Oct 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, grab your putters and pull out your golf pants because we're about to dive into a game that's about as close to pro golf as I am to becoming a yoga instructor. Yes, I'm talking about ACA Neo Geo: Big Tournament Golf! Originally known as Neo Turf Masters, this game is more retro than your dad's stories about walking uphill to school both ways. So, does it still hold up, or should it stay buried in the sand trap of history? Let's find out!
The gameplay in Big Tournament Golf is as breezy and laid-back as the game of golf itself, assuming you aren't one of those players who takes five hours lining up a perfect putt. You're greeted with two game modes: stroke play, which is perfect for those solo golfers (a.k.a. people who enjoy lonely afternoons), and match play for those who enjoy a good back-and-forth with a buddy. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone...unless, of course, one of you has anger management issues. Now, when it comes to selecting your golfer, you have six choices, each with their own unique skill set. Want George Spinner, the 'Young Hero' from the USA, or maybe you prefer Toyoshige Takeno, a 'Putt Master' from Japan? Pick your poison! Each character has attributes ranging from 'drive' to 'putting' that can influence your tactics-because why overload on skill when you can rely on charm and good looks? The controls are beautifully simple, utilizing only a single click for power and a second for height. Hook and slice? Forget multiple clicks like in other games! These are there for you to select with buttons B and C. It's almost like the developers wanted to ensure that you can still play while half-watching a Netflix series! And let's keep it real, the courses are tougher than your high school math tests. Expect water hazards, varying terrains, and wind effects that can have the strongest golfer questioning their life choices. What truly sets this game apart, though, is its ability to keep things light-hearted while also offering enough challenge to make you rage-quit more than once. No one said golf was easy, especially when it throws in wind that feels stronger than your aunt's tales about the one that got away!
The graphics are what you might call, um, charmingly retro. The art style sticks to classic '90s pixel graphics that can either invoke nostalgia or make you question your life choices. Sprites are colorful, partially digitized and bring enough detail to remind you of simpler times-complete with upbeat tunes that may or may not have you humming long after the console is off. This rendition of Big Tournament Golf remains surprisingly appealing for those with a soft spot for retro aesthetics. Think of it as fine wine: some may find it only gets better with age (or maybe they just had a few too many drinks before playing). Either way, you won't be dazzled like you would be with today's hyper-realistic graphics, but it's like looking through a warm, fuzzy filter of yesteryear where every pixel matters.
All in all, ACA Neo Geo: Big Tournament Golf is like that little gem you've forgotten about in your gaming drawer. It provides a fantastic blend of easy-to-learn controls and challenging gameplay that will keep both casual and hardcore golf fans entertained. It won't win any awards for groundbreaking graphics or storylines, but it makes up for it with its keen understanding of arcade fun. At the end of the day, is it perfect? No, but it's certainly worth a few rounds! So if you're in the mood to relive the glory days of pixelated sports or just looking for a fun diversion, this game is the hole-in-one you didn't know you needed. Just be prepared for occasional fits of rage when that perfectly aimed shot lands in the water, because what's golf without a healthy dose of frustration? Fore!
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