Neo Turf Masters review by Torture

Neo Turf Masters, Neo Geo Pocket’s only golf game hasn’t had much fanfare about it. This is not unexpected, as golf games really don’t reach the same target audience as other, more high profile titles. Luckily, the system’s only golf title is also a very good game. I, personally, enjoy golf video games, such as Hot Shots Golf for Playstation, and NES Open Tournament Golf, the forerunner to Mario Golf. Turf Masters though, is quite different from the other games I have played, but it is still a fun game to play.

Graphics
As we’ve all come to expect from the Neo Geo Pocket, the visuals are very good. The presentation of the game is not very different from other golf titles. The main view of the course is from above, with a light green representing the fairway, dark for rough, brown for out of bounds, etc. Everything is similar to other golf games. Of course, when hitting the ball, the view switches to behind the player, also like other games. Everything is very clear, thanks to the NGP hardware, and good use of color. What impressed me most about the game visually was the scrolling after hitting the ball. The game moves very briskly and smoothly as it follows the ball along the course. It is not the kind of thing that will blow people away, but I really liked the scrolling, it seemed smoother than other games I have played.

Sound
As I’ve experienced with other golf games, the music is a bit repetetive. There is not a great vareity of music in this game, which isn’t helped since the music restarts as screens change. The music is adequate though, which is what I can say for most NGP games. I enjoy good sound, but in games like this, as long as it does not detract from the game, I’m good. As for sound effects, they’re pretty good, though there aren’t too many variations. I especially like the applause after completing holes under par. All in all, this won’t sell the game, but what else is new?

Gameplay
This category makes or breaks golf titles. Other genres may focus more on visuals, but gameplay is even more important for golf. The formula for golf games has been refined over the years, and developers have figured out what works best. Turf does not deviate too much from the formula, but there are some significant differences. One thing I like is that stokes can be cancelled. In games I have played, once you initiate the stroke, there’s no going back. In these games, the golfer’s stoke corresponds to the meter for the hit. In Turf however, the golfer will hit the ball after you input all commands. Being able to cancel reduces mistakes, which makes things easier for me to deal with. Also, when taking strokes, there are 2 meters, one for power, and the other for height and spin, which is usually determined in other games by the controller. Similarly, slicing ang hooking is different, controlled by the D-pad before the shot. Putting is similar to other games. The green is difficult to read, but not impossible. The putting meter shows how much power to give it, but I find that this can be wrong at times, so putting is not as easy as it looks. Since this is golf, and there are variables like accuracy and wind, the game can be upredictable and quite difficult. I’ve lost matches due to troublesome holes that cost me too many strokes. This makes the game frustrating at times, but also adds replay value because it’s difficut to recreate success.

Overall
I like this game a lot. I’m a fan of golf games, and I waited for this one. It did not disappoint me. The quirky course locations add personality to this game, as do the lineup of golfers. The game plays well, with only a few variations on a proven formula. The game does get to be quite difficult at times, but despite that, the game remains usually fun to play. The game is a bit light on extras, but there are better clubs to earn. I don’t know how it compares to Mario Golf, but Turf is a great golf game on its own, and a worthy addition to an NGP game library. Naturaly, those who don’t like golf games won’t like it, but it’s a good game to play, even if you’re not a fan of the sport.