NES Open Tournament Golf

NES Open's simple gameplay and clean graphics make for a fast-paced, addictive experience. A slick user interface makes it easy to set up shots, and you can even apply backspin or topspin. The swing meter is the standard "three-press" variety, but before each shot you select from a slow, medium, or fast meter. The faster meter provides more power, but it's more difficult to hit your shot accurately. NES Open is mainly played from a high overhead perspective, but you do get a close-up of the green, complete with arrows to indicate hills and valleys. A niftly close-up camera angle is employed as the ball approaches the cup, much like Hot Shots Golf (Playstation). One or two players can compete on three different courses. NES Open is one terrific golf game that was well ahead of its time.

Now that Mario has mastered medicine, it's only fitting that he should take up one of the most favored sports of those in the medical profession, golf! Don't think for a second that the links are any less of a battlefield than the Mushroom Kingdom. There's some stiff competition in this high-stakes, three-course pro circuit and Mario's goal is to win a cool million!

Fans of the plucky plumber’s modern tee time outings could have a lot of fun dropping 500 Wii Points here, to experience the grandfather of their favorite game’s current design. But those who’ve never yet hit the links with Mr. Mario would be likely better off to skip the history lesson and jump straight into present day, sticking with the freebie Wii Sports Golf or perhaps picking up a copy of the Wii-compatible GameCube title, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.