Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

Nintendo's Mario Golf series returns for another round, this time on the GameCube format, and it plays better than ever. In Toadstool Tour, Nintendo's celebrities unite on courses that range from standard PGA types to wild Nintendo-themed affairs (the course based on Super Mario Sunshine is a particularly fine example). And yes, they're all here: from Donkey Kong to Wario, Bowser, and Mario himself. Nintendo enthusiasts will feel perfectly at home.

With its numerous game modes (which cater for up to four players and include non-standard golfing mini-games) Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour injects some vitality and excitement into a genre that is often painfully dull. Its Game Boy Advance link-up potential offers some innovation, too: flitting from Mario Golf on Game Boy Advance (available separately) to its bigger sibling enables new features.

The game boasts lovely bold visuals and great character, backed up by some delightfully chirpy music. Thanks to its incredible wealth of options, solo and multi-player modes and unlockable treats on offer, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour is the perfect golf game for players of all skill levels. --Jonti Davies