[Update] Downloadable Comment - Mario Golf: World Tour
Updated with hands-on impressions of the Flower Pack DLC
![[Update] Downloadable Comment - Mario Golf: World Tour](https://media.pocketgamer.com/artwork/na-vutw/image.jpg)
My favourite thing about the Mario Golf: World Tour downloadable content takes place before you even buy any of it.
You see, where most games sell their bonus content through dull and faceless online stores, Nintendo's Silver Award-winning sports game has Toad play salesman and try to sell you on each pack, the season pass, or a free trial.
It's just another example of Nintendo putting a fun and personable twist on a feature that the other console manufacturers do with a series of boring po-faced menus.
But on what is Toad actually trying to sell you? Well, that's where we come in. As each pack is unlocked, we'll let you know what it includes and whether you should buy it.
First up, it's the Mushroom Pack...
Mushroom Pack - £5.39 / $5.99
Every DLC pack will include two courses and a character. The first new golfer we get is pink bobblehead Toadette, who is a straight shooter with the shortest drive of any character thus far. She does boast high control and a generous sweet spot, though.
Sadly, that feeble 181m hitting distance will make her pretty much useless in any serious competition.
The two courses are Toad Highlands and Koopa Park, which come from Mario Golf on the Nintendo 64. These courses are plain and flat. They're pretty much like the Forest Course only with Toad trees and Koopa balloons on the sidelines.
Luckily, you do get another set of challenges to play. There are 20 new ones on each. And to make up for having no character matches, they have four ring master challenges. Plus, some are quite a bit more challenging than the ones in the main game.
Overall, Mario Golf: World Tour's DLC debut is a disappointment.
Toadette's weak drive will limit her participation in competitions, for one. And while the two courses are nice retro throwbacks, they feel plain and dull among the more wacky holes of World Tour.
Unless you need to have absolutely everything or simply want some new challenges to play, I say hold off on this and wait to see what the Flower Pack contains.
Flower Pack - £5.39 / $5.99
This second DLC collection should probably be called the New Super Mario Bros. U pack. Not only does it feature Nabbit from that game, but both new courses are dressed up like levels from the Wii U platformer.
Take Sparkling Waters - a remake of Yoshi's Island from Mario Golf on N64 but with decorations from the NSMB. U level of the same name. Same goes for Layer-Cake Desert which is just Shy Guy Desert from the N64 game, but made to look like the Wii U one.
Thankfully, the courses are far more interesting than those in the Mushroom Pack.
Sparkling Waters is full of water hazards and big geyser pillars that become sneaky shortcuts if you have a fire flower. Layer-Cake is dotted with sand traps, forcing you to be accurate and precise.
The challenges are also pretty darn tough, adding some serious difficulty for World Tour veterans.
And then there's purple bunny burglar Nabbit. This guy has a weird play style with really low shots and an dramatically curved draw. He has a reasonable drive (213 yards), so advanced players may actually find a use for him. He's certainly more fun than Toadette.
This Flower Pack is much better than the Mushroom one. The courses are more imaginative and dynamic, the challenges are suitably tough, and new golfer Nabbit stands out from a crowded pack.
Star Pack - Due June 2014
Coming soon
Three-Pack Set - £10.79 / $14.99 until May 31st
The Thee-Pack Set acts as a season pass, which means you buy all the DLC at a reduced price, but you'll have to wait for each pack to come out before you can download it.
You do get immediate access to Gold Mario, though. He's a barmy metallic reskin of Mario (with all the same stats) who has an annoying bouncy ball and the inability to use any power-ups or power shots.
Instead, he gives you a coin for every yard your ball travels, which destroys any semblance of an in-game economy and quickly lets you buy every item in the game. I guess it's the Mario equivalent of a coin doubler.
This useless novelty character will also be available if you buy all three packs separately.
