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Mario Golf: World Tour Discussion (Nintendo 3DS) [game]
 
Mario Golf: World Tour on the 3DS
8.47/10 from 10 user ratings

Welcome to the official discussion thread for Mario Golf: World Tour on the 3DS!

To start, please add this game to your log, add it to your collection (if applicable), and (when you are ready) rate it using the link above!
Mario Golf is a series that has been around perhaps longer than anyone realizes. In America anyway, the first game released June 30th, 1999 for the N64. Just two months shy of it's 15-year anniversary, Camelot Software is bringing another entry back into the limelight on 3DS. In fact, it's been nearly ten years since the last Mario Golf game (crazy to think about). The original game's tag-line was "Tee Up With Mario and His Friends". Here you'll get to do just that, and this time in glorious 3D graphics.


Mario Golf brought us the mechanics and the initial characters. It brought us the premise and set the bar high. A few months after the N64 release a Game Boy Color title released. Then Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, a GameCube gem released in summer of 2003, took things farther with higher-fidelity graphics as well as more Mushroom-Kingdom-esque courses. I'll never forget the joy brought to me by that game that summer and for many years there after. Finally, the last time we saw a club-clad Mario and friends was in June 2004 with Mario Golf: Advanced Tour on the GameBoy Advance which expanded things in a specific direction... RPG-like qualities for character building.

In just two short weeks Nintendo fans will finally be able to play the next installment (which receive an initial year-long delay when it was originally intended to be released in Summer 2013). This title looks to expand on the formulas that made it great while finding a middle ground between the two different tiers that have developed over time.


This title looks to have a ton of features in store and a ton of gameplay opportunity. It keeps it's arcade-appeal with the classic Power-Bar which allows you to decide just how far to hit the ball, and if you're savvy enough, it allows you to put some hook, draw, or angle to the ball as well. For those who are less versed in these mechanics or just want a more simplified experience, you can once again choose to automate the latter portion of the swing. This time around, being on 3DS and all, you can opt to use the stylus to tap the screen in leu of using a button and also you can use the stylus to decide how to affect the ball post-launch.


As you can see from the above screenshots, the game has taken a significantly stronger focus on creative levels inspired by the Mushroom Kingdom, which means I should be getting exactly what I want most from the series. It's uncertain who the final roster will be in the game as playable characters but it is known that you can play as your own Mii and do all sorts of cool stuff. By using your Mii, you can engage in a somewhat altered version of the RPG-like qualities of games' past. Customize your Mii with headgear, clubs, pants, and other features which not only change the design of your golfer but the attributes as well. I'm quite excited to have this customized experience.


Check out the game in the Game Database to find all sorts of videos (though I'll post them on page one of this thread as well) and don't forget to add this to your collection come May when the game releases. Also, if you're still finding yourself without a pre-order, Amazon.com still has the game for $29.99 with the pre-order price guarantee. At three-quarters the original price, there's no excuse not to nab this up day one!

Check out the main website at mariogolf.nintendo.com and see even more content. There you'll also find more details on the online-component to this game which better explains the 'world' in World Tour. You'll be able to play matches online against opponents from anywhere on the planet. This key feature should give Mario Golf fans abundantly more play-time from their cart or download. You can also check out this great impressions article from Daan Koopman over at NintendoWorldReport. It'll detail even more about courses and gameplay, etc.

Now that the game is out, it's time to hit the green and find ourselves in some tournaments! Below are the codes for various Negative World Tournaments. I'll do my best to keep up on these as they change.

