Random Game O' the Day: Ninja Golf

[digitalpress]

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.

[s1lence]

Wow, that is Random.

[ClubNinja]

Ninja Golf = Only reason I keep my 7800 hooked up

So awesome. I'd love to see a sequel!

[AB Positive]

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?

-AG

[Gapporin]

"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]

"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]

"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]

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]

Wow, that is Random.

heh yeah, but not as random as the ZX Specturm game "Drunk Policeman"

[Raedon]

I want to play this game now.. to EBAY!! *RUNS OFF*

[Push Upstairs]

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

[Sotenga]

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/n...lf/default.php

[Kamino]

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.

[K3V]

I love this game. Ninjas make anything better

[Gapporin]

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]

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

But you DO get to kill the opponents in the two Mutant League games on the Genesis!

[vintagegamecrazy]

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]

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]

Ninjas make anything better

Well said.

[Pantechnicon]

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.