View Full Version : Random Game O' the Day: Ninja Golf
digitalpress
02-02-2005, 10:36 AM
There's a reason why it's called RANDOM game o' the day: you never quite know what it's going to cough up. And today it's coughed up a hairball of a game (I mean that in a good way), the rather odd Ninja Golf for the Atari 7800.
So you're this ninja, you see. And you're on the golf course. The concept is that you stroke the ball, then as you walk to the new location you're attacked by various bad ninjas, giant frogs, sand trap snakes, water hazard sharks, and the like. Dispatch them with martial arts and shuriken and when you reach the ball you do it again. For nine grueling holes. It's not the greatest fighting or golfing game but the fact that they're both together makes for some fun at least one time through.
Ever play it? Share your opinion of the game!
DP Guide sez:
Ninja Golf (Atari 7800, by Atari) $7/R3
Designed by David Dentt. Now this is my kind of golf! Take to the links and kick ass on any person or creature that crosses your path. EASTER EGGS: To access the hidden joystick test, follow these instructions: Hold down "Pause" while turning on the console and continue to hold it until the Atari logo disappears and you have a black screen. Release "Pause" and now hold down "Select". While holding down "Select", toggle the right difficulty switch and you will get a joystick test screen complete with cool looking dragon. #CX7870.
http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari7800/ninjagolf_2.gif http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/atari7800/ninjagolf_3.gif
s1lence
02-02-2005, 10:43 AM
Wow, that is Random.
ClubNinja
02-02-2005, 10:46 AM
Ninja Golf = Only reason I keep my 7800 hooked up
So awesome. I'd love to see a sequel!
AB Positive
02-02-2005, 10:52 AM
Easily the most memorable 7800 game. Don't know if I'd call it the best, but it is up there. who knew making the green meant facing the evil dragon? :D
-AG
Gapporin
02-02-2005, 11:47 AM
"Ninja" and "Golf" are two words that I thought I would never hear in the same sentence. But this game pulls it off quite well, and is probably the only sports/brawler hybrid game ever! (If there is more, please do tell.)
digitalpress
02-02-2005, 11:58 AM
"Ninja" and "Golf" are two words that I thought I would never hear in the same sentence. But this game pulls it off quite well, and is probably the only sports/brawler hybrid game ever! (If there is more, please do tell.)
How about Arch-Rivals? Pigskin Footbrawl? Hit the Ice? I think they qualify, though none of these are nearly as oddball in concept as Ninja Golf.
Graham Mitchell
02-02-2005, 12:09 PM
"Ninja" and "Golf" are two words that I thought I would never hear in the same sentence. But this game pulls it off quite well, and is probably the only sports/brawler hybrid game ever! (If there is more, please do tell.)
A lot of Technos' games on the NES were like that, too. Super Dodge Ball is one, and I remember Nintendo World Cup having a lot of kicking and bashing into people, and it kind of reminded me of River City Ransom.
NeoZeedeater
02-02-2005, 12:46 PM
Ninja Golf isn't great but it definitely has a certain charm to it and I think it's one of the better 7800 games. It's too bad the Lynx or Jag never got a sequel.
Cauterize
02-02-2005, 01:00 PM
Wow, that is Random.
heh yeah, but not as random as the ZX Specturm game "Drunk Policeman"
Raedon
02-02-2005, 02:57 PM
I want to play this game now.. to EBAY!! *RUNS OFF*
Push Upstairs
02-02-2005, 03:28 PM
I remember hearing about this game for the first time about a year and half ago.
My idea was that it was like "Links" or "Tiger Woods" golf games except you run down the green fighting off ninjas that lept out of trees and such.
Well I know the 7800 wasn't capable of 3D or how i envisioned the game...but fighting sharks in the water hazard was hilarious.
