Video Games

REVIEW: Mario Golf Super Rush

After close to 20 years, we’ve finally been given another Mario Golf title on a Nintendo console: Mario Golf: Super Rush. During the reveal trailer, they introduced several modes such as a campaign, like the fan favorites on Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance, on top of two new methods of play called Speed Golf and Battle Golf.

In comparison to previous versions, Super Rush‘s way of incorporating a story mode is rather disappointing. Unlike its predecessor, there are no original characters. The closest thing to a newly introduced character is the Mii that players can choose for their savefile. In this story mode, the player gets access to different challenges to level up their Mii.

Like the previous titles that contained a story mode, there are several courses that offer a challenge. However, in Mario Golf: Super Rush, playing the tournaments story mode isn’t necessary to unlock them all. There is also an option to get access to them by approaching them via simple golf matches against friends, family, or computers. So for those that have no interest in using their Mii outside of story mode, the story mode is rather pointless.

With the story mode out of the way, the time has come to go over Speedgolf, one of the news modes that Nintendo marketed heavily before release. Unlike traditional golf, players shoot their balls, trying to finish the hole the fastest, as if it was a chaotic minigame from Mario Party. Every character has their flaws and weaknesses on top of special abilities they can use to their advantage to stop their opponent.

If Speedgolf presents itself as a Mario Party minigame, BattleGolf comes off as an alternative to the battle mode in Mario Kart. Like Speedgolf, the players shot their balls at the same time. Unlike the previously mentioned ways of playing, Battlegolf takes place in an arena where the goal is about getting the most points before their opponent.

Unlike the previous entries of Mario Golf, the latest has the possibility of online play. There are options to play against random individuals or friends and family who are at home.

Trying to find challengers at random is like opening a box of chocolate. More often than not, there was no one to be found, but whenever there was a player online, I would be lucky if at least one with semi-stable internet joined or had a room available. If someone with a horrible connection got in the room, getting through one hole could be seen as sheer luck.

Like the Golf game in Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, there is an option for motion-control. I recommend staying with the traditional button controls, as the motion controls did not work well.

Mario Golf: Super Rush is a game that I can only recommend (right now) to the hardcore Mario Golf fans. It does lack some content, unlike the previous installments. However, Nintendo officially announced free DLC before the game’s release; for those casual fans of the series, wait until those have been released to check it out.

Latest posts by Isak Wolff (see all)

Co-host of the Amateur Otaku Podcast. A writer of many things. Loves everything nerdy from anime/manga to comics and video games. Fire Emblem is the greatest of all time.