Recent developments have caused me to look into the golfing phenomenom on the NES system. After acquiring a multitude of golf games, I will compare and contrast each title to crown an ultimate golf champion. The competitors are: Golf, Fighting Golf, NES Open, Jack Nicklaus’ Golf, and the lesser-known Golf Power and Golf Grand Slam. Each game offers a different take on the good walk spoiled and provides a unique experience. Up today: the original Golf.
Boasting the first appearance of Mario outside of an official Mario game, this is also one the earliest games made for the NES. Sporting a black label, this game is often found in bargain bins for less than one American dollar. This game is about as simplistic as it can get. Using the trusty three button method (one push to start the swing, one push for power, one push for accuracy), this game features three windows on the main screen. One provides hole and wind information, one provides an overhead shot of the hole, and one shows Mario swinging the club, along with a depicition of the ball’s current location.
This game gets right into the action with no optional setup. One 18 hole course is available, and each hole offers it’s own challenge. What keeps me coming back to this game is the chance for improvement each time I play. It takes about fifteen minutes to play through and it really feels like an accomplishment to get a good score.
What can be frustrating about this game is mostly twofold. The aiming system provides only the eight cardinal directions on the compass, eliminating precise locations of shots. The other is that the only way to determine the power of each shot is through trial and error, much like real life. Expect the first few rounds to go into the hundreds. Any shot landing in the trees is considered out of bounds, and water hazards are also frequent.
Once this system is conquered, though, it becomes second nature to know which club to select for each distance. The approximation is part of the fun. For the shortest of shots onto the green, I find it’s best just to putt than fiddle with the sand wedge.
While simple, this game has it’s charms. It can be nail-biting to watch a shot just clear the water or curve out of the trees. I found this game to be a lot of fun after some practice. Best score: +6.
-mlbradley