Pros: Easy-to-learn gameplay; great graphics; tons of hidden stuff!
Cons: Inconsistent ball physics and putting difficulty

Mario Golf is the best golf game available for the Nintendo 64 console, as Nintendo and Camelot have worked together to not only adapt Hot Shots Golf to the system, but they even built upon it and the result is excellent. This is not to say that Mario Golf is perfect, as there are some quirks like strange ball physics and inconsistent putting difficulty; however, the game will grow on you if you give it a chance, and if you've never played Hot Shots Golf before and own a Nintendo 64, this is your chance to experience a great golf game that everyone can play.

The similarities between Mario Golf and Hot Shots Golf are numerous, including its easy-to-learn gameplay, unlockable characters and courses, and special power shots... and that's not a bad thing at all. Mario fanatics will want to keep unlocking characters as Mario, Yoshi, Wario, and others will become playable after a little bit of work. The courses become varied as well and represent the Mario environment well, with familiar backgrounds, and the course difficulties gradually ramp up. The big carryover and most important aspect of Mario Golf is its quick learning curve and its relative ease of gameplay. With just three button presses and some good timing, you'll be striking the ball like Tiger Woods. There are also Power Shots available (although they're limited in number) that can extend your distance, especially for those long Par 5 monster holes... in Mario Golf, however, unlike Hot Shots, if you hit the ball with perfect timing (you'll see and hear "Nice Shot!"), you don't lose a Power Shot. That's a nice addition.

Mario Golf does have some other unique features, especially in the game mode department. Other than the Tournament, VS., and mini-golf modes, Mario Golf adds the Ring Shot, where duffers have to plot the ball's trajectory and make sure it travels through all of the rings set up on the hole AND sink the ball within par. Mario Golf also adds Speed Golf, which is just like it sounds... complete the 18 holes in as fast a time as you can. These modes don't make up the core of Mario Golf like the Tournament and VS. modes do, but they are pretty good in their own right. No matter what game mode you play, you gain experience points by making great shots that are tallied towards unlocking new courses!


The graphics are quite good as the courses and characters are all in 3D and the Mario universe is well-represented. The game is colorful and there are some nice details like ball trails and some beautiful light sourcing as the sun sets... it's beautiful to look at. The sounds are classic Hot Shots mixed with some recognizable Mario themes. Hot Shots vets will also recognize the cuckoo bird that chirps when you make a nice shot or the caddy saying "Nice on!" and "Nice approach!" Nothing overly fancy here, but nice to see and hear, nonetheless.

Golf is a weak genre for the Nintendo 64, with only Waialae Golf and CyberTiger being the only competition for Mario Golf. If you even slightly enjoy playing golf and own a Nintendo 64, then Mario Golf deserves a purchase. As with the real game, practice makes perfect, and it's definitely a moment to remember when sink your first eagle or hole out from 160 yards. As I mentioned earlier, this game isn't perfect, but the game's flaws are overmatched by its great qualities. Nintendo and Camelot have produced a winner with Mario Golf, so pull out your clubs and join Mario and friends on the course soon... you'll be glad you did.