Neo Turf Masters

Neo Turf Masters[lower-alpha 1] is a golf video game by Nazca for the Neo Geo, released in 1996. This is also one of the first two titles by Nazca, the other being the popular Metal Slug before & between being acquired by SNK.

Neo Turf Masters
Developer(s)Nazca Corporation
Saurus (NGPC)
DotEmu (Mobile/PC)
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Takashi Nishiyama
Y. Kohdoh
Programmer(s)H. Yamada
Composer(s)Takushi Hiyamuta
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

The game was released as an arcade cartridge (MVS) and as home cartridge (AES), as well as for the Neo Geo CD console. The Neo Geo version was later re-released as part of the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 compilation for the PS2, Wii and PSP, as well as for the Wii Virtual Console.[1] The game has also been ported to the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch by Hamster as part of their Arcade Archives series.

A version for the Neo Geo Pocket Color was later released in North America in 1999. The NGPC version features cartoonish, less detailed graphics compared to the Neo Geo version which had partially digitized sprites and realistic art.[2]

Gameplay
Arcade version screenshot.

The game is a fast-paced, arcade-style golf game. Players choose from two game modes, stroke play for one or two players, and match play for two players only.[3]

Competing on one of four fictional golf courses located in the United States, Japan, Australia and Germany, players choose from one of six players with different attributes:

Name Nationality Skills Drive Precision Technique Stamina Putting
George Spinner
Young Hero
 ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
Thomas Stewart
Technician
 •• •••• ••••• •••• •••
Frank Adams
Veteran
 • •• •••• ••••• ••
Robert Landolt
Shot Maker
 •••• ••••• •• •• ••••
Fernand Almeida
Power Golfer
 ••••• • • • •
Toyoshige Takeno
Putt Master
 ••• •• •••• •• •••••

Unlike many golf games of the era which used a two-click swing system to determine the hook or slice of the ball, Neo Turf Masters uses a single click for the power of the shot, and a second for the height of the shot; hook and slice are selected with buttons B and C before making the shot. This makes the game much easier to pick up and play than its more technically demanding contemporaries, but it compensates for this reduced difficulty with fiendish (if somewhat unrealistic) course layouts and highly variable wind.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Neo Turf Masters on their March 15, 1996 issue as being the twelfth most-successful arcade game of the year.[4]

IGN gave the Virtual Console release of the game 7.5 out of 10 stating "If you're the type of gamer who appreciates SNK's arcade style and can jibe with the idea of juiced-up, high-speed golf, Neo Turf might be well worth your 900 Wii Points".[5]

Notes
  1. Also known as Big Tournament Golf (Japanese: ビッグトーナメントゴルフ, Hepburn: Biggu Tōnamento Gorufu) in Japan.

References
  1. "USA VC Releases: Mega Man and Neo Turf Masters". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  2. "Neo Turf Masters NGPC Review at NeoGeoForLife.com". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  3. "IGN: Neo Turf Masters Review". Archived from the original on 2008-08-23. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  4. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 514. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 March 1996. p. 25.
  5. http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/08/19/neo-turf-masters-review
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