E3: Mario Golf: Toadstool's Tour

[Hero]

Camelot has had their hands busy - the in-house developer has worked on numerous titles in such a short time span for the N64 and GameCube. Yet there was one everyone wanted to see a sequel to, and it's here:

Mario Golf

Mark July 28th on your calendars, because that's when Mario Golf: Toadstool's Tour will release on the GameCube. Believe me when I say; it might feel like a wait, but it'll be worth it.

After playing a few holes, the best thing I can see is that Camelot didn't change a whole lot to the formula. The GC pad gives you some very tight control over the camera and shot direction, and aside from a new 'auto' power gauge, everything seems to be a prettier, bigger, bolder version of the game we all know and love.

The auto power mode is an interesting addition, used to give beginners a fair shot at staying on course with competition. It essentially shows you where you need to set your power bar when swinging, and won't let you go more than 10 yards higher than what is needed to make the shot. Plus the 'chip' bar that determines the accuracy of your swing is much easier to use. Not bad, but not like I'll need it. ^_^

And if you need gimmicks, Toadstool's Tour will link up with the GBA game, Mario Golf Advance Tour. You'll be able to swap characters between the two, but it's unknown if it'll be on the same level that the N64 and GBC Mario Golf's were.

[RedCoKid]

It sounds like you're much more optimistic than IGN's editor.

[Captain Vegetable]

I'm so not the Mario Golf fan everyone else seems to be. If this were about Mario Tennis, nows there's something I'd be anticipating heatedly.

[Teddman]

I thought it paled in comparison to Hot Shots Golf 3. Has Clap Hanz really shot past Camelot since taking over Camelot's Hot Shots series with the second installment?

I might have liked Mario Golf TT more if I hadn't played HSG3 so much last year. Nintendo's offering seems too limited and unintuitive at this point, but of course there's the usual E3 hope that they will improve it before release.

[Diff-chan]

The IGN preview is definitely pretty worrisome. They keep mentioning that the game has plenty of time before release, but, really, release is only 10 weeks away. They probably have to get the game wrapped up in six or seven, which is not that much time considering how mediocre IGN made it look.

I dont like the fact that this game doesnt have the True-Swing shit that like Tiger Woods has. That is seriously an awesome addition to the game and without it, Hot Shots Golf 3 felt really crude and old. This game will feel possibly paleolithic with it.

There's really no reason not to have the analog swing in Mario Golf, unless you're designing the game for 10 year olds. And, hey, I mean...

[Hero]

or people like me, who doesn't care for sports games enough, minus Mario Golf/Tennis, the Sega series Tennis, etc.

Then again, I've never played Tiger Woods.

[Diff-chan]

well Hero, let me tell you, Tiger Woods is an awesome game even if you're not a sports game fan.

It's easy to be like, "well I dont care about those shitty sports games for dumb casual gamers, Im gonna take my Mario Golf which is for REAL gamers, analog or no analog", but thats kinda missing the point. If you like good gameplay, then (analog stick) > (20 year old click-click-click)

The analog stick is seriously a really good addition to the golf game world and makes the games a lot more interactive and enjoyable.

Right around the same time me and a friend both bought golf games; I bought HSG3 and he bought Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods ended up being played FAR more than HSG3. It's just a lot more fun with the analog control.

Releasing a golf-game nowadays without the analog stick is like releasing an FPS without mouselook. It's short-sighted and stupid, and unless it gets put in there, then well Mario Golf GC is already outdated and obsolete.

But hey what the fuck does Nintendo care. A zillion hardCORE GC fans will buy the game anyway and make fun of anyone who says Tiger Woods is better, calling them a "dumb N00B casual sports gamer idiot" or something. Well, those people and 10-year olds.

[Hero]

To be honest, I didn't give Tiger Woods a shot, because no one ever mentioned it being something that non-sports sim fans could dig. But I'll check it out.

[Diff-chan]

Its a fucking great game, even better if you got a few friends to play it with. Yea it seems weird, Tiger Woods a good party game? But alas, it is true!

[kabuki]

Where was this on the show floor? I didn't see it in Nintendo's booth...