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Platform: GameBoy
Advance
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Mario Golf Advance TourScore: 8.9 / 10 |
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Pros: - Very solid golf mechanics - RPG sensibility actually works - Good multiplayer - Save anytime during a round
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Cons: - Some stuttering during doubles matches |
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"...it’s a hole-in-one!" |
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After
some initial doubts I finally had to accept that a role-playing golf
game made sense. Mario Golf
Advance Tour (MGAT) is foremost a golf game with the usual suspects and
golf modes accounted for, but the bulk of the game and the only way to
unlock courses and characters is to golf through the Story mode.
You
pick a golfer and choose the most basic of attributes then proceed to
the Marion Golf Club to be taught by the masters, challenge other
golfers, complete various golf-type mission and compete in an assortment
of singles and doubles tournaments to be crowned the ultimate golf
champion. It’s a framework that works as a role-playing game (without
the chance of being slaughtered by a netherwordly creature).
Story events happen along the way and although you won’t always
know what you’re supposed to be doing next there’s always something
to do. Besides the actual
golf (which I’ll get to) you can train or wander the clubhouse or
world map just exploring. The
world map should be instantly comfortable for anyone that has played a
Zelda game, but MGAT is much more directed.
For the most part you’ll stick to the dirt paths.
Occasionally you’ll come across an open part where you can
shake trees for various power-ups.
It’s through the world map that you can access the weapons
mast— I mean, golf club maker for when you step-up in the world and
get to order custom clubs or find access to increasingly difficult
courses.
To
gain that access in the first place you’ll need to upgrade your skills
(and the skills of your CPU buddy in Doubles mode) to really leave the
competition in the dust. By
completing successfully in the various tournaments you gain experience
points (XP) to put toward levelling-up then increasing your drive,
control, spin, etc. Every
time your character levels-up it gives rise to some difficult choices
because the attributes seem equally important. The
developer, Camelot, was responsible for MGAT’s big brother Mario Golf
on GameCube. The golf of
that game has been practically duplicated here (even if the presentation
has had some concessions made). Just
a quick summary: rock solid golf using a three button press swing that
easily meets the cliché, easy to pick-up hard to master.
With MGAT’s cartoon presentation it’s easy to forget that
this is a technical golf game with weather conditions and all to
consider with each shot. It
should also be noted that it’s possible to upload the data from the
GBA to the GC so you can try out your golfer in 3D.
MGAT
also has many multiplayer modes including using one GBA to take turns.
Golf is a great head-to-head and team game in the first place so
being able to play a round with/against a buddy as the snow comes down
or the miles roll past is great. The
course designs are great and like Mario Golf on GameCube there’s
plenty of variety even if it still seems stuck in “Mario themes”
with familiar characters and environments at every turn.
Most courses are also a test of skill – and the later stages in
story mode are some the most challenging videogame golf you’ve ever
played. Big
kudos and thumbs-up to Camelot for an excellent save system.
Even if you’re in the
middle of a match you can pick-up later and start playing from there (in
any mode). A lesser game
would have saved your overall progress and forced you to start the round
over. For this alone I will
forgive Camelot for not fixing a strange bug when your doubles partner
steps up to the ball. For
whatever reason, the graphics stutter whenever it’s there turn. Although
Mario Gold Advance Tour should be considered a niche title, it has too
much going for it. To use a
golf term, it’s a hole-in-one! - Omni (October
10, 2004)
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