The world's premier resource for SEGA's arcade and console hardware legacy!
No one today doubts the massive popularity of EA’s Tiger Woods series. It’s been a juggernaut for more than a decade, going back to its console roots on the Genesis as PGA Tour Golf, and even farther back than that on computers. The first title was a massive hit, and the sequel offered more of everything without really fiddling with the formula. Was it a recipe for success or did it hit the rough?
Many gamers grew up with the local mini golf center, or “putt putt.” Ah, spending a Saturday night playing a few rounds, wasting quarters on Ms. Pac-Man and other classic coin-ops, and finishing it all off with some tasty nachos. Not a bad way for a young teen to spend an evening, but what did you do when it rained or you had no money? Why, you played Zany Golf! Well, at least you did on the computer. The Genesis port didn’t fare too well in the transition, and that’s a shame, as Will Harvey’s classic was a true blast to play when it debuted for the Apple II in 1988. Sluggish control is a constant reminder that this is a game meant to be played with a mouse, and the overall package hasn’t aged well at all.
Despite its maligned reputation, the 32X has a suprisingly decent sports library. World Series Baseball, FIFA Soccer ’96, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, and an adequate version of Quarterback Club cover most of the bases, and the group is rounded out by a solid golf title. Bearing perhaps the longest name in all of Sega gaming, Golf Magazine: 36 Great Holes of Golf Starring Fred Couples is a great way for the golf novice to jump into the sport. It’s also another fun game for your neglected mushroom! Read our full review for more information.
Ever since Sterling Silver Software (later called Polygames) started the PGA Tour Golf series on the Genesis, consoles have been getting a yearly fix. The franchise is huge now, with brand exclusivity and Tiger Woods’ face plastered on the box, but it all started on Sega’s little black box.
With all the later, more advanced offerings by Sega and Electronic Arts, most people tend to forget the early sports games released on the Genesis. Some of them are rightly forgotten, but others such as Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf, still hold up pretty well. Granted, you’re not going to get the full PGA experience, but it’s still a fun way to spend an afternoon.