Only two weeks after adding new 8- and 16-bit games to the Nintendo Switch Online service, Nintendo is back with the N64 version of Mario Golf for Expansion Pack subscribers. This was the 1999 sports game that helped to solidify Mario and his pals as legitimate athletes. That's cool and all, but here's the question: What did critics say about Mario Golf when it first came out? In order to get to the bottom of that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Nintendo Power and more classic game magazines to see what they said 23 years ago. Join me for yet another brief episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


On top of being a fighter, lover, plumber and go-kart driver, Mario is also a super athlete. He's dabbled in tennis, soccer and even baseball, but Mario's love for sports started all the way back in 1987, when he became a golf champ. After retiring on top for a dozen years, Mario hit the links once again in 1999 with Mario Golf on the Nintendo 64, and the critics were quick to fall in love. GamePro gave it a 5 out of 5, concluding that "Mario Golf's a great game and great fun. It's also a fine four-player game, so you can add Mario to your library of Multiplayer party opportunities (with Mario Party and Super Smash Bros.)."

While not ready to give the game a perfect score, Nintendo Power also loved Mario Golf. With an overall score of 8.5 out of 10, Scott and Andy liked the "incredible depth," "replay value," "super" graphics, the "excellent zoom function," and the "bright Calypso-style music." However, it's the "extra modes that put this game at the top of the leaderboard." Featuring "tournaments, speed golf, mini-golf, stroke play, ring shot and a training mode," there's a lot to like in Mario Golf.

Across the pond, we have Computer and Video Games giving the game a 4 out of 5 and arguing that Mario Golf is "one of the best golf games around." You saw a similar score from 64 Magazine, which gave it an 84% and called the game addictive. However, it's not until we look at Electronic Gaming Monthly that we see some lower scores. While it averaged a score of 8.1 out of 10, two of the editors gave it a 7.5, with Che noting that "Mario Golf is basically Hot Shots Golf wrapped in video gaming's most popular character designs." He also complained about the sound samples, which "get really unbearable" after a while, "Another nitpick is the presence of non-Mario characters really dilutes the Nintendo license. Too bad." Dean, on the other hand, gave the game a 9 and said that "Mario Golf should be required for all N64 owners. It's the kind of game everyone can learn and get interested in. Multiplayer is great fun, taunts and all. What more can I say except buy this game." On April 15, you'll be able to download Mario Golf as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack and see if it truly is if it's required playing.