Mario Tour Advance - Initial impressions

Archived from groups: alt.games.video.nintendo.gameboy.advance (More info?)

Had this since the 23rd of June and thought I'd post my thoughts on it.
Graphics are great - some of the best I've seen on GBA, other than that
I won't comment on them, just wanted to talk about gameplay.



For a handheld this is a fun and surprisingly accurate rendition of
golf. Drives and approaches have numerous options (front/back spin,
lofting, hooking etc). Putting is basic by comparison and perhaps a
little too easy - the undulations of the green seem to have little
effect on the ball travel, so it just comes down to setting power with a
single button press. Maybe later courses/opponents will prove more
challenging.


The RPG elements are light, but provide enough extra context to the game
to keep you interested and feel like the matches you win are worth
something more.


You don't play the RPG as Mario or any other notable characters - you
start as a low level player and build up your abilities to eventually
take on the 'big names' as you win cups.

However, you can play as Mario, Yoshi, Peach or Donkey Kong from the get
go in quickplay mode.

There are lots of play modes too - the standard golf modes are there as
well as Gate mode (get your ball through gates to the hole), slot
machine mode (available clubs chosen at random) and others.

Initial courses (Marion, Palms, Dunes, Links) are 'straight' courses
(i.e. are like real courses) but other unlockable courses offer some
Mario flavouring with giant Mushrooms and so on.

Multiplay can be done on one GBA or multi GBAs if each has its own PAK
(and this is the first game to support Wireless, even though wireless
isn't out in the USA yet).


So far I like it a lot. However, if you're big on the Mario stuff or
looking for an arcade golfing experience this may not be it since it
does require more than just timing of button presses to win consistently
and there aren't any power-ups or special effects during a round (well
not that I've found).

I like the Story mode too which keeps you coming back to play more
rounds.

My only concern is that game is a little too easy, primarily because of
putting - as long as you get onto the green, you've got a v. good chance
of knocking it in from anywhere up to about 100 feet - not too
realistic. Having said that, the computer characters seem to find it
just as straightfoward to put, so matches are often close, and I suspect
later levels will introduce tougher opponents.

As in real Pro Golf, to win you do have to be consistent and that often
means choosing the best line through the hole rather than just hitting
and hoping. In that respect, Mario Golf Advance is a good Golf game.


Enjoy it.

Toady.