3D remake please :D
Sotenga
02-02-2005, 03:56 PM
Aw man, this game is one of the few blindingly sparkling gems available for the 7800. I love it! I mean, besides from the basic army of ninjas that you have to kick off (giving the game a kinda Kung-Fu Master feel to it), there are gophers, snakes, birds, toads, and sharks to deal with, and of course, the obligatory dragon battle at the green. What's not to love about this game? I mean, the title says it all!
Forgive the plug to I-Mockery, but you can learn more about this game here (and it's actually here that I first learned about it): http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/ninjagolf/default.php
Kamino
02-02-2005, 04:01 PM
ASDF!!!
I have a copy of this in the mail _right_now_. hopefully, HOPEFULLY it comes today....Right now, it's sealed. The minute i get my grubby hands on it, that changes.
I love this game. Ninjas make anything better :)
Gapporin
02-03-2005, 02:07 PM
How about Arch-Rivals? Pigskin Footbrawl? Hit the Ice? I think they qualify, though none of these are nearly as oddball in concept as Ninja Golf.
Yeah, but in those games, you don't really pummel your opponents on the way to the basket/endzone/goalpost, like you do in Ninja Golf. I think the closest would be Pigskin, but like I said, it's not Ninja Golf.
digitalpress
02-03-2005, 02:10 PM
How about Arch-Rivals? Pigskin Footbrawl? Hit the Ice? I think they qualify, though none of these are nearly as oddball in concept as Ninja Golf.
Yeah, but in those games, you don't really pummel your opponents on the way to the basket/endzone/goalpost, like you do in Ninja Golf. I think the closest would be Pigskin, but like I said, it's not Ninja Golf.
Well you don't actually KILL them like you do in Ninja Golf 8-)
But you DO get to kill the opponents in the two Mutant League games on the Genesis!
vintagegamecrazy
02-03-2005, 02:17 PM
I've played better 7800 games, but this is definately a great conversation piece, try mentioning this to a co worker who only knows about the popular systems and you have instant conversation.
Great topic
Jorpho
02-03-2005, 03:34 PM
It seems a vaguely similar concept was used more recently in Microsoft's Links Extreme (PC), which among other things features a mode in which you get to hit explosive golf balls at moving targets. It didn't do too well, apparently.
An even more obscure example is Itchy and Scratchy's Minature Golf Madness (GB), in which Scratchy fights off armies of Itchies while trying to putt a ball towards a hole.
blissfulnoise
02-03-2005, 03:41 PM
Ninjas make anything better :)
Well said.
Pantechnicon
02-03-2005, 04:55 PM
Love Ninja Golf. I'm not terribly great at either ninjitsu or golf but I enjoy this one a great deal. One of the gems in my 7800 collection fer shure.
Add "Brutal Sports Football" (Jaguar) to the list of sports/melee games.
Berserker
02-03-2005, 05:21 PM
...I don't really have anything to add to this thread, except to say that I think the world is much better off WITH Ninja Golf, than without it.
slip81
02-03-2005, 05:50 PM
This game seems like a prime example of how anything can be made better with Ninjas.
scooterb23
02-03-2005, 06:48 PM
I love me some Ninja Golf. Sadly, I've only played it on emulator...,I would love a real copy...it's my holy grail right now.
I have the Itchy & Scratchy Minigolf Madness game for GB, and it's good...but not quite Ninja Golf.
*wanders off to find a 7800 Emulator and teh r0mz*
Crush Crawfish
02-03-2005, 08:30 PM
Man, this game is the main reason I want to get some wires for this loose 7800 I've had lying around. Ninja are freakin' awesome. I'd love to see an update to this game on a new system. we need more crazy ideas like this.
Jorpho
02-03-2005, 08:41 PM
Oh, and of course there's Ninja Baseball Bat-Man for MAME, which continues the theme of ninjas and their sporting ability.
Gamereviewgod
02-03-2005, 08:47 PM
Wow is this one a blast. I could do without the gophers and sharks (way too cheap), but it's a beat-em-up, simple golf, and a Shinobi style "putting" all in one. That's variety.
I see that this is in the rumor mill for the 2600 and XE. Is there a proto around for either?