Tee off with Mario (and Luigi, too, in two-player mode) in this classic sporting simulation from 1992.
In NES Open Tournament Golf, choose from three international courses – UK, US and Japan – and three different game types – Stroke Play, Match Play and Tournament.
Set up your shot on the overhead map screen by choosing the correct club and adjusting for wind speed and direction, then switch to the action screen and make your shot using careful timing.
Review by Darren Calvert
Even back in the golden days of the NES our friend Mario wasn't shy of pimping himself into other genres. Why not anyway? It certainly makes an otherwise dull game that bit more appealing.
This golf game offers 3 courses, the USA, UK and Japan. These courses range in difficulty. In addition to that you start off in the amateur rank and can move up in the ranking to become a pro. Aside from the normal golf game you can take part in contests like doing the furthest drive and hitting the ball closest to the pin. You will certainly get your value for money here.
Some genres really don't benefit from advanced gameplay mechanics, graphics, etc but most sport games including golf do seem to have improved dramatically over the last 10 years. It's not to say this game lacks charm or depth in it's gameplay. It has bags of it, but if you really want a good game of golf you could do much better with Mario's more recent outings, or indeed Tiger Woods or Wii Sports.
All that is beside the point though. This is a 8-bit game and as such it's very competent and fun to play. It does what it says on the tin. If the idea of playing a retro golf game with Mario and Co appeals to you then give this game a try, you could do a lot worse.
Average reader rating: 2.73 (15 ratings)
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1. nypad5
06 Apr 2007, 23:47 GMT
This is an under-rated game for its time. It has 3 wonderful levels and its golf at its finest for the time. If you have ever played mario golf for the game boy color...its kina the same thing. I highly recomend this for a download
2. Drake
06 May 2007, 22:20 GMT
Still have the original cartridge - picked it up a view years ago complete with the box and manual for like 5 euros. It's pretty much the first Mario Golf game, although it comes nowhere near the awesomeness Mario Golf for the N64 just oozes.
3. mario/zelda_fan
08 May 2007, 19:16 GMT
Can't you play this game on the game cube vision of Animal Crossing?
4. Drake
10 May 2007, 20:45 GMT
Any other games NGamer has listed as available that aren't? This game's coming tonight, so if they have more games like this then that may mean they're coming soon as well.
5. RoninDennis
11 May 2007, 10:16 GMT
I never knew Peach had such a sexy twin! I can see it now, after a hard day's golf Mario and Luigi are chillin' at the club with a bottle of chianti, and two hot Peaches at their disposal. C'mere, bebbe! Five star game!
6. DK
11 May 2007, 15:25 GMT
It's also $45 cheaper then the newer golf titles!
7. alexanderpas
14 May 2007, 14:13 GMT
but remember, still $5 more then wii sports
8. SKTTR
11 Jun 2007, 11:48 GMT
I wonder why Nintendo hasn't started with the classic "Golf" first.
Instead they come with this. It's the best NES-golf I've ever played.
And it's the predecessor of Mario Golf! It's addictive and every golf fan should get it.
I think 3 stars isn't fair because it's the best Golf game on the NES.
Maybe there have been better ones, but I don't know.
4.5 stars is what it deserves because it has much variety in courses, different modes, great classic golf-gameplay, a nice soundtrack and good graphics.
9. Kevin
18 Jun 2007, 14:26 GMT
@mario/zelda_fan: That the was Nintendo's crappy golf game called just Golf.
10. PresidentLeever
18 Jun 2007, 15:47 GMT
If you really want a good game of golf you could do much better with something more recent.
11. Bass X0
25 Jun 2007, 14:56 GMT
That is true. May as well stick with Wii Sports Golf. Much more entertaining.
12. Jade Louise
01 Aug 2007, 23:33 GMT
Loads of old games hold up today with the expection of sports games(bar World Series Baseball II on the Saturn which has not been better for me in terms of pick up and play) which in general are far better today. Get Minna No Golf 5(Everybody's Golf 5 for Europeans, Hot Shots Golf 5 for North American people) for the PS3 for the best golf game out there. If you have no PS3 then Tiger Woods 08 on the wii is out this month, plus you could also get the excellent Mario Golf for the Gamecube.
13. learn japanese ds
10 Jan 2008, 01:44 GMT
it has got to difficult to recommend any golf game for NES, especially when everyone with a Wii already has Wii Sports.
14. Adamant
25 Jun 2008, 02:41 GMT
@SKTTR: "I wonder why Nintendo hasn't started with the classic "Golf" first."
Probably because even they realise that "Golf" is so ass no one would ever consider buying it.
15. Mr. Cheez
03 Jul 2008, 20:54 GMT
The original "Golf" was the most boring piece of shite ever in the history of generically-named NES sports games . It's even worse than Baseball XP.
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