Tournaments
Tournament 3: 64-5705-3846-4942
Tournament 4: 03-0537-2193-5082

Community: 50-3155-4188-2450

Reviews

Nintendo Life - 9 / 10

IGN - 8.6 / 10
NintendoWorldReport.com - 8.5 / 10
Destructoid - 8.5 / 10
Eurogamer - 8 / 10
Polygon - 8 / 10

EGM Now - 7.5 / 10
Videogamer - 7 / 10
Gamespot - 7 / 10

Edge-Online - 6 / 10
DigitalSpy - 3 / 5
Joystiq - 3 / 5

Average Score: 7.51/10


URL to share (right click and copy)
04/20/14, 18:08    Edited: 05/24/14, 23:12
 
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I picked this game up with the "Buy Kirby Triple D and Mario Golf, Get $20 Back" sale at K-Mart. But they no longer let you redeem the points for Digital Store Points! Nertz! I guess I'll grab Super Luigi, or something, considering that I'll have a digital copy of NSMB U coming soon...

Seems fun so far. It's zippy! The camera's kind of unfortunate, and the characters sure do talk a lot, but I imagine that this is a play-while-listening-to-podcast kind of game, like Picross or Layton.

I just cracked it open on the train and fucking crushed my first Handicap Invitational with two chip-in Eagles in a row. Pretty awesome. Hopefully, I can take a swing at the Mikey Open. (I also wish that you could limit players to one attempt, btw. No mulligans!)

Oh, and I love the loading screens. They're great.
05/06/14, 03:50   
Is there a way to tell how you ranked on a private tournament?
05/06/14, 03:52   
Like Dr. Fink, I don't understand the scores this game is getting. Like Zero said, this is the first Mario Golf game in 10 years, and the amount of content is tremendous! Plus, the endless combinations of online tournaments they can put together. This game is easily an 8 and above in my book.
05/06/14, 04:09   
@Anand

The loading screens are badass.

The camera isn't perfect unfortunately, in fact it is worse than before. All they needed to do was let the camera follow the arc again and not force it to move more linearly. Plus if you could tilt to see it at an angle, especially with the 3D, it would have been perfect.
05/06/14, 04:29   
Yeah, I wonder if they can patch the camera. It's especially horrible for Ring Mode.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: No Manual! WTF!

Is this a new thing? Not even a one-pager? Not that you really NEED a manual for Nintendo games, but...

I wonder how much effort they spend on the digital manuals, considering that no one will ever, ever, ever read them...
05/06/14, 05:01   
Edited: 05/06/14, 05:02
@Anand
This was one of the first digital manuals I read, because I didn't know where half the game's features were hiding!
05/06/14, 06:44   
@Anand@ploot

It sucks, manuals are pretty much becoming ancient history. Its just not Nintendo. While it does bite, I can understand. I'm sure the manuals can end up costing a fairly large chunk of change. Plus, while I have no idea where I sit in this, I never really read the manuals. Seriosly, I doubt from the very first time I started playing videogames, upto current day, its safe to say I read 10% or less of the manuals, with the largest chunk being read when videogames first hit retail shelves up to the NES era and the early part of SNES era. I think around the time of the N64/Playstation era is when I stopped reading them for the most part. Maybe I'd have to look something up, on how to do a certain move, ect., seriously though nothing comes to mind.

Even I feel the loss of not having a paper manual and even having that empty feeling is bewildering to me, since I never really read 'em much. Hmmmm.... go figure.

My updated feelings about World Tour since completing the demo....

Anyways, as far as MG:WT is concerned, I have mixed feelings for the game. I loved the N64 version of the game and played the hell out of it. When the GC version was released, I believe I rented the game, but even with great visual upgrade, its like I didn't have enough interest to warrant buying the game.

Now, all these years later, I was really excited to play this 3DS iteration, esp. cause I love the 3d effects and felt it would help immerse me into the game even moreso. I had plans to buy the game, I believe I mentioned that in the beginning of this thread or in another thread. I downloaded the demo and it left me with a 'meh' feeling. I can't put my finger on why, but I honestly feel a game like Mario Golf is better suited, at least for me, on a large screen. I downloaded the N64 version using my club Nintendo points when it was made available and that game still stands up greatly even though the visuals, esp character models are really outdated in today's world of beautiful games....BUT, regardless the gameplay is top notch and I really think, at least for my tastes, I'd prefer World Tour on the large screen.

