If you grew up on Nintendo handhelds in the '90s, you probably remember Camelot's unsung Game Boy Color adaptation of Mario Golf. It was more than just a golf game. There was a full-on RPG inside, complete with skill points, people to chat with, and a whole story that saw your humble golfer go from zero to hero. It was the last time Nintendo published a golf/RPG hybrid like that, and I've been hoping we'd get something like it ever since - and I don't even like golf.
Enter Golf Story, a golfing adventure from a small team called Sidebar Games, and it looks like everything I've ever wanted. The website describes it as a "dramatic story with a diverse cast of characters", featuring eight environments, golfer upgrades earned by completing quests and solving puzzles, and a variety of challenges like mini-golf, races, and even geocaching. You can check out the smooth, pixelated stylings in the trailer below.
Between this and Stardew Valley hitting Nintendo Switch soon, I'm going to be up to my eyeballs in retro-inspired updates to my favorite classic games. If all goes well, Golf Story should arrive on Nintendo Switch this summer. Color me excited.
