Mario Golf: Super Rush is coming to Nintendo Switch in late June, and it's shaping up to be quite a robust addition to the long-running golf series. There is a brand-new adventure mode with Mii character progression and a new Speed Golf mode with a Battle variant, and the game supports both motion and button-only control schemes. But Mario Golf: Super Rush is lacking one thing Nintendo fans have come to expect: a large roster of notable characters.
Not every game has to have the massive roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the 16-character roster revealed for Super Rush is a little disappointing, especially because a few series staples have been left out in favor of stranger choices. Villains like King Bob-omb and Bowser Jr. are welcome additions to the Mario Golf team, but more obscure baddies like Chargin' Chuck feel out of place when more recognizable characters aren't included.
There's always a chance Nintendo is keeping more characters hidden behind gameplay unlocks. Past entries have usually had some form of gated characters, with a special game mode or a head-to-head round of golf needed to make them playable. So far, there has been no indication of that being the case, but there are a few characters who deserve to make an appearance.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Birdo
Birdo first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2 as an enemy but has since become a franchise staple, serving as a friendly Yoshi alternate. Birdo has appeared in past Mario Golf games as well as Mario Kart and the most recent Mario sports game, Mario Tennis Aces - though only as a post-launch addition.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Diddy Kong
Like Birdo, Diddy Kong has long been a recurring character in various Mario games, including Mario Golf. He was also added to Mario Tennis Aces post-release, so there is still hope he could make an appearance in Super Rush. A close companion and friend to confirmed Super Rush golfer Donkey Kong, it would be a missed opportunity if Diddy were left off the roster completely.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Professor E. Gadd
Professor Elvin Gadd debuted as the eccentric inventor of the Poltergust 3000 in Luigi's Mansion. Though he has a prominent role in the rest of the series, including the most recent Next Level Games title, Luigi's Mansion 3, he has never been a playable character in a Mario game. A wacky and endearing side character, it's about time Professor E. Gadd was added to the likes of Mario Golf: Super Rush.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Shy Guy
Just like Birdo, Shy Guy first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2 and has turned into a series regular. Shy Guy is frequently found in Mario games with large rosters, such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario Party. The many colors Shy Guys wear would be a perfect addition to Mario Golf: Super Rush, since players have been able to choose between a handful of colors for their golfers in past games.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Toadette
Toadette's exclusion from Mario Golf: Super Rush, in light of Toad's inclusion, is even more surprising than Birdo being left out when Yoshi is playable. Toadette was a golfer in the last Mario Golf game, the 3DS' World Tour, though she was included as a downloadable character and was not a part of the initial lineup. As one of the few unique Toad characters in the Mario universe, she should have as much of the spotlight as possible.
Missing Mario Golf: Super Rush Characters - Honorable Mentions
Apart from the five above, there are plenty of recurring side characters in the many Mario games that deserve a spot in Super Rush. Plenty of enemies in the Super Mario games have become recognizable in their own right and have appeared as playable characters in past party games, such as Dry Bones, Koopa Troopa, and Monty Mole. Chargin' Chuck may deserve congratulations for making his playable debut in Super Rush, but there are plenty of other, well-known characters that should get the chance to tee off.
Mario Golf: Super Rush releases for Nintendo Switch on June 25, 2021.