A great step forward, but Castle Club is somewhat of disappointment.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/37303/mario-golf-world-tour-review
I already talked a lot about my time with Mario Golf: World Tour and described all the single-player components in a long preview. In many ways, my thoughts have not changed all that much. The controls are still simple yet intuitive and it does not take long before players know all the ropes. The stuff surrounding it is where the true challenge of every golf game lies as players have to deal with the wind and weather to the best of their possibilities. Obstacles make sure that you will think twice about your every move and that makes playing a round of golf so exciting. Mario Golf: World Tour delivers that feeling in droves, but the package falls short of spectacular.
The biggest low is found in the Castle Club mode, which is a general hub for your Mii. There are three tournaments that you play there and some challenges for players to uncover, but it leaves a lot to be desired. I didn't dislike my time with the mode and certainly enjoyed myself at moments, but it is not a place most players will be sticking around for long. When playing alone, the best moments can be had in the Mario Golf mode which is full of various challenges. With ten on each course, there is a lot of variety there and it is great fun on the go. Of course, you can simply play a few courses with special rules for even snappier fun.
The bigger focus in World Tour lies in the multiplayer, which features region-free play. This was a major fault from Mario Tennis Open and made me shut the game off way too soon. In the Mario Golf mode, you can play locally or online against your friends directly and set custom rules. You can even set up communities where groups of players meet, similar to how it was done in Mario Kart 7. It is disappointing that Mario Golf does not support download play as it would have been easier to set up a match that way. A need for multiple copies ruins the chance for random games, which is somewhat of a bummer. I do, however, understand why everyone needs a copy, as saving progression and earning money are such a large focus in the game. Collecting coins for new gear is important and makes the competition more fair.
Speaking of competition, this is where the tournaments come into play, which are lovely. The official tournaments, run by Nintendo, are unique and will challenge you in various ways. It is a fun way to compete regional and worldwide against others and the best part is that players get gifts for entering. You can't play these tournaments directly against others, but you will see ghost data from a friend if he/she has done a run. In that regard, there always a sense of competition present, which is appreciated.
The variety offered in the courses really adds to the fun. The three normal 18-hole courses really ease in to the game and gets players ready for the madness that evolves in the game's second act. This is when you really start to get into the Mario-themed ones, which are short and focused. With 9 holes each, they had a lot to prove and they delivered. None of the obstacles or elements drag on longer than needed, which keeps the game from feeling stale. From shooting balls on the colorful scenes of Yoshi Lake to trying to putt perfect high on the Sky Island, there is enough content here for anyone to enjoy.
World Tour is a sharp looking game. It features bright, colorful visuals, which will make any Mario fan feel right at home. Even better, the game stands out with the 3D visuals on. Some of nicest details will be a bit lost in translation, but the amount of layer work is impressive. The music is great too, as upbeat and cheerful tunes blast through the system's speakers. There are remixes of the various songs including Yoshi's Story and Donkey Kong Country, which will make players bop their heads in delight.
Mario Golf: World Tour is an entertaining golf game from beginning to end, though the Castle Club is extremely short lived. The lack of download play in the multiplayer is also a bummer, as it makes spontaneously introducing people to the game somewhat trickier. That doesn't mean that enjoyment can't be found though, the game provides a wealth of content. You can compete in tournaments, play against other locally or online and play solo through Mario Golf mode. While I wish Nintendo would bring back RPG elements to a Mario sports game, I’ll still be playing Mario Golf: World Tour for much longer than I did Mario Kart 7 or Mario Tennis Open.
Topic: Mario Golf: World Tour Review (Read 1071 times)
