromatic outfit he wears throughout these games, despite the fact that that outfit is a product of technical limitations, not artistic choice.
• Mario Party - Many of the sound effects from Mario Party, such as "menu select", "go back", "your turn", "pause", and "not available", are used. If the character whose taking their turn is out of Power Shots, it will make the "go back" sound in any attempt to press the when far away from the Green. One of Toad's voice clips from this game is reused. The coin sound effect is used for Birdie Badges.
• Mario Kart 64 - Some of the sound effects from Mario Kart 64 are also used, such as "item drop" and "1st lap complete".

Regional differences

• The international version's character select screen was changed to include Metal Mario, who is not present in the Japanese version. The European version also reordered the characters.
• During gameplay, the Japanese version does not have the power indicator (leftmost gray bar) in the Power Meter. It was added in the US and European versions. In addition, the wind display was moved to the left slightly in the international versions and its font was changed to be more noticeable.
• The European version uses a different song for the cutscene that plays during the intro. Oddly, the original song is still present on the cartridge, albeit unused.

References in later games

• Wario Land 4 and early WarioWare titles - Some of Wario's voice lines were reused.
• Luigi's Mansion - Mario's pose is reused for his portrait artwork.
• Super Smash Bros. Melee - Plum appears as a trophy.
• Wario World - Some of Wario's voice clips were reused.
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Two of Wario's alternate costumes are his red and blue outfit and his black and white outfit.
• Mario Golf: World Tour - In addition to being a sequel to this game, all six main courses in this game are available as downloadable content with updated music and visuals (though Shy Guy Desert, Yoshi's Island, and Boo Valley have been renamed to Layer-Cake Desert, Sparkling Waters, and Rock-Candy Mines, respectively, and the music for Mario's Star has been changed). In addition, Peach's hole-in-one and birdie animations are similar to the animations in this game, with the only difference being that she deliberately has her sport outfit transform into her trademark dress in World Tour.
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Two of Bowser's alternate costumes are his blue skin and his green skin, two of Donkey Kong's alternate costumes are his blue fur and his yellow fur, and one of Luigi's alternate costumes is his dark green and yellow outfit.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	マリオゴルフ64[?] Mario Gorufu Rokujūyon	Mario Golf 64
Chinese (simplified)	马力欧高尔夫64[?] Mǎlì'ōu Gāo'ěrfū 64	Mario Golf 64
Chinese (traditional)	瑪利歐高爾夫64 Mǎlì'ōu Gāo'ěrfū 64	Mario Golf 64

Trivia

• If all 4 players pick either Yoshi or Donkey Kong, a hidden song based on Palm Club from Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color will play.

External links

• Official Mario Golf Japanese website