This all kindof goes around and makes a come full circle questioning on, why does Nintendo decide to place certain games on the Wii U or 3ds, ect. Think about it, Nintendo hasn't released any new 3ds games for awhile and suddenly we get two games, back to back, MG:WT & the new Kirby: Triple Deluxe. While each game may have it's own audience, seems almost like one will win and one will fail. So, why not make World Tour available on both the 3ds and Wii U. Hell, I'd be happy playing WT on the Wii U, even with the visuals as they appear on the 3ds, just upgrade them in HD. Hell, awhile back Nintendo revealed to the world how they were merging the 3ds employees with the Wii U's.

Now, I don't think every game released should be made available to both systems, but I'd think this game would be a perfect fit. And just to throw this in, even the NES REmix games actually seem better suited to the 3ds than the Wii U. I know Nintendo wants to set apart each system, but I scratch my head at times, just like everyone else. Anyways, if World Tour was made available for the Wii U, I'd snatch it up right away. I still might buy it, but its just not grabbing me on the 3ds. Here is where the demo ended up costing a sale. One has to admit, the demo was kindof lackluster, plus there need to be more of that crazy Mario Universe added into the game.

I listened to RFN's most recent podcast earlier on Monday and they basically made the exact points that I was thinking. I felt kindof weird, like they'd read my mind. Anyways, I've been a little turned off by RFN's overall negative attitude lately, but I have to agree with them on their feelings with MG:WT I'm not happy about feeling the way I do towards the game. I mean, in no way is it a bad game, based off the demo, but at the same time, the demo left me feeling really empty.

Anyone else feel the same way? Sorry to be so down on the game. Heck, its not like I'm really being down on it. I think you guys get the point....or not.
05/06/14, 08:57   
Edited: 05/06/14, 09:38
gamewizard65 said:
Here is where the demo ended up costing a sale. One has to admit, the demo was kindof lackluster, plus there need to be more of that crazy Mario Universe added into the game.

I gotta suggest you reconsider, simply based on the fact that like myself, many of us found the demo to be a significantly nerfed example of what the game really is. I think it's a great game and is great fun. Others do agree who have the actual game. The demo is very limited. Also, there's a lot more Mario-universe stuff in the game, just not represented in the courses available.

Then again, you've played past titles and you know your own personal limits and boundaries that must be overcome from a Mario-Universe-Content standpoint. This game would look glorious on the HD Wii U, but for now it's not. It's on the wonderful-looking 3DS. I would no doubt expect the next installment to be a console one and I'm sure it'll be incredible then. For now, the 3DS gets it's turn I guess.
05/06/14, 15:09   
Edited: 05/06/14, 15:10
I know its not fair to base the entire game off of the demo. With this iteration of MG, multiplayer, local and moreso online is really the selling point and the whole reason to buy World Tour. I honestly do not there is any areas of gameplay that are bad. One area I didn't mention as why I probably will hold off awhile is because the game is soo focused on multiplayer. Well, here in about 24 days, good ole MK8 will be released and once that happens, there will not be much room to fit in Mario Golf. I'm playing some pretty hefty, meat-sized games and those will definitely, or at least one or two of em will still be going on, by the time MK 8 hits the scene.It'll be tough enough trying to finish my single player yams, while paying MK8. Both of my sons are buying MK8.....errrr....more likely I'm buying all three games. I volunteered cause I wanted all of us to start at the same time.

Now, I will be in tournaments with my sons and a few of their friends that own Wii Us. And I really want to be on a tournament here at Negative World. Though, I don't want to play in a setup, where you only get to race like eveyother week, ect. I know that was a nice gesture to get more people involved while there was too many wanting to play and only twelve racers can race on the track at any given time. If we have a ton of people playing, might as well have two separate tournys. One for the really skilled players and one for us not as skilled, meaning I'd be in that group. Then, it'll be cool to pit the winners from each group against one another.

