Mario Golf: World Tour

Mario Golf has been a long-standing sports franchise since its debut on the Nintendo 64 so many years ago. Now, it's finally begun swinging onto the 3DS with World Tour, an engaging new entry in the series that divides between Quick Play sessions, an in-depth Castle Club mode custom built for your Mii, and online tournaments, where you can partake in games with your friends through local play and Nintendo Network.

The Good

World Tour is easily one of the most accessible golf games out there. The various control options are great for rookies and pros alike, and being able to switch between them on the fly is a huge plus. The new power-ups are excellent, and the courses offer a lot of diversity - there's even one that's underwater for good measure.

There's also a ton of great content here. The single player Castle Club will keep you busy for some time as you unlock new courses and gear, and online battles work wonderfully, as you can engage in quick-scoring contests and a challenging new completion mode, where you must finish three holes as quickly as you can. Local play is also available, and works very well.

The Bad

As great as the presentation is, some of the sound samples can be a little unnerving. Toad speaks way too much in cryptic tones, and your Mii character sounds more like a doofus than a golf pro.

In addition, while Castle Club is a terrific mode, the main hub doesn't do the player any favors. It's too easy to get lost without a general overview of where everything is. This does lead to a bit of exploration, but it would've been better for Nintendo to provide a simple layout.

The Verdict

Despite presentation and hub problems, Mario Golf: World Tour is a terrific golf sim that players of all ages and skill levels will enjoy. Grab your clubs and come out swinging!