Mario Golf: Super Rush

Mario Golf: Super Rush
File:Mario Golf Super Rush Pre-Release Logo.jpeg
Developer(s)	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Shugo Takahashi Tomohiro Yamamura
Producer(s)	Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Shinya Saito Toyokazu Nonaka
Designer(s)	Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi
Programmer(s)	Haruki Kodera Yutaka Yamamoto
Artist(s)	Tomoyoshi Yamane
Composer(s)	Motoi Sakuraba
Series	Mario Golf
Platforms	Nintendo Switch
Release date(s)	June 25, 2021
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Mario Golf: Super Rush is a golf video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. It was announced via a Nintendo Direct on February 17, 2021 and was released worldwide on June 25, 2021. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Golf series following Mario Golf: World Tour in 2014 and is part of the larger Mario franchise. The game features various characters from the Mario franchise competing in golf, with regular competition and other modes.

Super Rush received mixed reviews from critics who praised the gameplay mechanics, new modes, controls, and visuals, but criticism was directed at the game's low amount of content at launch, while the adventure mode also received a mixed reaction for its short length.

Gameplay

File:Mario Golf Pre-Release Gameplay.jpeg

Pre-release screenshot of Mario hitting the golf ball. To his right is the "Shot Gauge" to help determine the ball's curve.

The fundamental gameplay of Mario Golf: Super Rush is comparable to previous entries in the Mario Golf series. Through traditional golf rules, the player's primary objective is to get the ball into each hole with the fewest possible number of strokes, using the various golf clubs available to them. The player who completes the game with the lowest number of strokes is the winner of the match in the context of competition. Multiple tools are available to players for strategic benefit, such as the "Shot Gauge" showing the direction and the curve of the ball against slopes and the scan feature, which allows the player to better assess the elevation of terrain. The game offers both conventional button controls for taking shots and motion controls to simulate hitting the ball with a swing.

Speed Golf, a newly introduced mode for the Mario Golf series, has players race to complete courses in the fastest time, rather than with the fewest strokes. After each swing, players must run across the course toward their ball to take their next shot, dealing with other players and obstacles along the way. Each character in the game's roster has unique Special Shot and Special Dash abilities to take advantage of. For example, Luigi has the ability to freeze the ground. Another new mode called Battle Golf also makes its debut. Battle Golf resembles Speed Golf mechanically but differs in that it takes place on a special arena-course where players have to sink the ball in any 3 of the 9 open holes first to win.

Additionally, the game features a story mode titled "Golf Adventure" that includes role-playing game elements like gaining experience and stat progression. Players control their own customizable Mii as they become students in a country club, train, and face-off against classmates from the Mushroom Kingdom.

Development

Mario Golf: Super Rush is developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo; the game was announced during a Nintendo Direct on February 17, 2021, and it was released worldwide on June 25 of the same year. The people that pre-ordered the game also received an exclusive pin set. Though not detailed in the initial game announcement, fans spotted that King Bob-omb, a boss that originally appeared in Super Mario 64, was accidentally mentioned by Nintendo to be a playable character on the official game page before being amended. King Bob-omb's inclusion was later officially revealed in an overview trailer alongside Pauline, Chargin' Chuck, and others.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 70/100 Review scores Publication Score EGM 3/5 Game Informer 8.25/10 GameSpot 7/10 GamesRadar 2.5/5 IGN 6/10 Nintendo Life

Mario Golf: Super Rush received "mixed or average reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.

The Speed and Battle Golf modes were highly praised by critics and fans alike, with many calling it chaotic and a lot of fun. The game also received praise for its new gameplay mechanics and the added element of motion controls, the latter considered to be precise, as well as the visuals. It did, however, receive criticism for its lack of content, only launching with a few courses, characters and other features, although Nintendo promised that they will continue supporting the game with more content after launch.

The Golf Adventure mode received mixed reactions as well. Some were praising it for the open world and depth. Others, however, thought it was underwhelming and surprisingly short.

Mario Golf: Super Rush was the best-selling retail game during its first week on sale in Japan, with 80,430 physical copies being sold.

External links

• Official website