So yea, MK8 plus other games I'm already playing would put MG WT in the bck seat for several months. If and when I finally buy the game, I want to give it all my attention. Though, the prospect of being able and join tourneys now and heck, one doesn't have to golf when the other players are golfing. I think that is a really cool aspect of this game.

So, if the game ends up in my grubby hands, or more likely a digital download on my 3ds, Iet everyone know, right away.
05/06/14, 16:17   
@gamewizard65

I'm in kind of a similar boat--was very excited for WT, slowly changed my mind after the demo. I actually felt that the demo was a pretty good one, with some nice variety and a good "sampling" of the types of gameplay. What actually made me change my mind, though, was that I feel the golf mechanics aren't quite as good in WT as they are in Toadstool Tour (my favorite MG game). The major kicker is camera control, which I think is surprisingly important in a golf game (following the ball's arc, getting a clear view of the obstacles)--I just really dislike how they split it between the touch screen and buttons, and neither option feels anywhere near as smooth as TT's. The lack of a trajectory for hitting the ball on different spots is kind of a letdown for some people too (although this one doesn't bother me as much). And the characters' repetitive chatter gets me feeling antsy when trying to line up my shot.

Add to that the fact that the 3D effect is very basic and underwhelming, and that I've still got a ton left to unlock in TT, and I came to the conclusion that I should just keep playing TT for my Mario Golf fix instead. The online modes are tempting, but the demo convinced me that the golf mechanics themselves aren't improved at all from TT, which I feel is the most important element in the game. The items aren't really a big enough invention to warrant purchasing a full sequel, and several other areas seem like a step back.

It's too bad since this game seems to have a lot of content and a good online mode. But like you, I'm gonna be in the middle of a lot of games in a couple weeks (with my birthday and then Mario Kart/free TWW HD around the corner), so Mario Golf's the one that has to get a pass from me.
05/06/14, 16:37   
I just unlocked Wiggler Park with 14 Star Coins. I need to get back into the Castle Club and start working my handicap down (it's at 6.0 now, down from 9.0) but I'm having too much fun with the Star Coin Challenges. Of course, in order to unlock some, I have to win Castle Club tournaments...
05/06/14, 16:47   
@TriforceBun

I do agree on the chatter part. Initially I was like "I like these little sound bursts" but really, they happen too often and don't vary enough. It's the one downside audio-wise.
05/06/14, 17:38   
Received the game yesterday in the mail. Jumped on the bus this morning for my morning commute into the city and was super excited to play this game. Turned on my 3DS to be welcomed by a red light. FML.
05/06/14, 17:42   
It's really too bad that the demo has turned people from the game.
It nearly did for me too, but the tourneys here made me make the jump. The game is way better than the demo lets on.

The 3D is absolute garbage though, that's true. It's one of the few 3DS games I play in 2D.

@Abdooooo
Hey, as long as it's not blinking!
05/06/14, 18:21   
Edited: 05/06/14, 18:22
TheOldManFromZelda said:
@anon_mastermind

How do you check your standing in the tournament?

I'd also like to know this.ploot said:
It's too bad that they hid a ton of the game behind "Quick Round." Everything should be accessible from the Castle Club!

Quick Round holds all the tournament options and the challenges (ring golf, coin golf, character matches, etc.). Loads of fun!

Seriously! I'd never heard of any of those until you said they were there right here in this thread. SO weird. Why would they do that? Huh. It's like tailor made for the Toad section right of the courses! So, so strange.
05/06/14, 18:43   
I kinda like the 3D. Nothing fancy but it does look nice. I've gotten quite good at reading the green. I hope some of the unlock able courses are tough because right now the game is a piece of cake. What I loved about Toadstool Tour was the sheer difficulty of the later courses.
05/06/14, 18:55   
Edited: 05/06/14, 18:56
@DrFinkelstein The thing about being ten years later though, whether it's fair or not, is that after so long, people will have built up such huge expectations for what a new game would be like. So it's kind of tough to match those expectations, especially if people expect ten years of progress despite the game obviously not being in development that long.

