Genre: Sports
Year: 2003
Developed by: Camelot Software Planning
Published by: Nintendo
Platforms: GameCube
#131
Feeling Like: 1,2,3, FORRRRE
What is it what Mario and company that lend themselves so well to sports? Or is it that Japanese game developers love golf (and baseball!) since it’s basically turn-based athletics? Whatever the reason, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour was the pitch perfect multiplayer game for competitive sessions in Bigelow, Room 203.
Getting a GameCube and four controllers was the wisest move I made in my late teens for alluring people to my room. Even those that didn’t play gathered to watch those that did. There really is nothing like a crowded dorm room where few responsibilities exist and camaraderie is high. Pub? Poker? Watch Neil, Paul, Matt, Walker, Jeff, Vance, Fuzzy, Dave, Randy, Danimal, Hippie Jon and Carney Steve duke it out in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour? All are equally appealing options.
Did I mention we played it on possibly the world’s tiniest CRT TV? I was in University and didn’t have a job, I was lucky to have *a* TV at all.
I don’t even know if I ever played this one solo. I didn’t see the point. I spent the summer working at Prince of Whales and saved on rent by living with my parents in the summer. Most of my money went to some kind of living expenses and splurges on various video games. A few were single player mammoth RPGs (Skies of Arcadia), but most served a specific purpose, like enjoying some time with my buddies as we swore at the screen with every missed putt.
Golf has the be the most maddening sport. I just came back from our cricket team’s end of year party, which involves a round of 9 holes at Metchosin Golf Club and a delicious BBQ at David’s. I had fun, but not due to my performance on the course. I can drive the ball really far. I can also slice it, duff it, completely shank it and play like I’ve never played before. No, I mean, I play like I’ve never played golf before. I don’t get it – I swear I’m doing the same thing every time, yet the fucking ball won’t go in the goddamn place it’s supposed to and why do I waste money on this stupid sport?
Here’s where a Mario Golf comes in handy. It’s rare you’ll completely shank it, not as long as you get a moderate understanding of the mechanics and stick to the first few courses. While I was eager to brave the more challenging courses, with impossibly angled hills and obstacles that would make even the most seasoned golfer cry, the lads were more interested in trying to get the absolute best score possible on the easiest courses. Less frustration that way.
Well, I mean to a point.
Tournaments soon emerged and the competitive juices flowed quickly. Rules were soon implemented about how Petey Piranha was too strong and was outlawed in Multiplayer. Accusations that the game was cheating when a putt was missed was high. “Loud fines” were dished out often by the RAs (you could be loud, just not during quiet hours – exam time was my nemesis). Occasionally, empty water bottles were flung into the hallway, as long as Julia’s door was closed. I would say we wouldn’t be as cruel as to fling a full water bottle into Julia’s room directly, but we did once move all of her stuff into the guy’s bathroom at one point as a prank.
The framerate and graphics were better, but the package did feel slightly less charming than the sublime Mario Golf for the N64. I wasn’t able to listen the soundtrack as much, since most of the sound effects were drowned out by the buzz of a dozen homies and homettes. I rarely had my door closed, even while I was sleeping. More than a few times, my closest buddies would sneak into my room while I was asleep to boot up Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, or KOTOR or Resident Evil 4 or NHL 2005. I didn’t mind, I prefer background noise when I’m getting my z’s. But the open door policy meant anybody could, and would, wander by for a chat, or a few holes. I don’t miss not having any money, or constantly being stressed by assignments, but I do miss the frequent GameCube sessions that took no more effort to organize than yelling down the hallway. And living right next to Matt, that was fun too.
I was supremely disappointed in the most recent addition to the Mario Golf family, Mario Golf: Super Rush. The realtime multiplayer didn’t work nearly as well as I’d hoped, and what the hell? They changed the three click swing to two clicks? And why can’t I just zoom the camera ahead like I used to be able to do? Even the courses seemed off. What a bummer, especially since my two previous times with Mario Golf and Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour were incredible. Nailing a 50 foot putt, landing an approach shot within inches of the hole, perfecting a power-drive (Lee Carvallo would approve) and winning an 18 hole marathon by a single stroke was immensely satisfying. Trash talking the player about to swing was quite amusing, especially with Wario’s “one two three FOOOOOOORE”. It got old quickly, but what else could you do while you were waiting for your turn?
The 500 