Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

li
C+VG MINI PUTT
I•MACHINE: COMMODORE 64
ACCOLADE ELECTRONIC
ARTS
III
,
DISK
VERSION TESTED:
- COMMODORE 64
P1*
REVIEWER: RICHARD HEWISON
R
We've had a Professional Golf
I
Simulator in the form of
CLeaderboard
in its many and
Evaried
versions, now Accolade
: hope to plug in a golfing gap by
Ereleasing
Mini-Putt -the
9wackiest
miniature golf game in
the world.
.
Miniature golf is probably
9better
known in the U.K. as
5 crazy golf, where rookie golfers
Ccan
play through small courses
Adistinguished
by their unique
Sobstacles
and hazards.
Mini-Putt offers a three
S
window overview of each hole.
E
The largest window shows the
Tcurrent
play area and a
Tmoveable
cursor controlled by
Ejoystick
which you use to aim
, your putts. Beneath the main
E
window are the two other
windows, including a close up
1
of "Mini-Putt Pete" who is
4
shown swinging his golf club
. when you make a shot, as well
9as
jumping up the air when you
5score
a hole in one or make a
putt under par. The other
window is an overview map of
the current hole and a simple
score board.
There are four 9 hole courses
on offer: Deluxe, Classic,
Traditional or Challenge. The
best for graphics and gameplay
is the Classic course, where you
have to putt your way past
swinging elephant trunks,
IOW
40
windmill sails, airplane
propellers, a castle, the space
shuttle and a cannon which will
fire your ball into the hole for
you! The other courses use
various walls and different
terrain on the putting green to
divert the ball. Graduation
arrows help to indicate the
slope of the terrain on each
hole. Whilst it adds some
accuracy to the game, it does
make the graphics look very
basic.
The continuing success of
golf games is a mystery to me. I
mean how many people do you
know who regularly head for
the golf course on a Saturday
morning. It's not exactly the
kind of activity you associate
with your average computer
games player,
can't help feeling that with
Mini Putt the golf boom has
gone as far as it is going to.
Sure, I know people probably
said the same thing when the
'nth Ninja game hit the shops.
* * •-• -• 411 4,.•*14,
4 • lb't•
41.• A O . . 4 4 , 4 0 1 0 4 -
41 4 4
I
"
'
•
* 4, 4 • 4
, 4-1k44 4 4 4 4 4 +
* 4
i 49
. 9 9 4 9 9 • iiii•
4-
t1P-4.4.
1 !
' 4 411,•••.*-1•1'10,1-4,4-4v4
•
• •"!
II- .11-* 41- At + 0• •-• -4, 4 4
4,.
4 4-*- 4- ib• t
*.trktoitt • -14
o s
' 4 •+
-
e ,
•
•
1
"
10-
•4.
1,
•1
•••
"ttl'
4
0
-
- • •444
,
4+
F
a-
•
i
,
t
.
49
,
+
4
l
f
e
-
l
o
•
i
.
4
-
t
-
*
4
-
1
4
S
The proliferation of golf
games does illustrate one of the
most aggravating aspects of the
games business. The copying,
plagiarising, and lack of
originality. The rule seems to be
if you spot a successful idea
copy it. True, Mini Putt does
have a fair amount of originality
- in that its not just the normal
eighteen holes, bunkers, lakes,
trees and what have you but
adds some of the wackiness of
crazy gold.
But generally there is an
appauling lack of originality in
the games business right now.
Witness the developments in
the budget business.
Codemasters notch up a fair
degree of success with the
'simulator' range. Then what
happens? Do the other
budgeteers attempt to find out
what it was about the Coders
PRAC I CE'
approach that worked. Do they
attempt to emulate their
excellent high profile in the
national media. No way -they
just cynically launch a add the
word 'simulator' to their own
titles.
If all of the courses were as
good as the Classic course, then
there would be little to fault.
However, the graphics on the
others are disappointing and
after just a few plays the holes
become ridiculously easy.
Mini-Putt is fun to begin with.
but the overall challenge soon
fades and the multi-load (on the
tape version) soon becomes a
bit of a pain. You'll soon be
yearning for the 30 displays and
more professional golf games.
Don't be putt off of Accolade
games by the disappointment
of Mint Putt. They are one of the
I• GRAPHICS
P.. SOUND
Po- VALUE
PLAYABILITY
•
•
6
5
6
7