More content doesn't automatically make a game better. The mechanics of World Tour are not as good as Toadstool Tour, and that's a big deal to me, though it's more about the lack of improvements and refinements. For people who enjoy the mechanics then I'm sure it's a great game; it isn't like there aren't plenty of sequels that don't change the mechanics. But it doesn't matter how much stuff there is, if I think a game doesn't play very well, then it isn't much fun to play and my rating will reflect that.

Plus I'm still bitter about not getting a Mario Golf game on the Wii. It's kind of tough to go back to a 20+ year-old button swing mechanic when the Wiimote made for an awesome golf club.

@TriforceBun This is about how I feel, put in a better way than I could probably express.
05/06/14, 22:46   
I'm... still not entirely sure about this game. All the lines and the cursor showing where the ball "would" land without terrain or wind actually make the game more difficult and confusing, the putting is fucking world-class awful as your character is in the way and you can't actually rotate the camera -- you can move it up or down or drastically change angles, which means I can't get a read on the angle of the green which means if it's not a smooth line to the hole I have a 50/50 shot of even getting close, the "direction lines" don't help because again, without being able to move the camera freely, I can't get a read on distance ones unless I get some fucking bizarre reverse shot from the hole.

And despite all the "options" of clubs and whatnot, it always seems to select the best (or almost the best, sometimes you MIGHT move one up or one down) club for you and point you exactly where you need to be pointed, saying "Hey, you can tweak this to adjust for wind, but even if you don't you'll probably still hit par."

And then there's the fact that at least so far it doesn't feel like anything I'd associate with a "Mario" game, I know there's items because I saw something reference usable items, and I know there's some cool stuff like coin blocks because I saw it in the trailer, but I have seen literally NONE of that, and it's driving me bonkers. I don't want to play a generic ass golf game, I want to play MARIO golf! Like when you load stuff from the main menu and it's original Mario graphics with the golf ball bouncing off of goombas or Mario dodging it, stuff like that! I want crazy courses! I wanted Kirby's Dream Course but with Mario! Lots of powerups, bouncing the ball off of stuff, less "read this 90,000 word list of golf jargon" and more "hit the ball and then punch 5 koopas!"

Maybe it changes later, but I'm on Seaside and it's been tame and super simple so far, but the Championship mode on here is super frustrating. The one opponent out of the list of 5,000 that actually competes with you gets BETTER as the courses get harder, so they'll be par perfect for 8 holes and then start getting birdies every other hole, they NEVER get a bogey and it feels like I'm playing against an algorithm instead of an opponent, it's fucking Mario Kart rubberbanding in scoreboard form and I hate it with a burning passion. If I make a mistake, it can destroy the entire 30 minutes I spent on those 18 goddamn simple, uninteresting holes because the computer will NEVER make a mistake!

AUGH! What am I missing? Why do people love this shit so much?! When does it get INTERESTING or FUN?!
05/06/14, 22:46   
@Xbob42

I don't think I've ever played a game that shows the trajectory WITH the wind. You kind of have to judge by yourself to make the shot land where you would want it to. And as for the putting, if you press X, you can see the terrain just fine. I'm not sure what the issue is here but I've had next to none aside from the camera not being as good but even then, it's hardly anything I'd call a problem.

As for the difficulty, maybe if you DID adjust your shots for the wind and such and didn't aim for par, you'd be able to compete
05/06/14, 22:57   
I unlocked Star Peach, and I'm up to 15 Sun Coins. I'm about to win the Forest Course Championship Cup...then I'm hopping online to take you guys on.
05/06/14, 23:03   
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