Genesis ~ Zany Golf Review

Overview

Looking at the name of the game, I was expecting a fun minigolf game that was out of the ordinary. The moment the intro screen came on, I had to wait about 3 seconds before this clowny theme-park tune started to play. I didn't have to think then, I just instantly knew I was in for a special treat!

Gameplay

The game is played on a typical 3D isometric birds eye view.

Like in minigolf, you try to tap the ball into the hole in as few strokes as you can. But in this game, the courses are filled with all sorts of fun and crazy little things that you won't find in a real minigolf course. Such as this one where you rotate the d-pad to spin these fans to blow the ball through a maze. There is even one with a pinball machine! In a way, this is like Marble Madness where you "are the ball", telling it where to go and avoiding nasty places. The main catch to this game how is you are given an amount of strokes and successfully completing a course will earn you more strokes. But the sad thing is if you run out of strokes, it's game over.

8.5 out of 10

Graphics

The whole game looks very colourful. A lot of things are shaded in with multiple colours for a more detailed and realistic look. Still, I can't help but sense of how the overall appearance looks somewhat messy, especially the grass.

4.5 out of 5

Sound and Music

The looney circus-like sound effects and music are very well suited to this game. Although I think the golf ball shouldn't have had a "tinky dink" sound effect.

4.5 out of 5

Controls, Difficulty, Versatility

Hitting the ball is quite simple. You just hold down A on the ball, then position the cursor into the opposite direction to where you want to tap the ball, then release A. You pull back further if you want more power behind the shot. It is quite difficult to judge the direction you're tapping the ball, because when you move the cursor around, all you get are these hard to see white dots. It would actually help if you had a pen or a ruler to stick on the screen.

I found one of the courses to be perhaps too silly even though that is the theme of the game, because it can sometimes be impossible to get the ball in. The hole is positioned at the top of a hill and you use these bumpers to push it up the hill, except the hole is randomly shifting itself around, meaning you're relying more on chance.

There are 4 levels of difficulty, practice, beginner, intermediate and advanced. Changing the difficulty will change the par and strokes you earn after completing courses, so even arrogant mini-golfers like parents can be put to the test!

3 out of 5

Replayability and Longevity

The number of courses is nearly laughable, only 9 of them! You should be able to complete them all in under half an hour, which is a joke. Surely another 9 holes could've been crammed into the cartridge for a proper 18 hole golf course. So the only way to save yourself from complete boredom is to bring out the multiplayer mode where up to 4 can play alternatively through the 9 courses.

2.5 out of 5

For: bizzare play of minigolf, courses filled with fun and crazy little obstacles, colourful graphics and sound, simple controls.

Against: difficult to judge direction of ball, only 9 holes, limited number of strokes can be harsh at times, one silly hole nearly ruins the whole game.

This is a fantastic game to waste your time on a weekend afternoon. Without anyone else to play with, you're unlikely to want to shove the cartridge in again. Falls 9 holes short of being an excellent game.