Zzap


Greg Norman's Ultimate Golf

Publisher: GBH Gold
Machine: Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #81

Greg Norman's Ultimate Golf

What's this? GBH charging an extra quid for a budget game? Still, I suppose we can forgive them if it's good enough...

The first thing you notice about Greg Norman's Ultimate Golf is the host of options it offers. Up to four human or computer players can participate in either a singles or doubles match, choosing either matchplay or strokeplay rules. The skill level of each computer player is determined by experience, stance, grip, swing, and fitness, factors which can also be set for human players to set a handicap.

The course is viewed in full 3D; the fairway covered with a square grid, making its contours easier to make out. Beware the inevitable trees and bunkers, not to mention lakes! An overhead map shows the entire hole, and is accompanied by an information display showing wind speed, distance from hole, weather conditions, etc. A shot is taken using the standard Leaderboard-style stop-the-power/hook-and-slice meter.

Ultimate Golf is a damned good game, but is one flaw short of being 'ultimate'. The 3D view inevitably takes time to draw, and has to be redrawn every time you use one of the option screens! This is a big disincentive to using them, which is a pity - they're really rather good! Still, golf was never a game for the impatient, and Greg Norman's Ultimate Golf's sheer playability makes it well worth a fiver.