Mario Golf: Super Rush[a] is a 2021 golf video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console.[1] 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. Praise was directed towards the game's gameplay mechanics, new modes, controls and visuals, while criticism was aimed at the game's low amount of content at launch and the adventure mode's short length.
Gameplay
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.[2] The game offers both conventional button controls for taking shots and motion controls to simulate hitting the ball with a swing.[2]
Each character in the game's roster has a unique Special Shot ability to take advantage of. A Special Shot is charged up over the course of a match and once activated gives every club a higher shot power and a unique ball gimmick that's designed to disrupt an opponent. For example, Luigi's ball has the ability to freeze the ground.[2] The Special Shot can be toggled off or on before a match
Variants Of Gameplay
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.[2]
A second new mode called Battle Golf also makes its debut. The mode takes place on a special course with nine holes and similarly to Speed Golf has players race to sink their ball into three of the holes as quickly as possible.[3]
A third new mode called Target Golf was introduced later via a post-launch update. In Target Golf the goal is to have the most points after five shots have been made by the player/players. There are three targets with four scoring zones in each and a player can score more points the closer their ball ends up to a target. When a zone is scored it can't be used to add more score and when a player hits the last zone in a target the player who made the shot gains additional points towards their final tally. During play special balls can replace every players ball, with each special ball having different kinds of effects such as scoring more points in a zone or changing how the ball itself will land. The Special Shot abilities can not be used whatsoever in this mode[citation needed]
Golf Adventure
For a solo adventure, the game features a story mode titled "Golf Adventure" that includes role-playing game elements like gaining experience and stat progression.[2] Players control their own customizable Mii as they become students in a country club, train, and face-off against competition from the Mushroom Kingdom.[4][5][6]
Ranked Match
Players have the option to compete in a competitive online space as well, called a Ranked Match. These competitive matches place players against other players from around the world, based on their current ranking. Each Ranked Match includes three holes from one of the game's courses, where the player with the best score wins. To advance in ranking, a player must complete multiple online Ranked Matches, with wins earning more points than losses.[citation needed]
Development
Mario Golf: Super Rush is developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo;[4] the game was announced during a Nintendo Direct on February 17, 2021,[5] and it was released worldwide on June 25 of the same year.[7] The people that pre-ordered the game also received an exclusive pin set.[8] 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.[9] King Bob-omb's inclusion was later officially revealed in an overview trailer alongside Pauline, Chargin' Chuck, and others.[10]
Mario Golf: Super Rush received "mixed or average reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[11]
The Speed and Battle Golf modes were highly praised by critics and fans alike,[23][24] 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.[25][26] It did, however, receive criticism for its lack of content, only launching with a few courses, characters and other features,[27][28] although Nintendo promised that they will continue supporting the game with more content after launch.[29]
The Golf Adventure mode received mixed reactions as well.[25][30] 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.[31] As of December 31, 2022, the game had sold 2.48 million copies worldwide.[32]
