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Hole In One |
Copyright/Publisher: MAD (Mastertronic Added Dimension),
Release Year: 1986, Genre: Golf, Number Of Players: 1 or 2
Hole In One is Mastertronic's addition to the growing range of golf simulations for the 64.
You start on the fairway, legs astride, in your Pringle jumper and checkered flares. Your caddybag
is beside you and although it may look empty, it contains a veritable plethora of assorted
sticks, sorry, clubs from which to choose.
The first thing to do, as any experienced golfer will tell you, is to have a drink - which
may explain the character's unusual stance. Then, choose your club from a selection of irons
and woods - it's best to start with a one wood. Once you have selected a club an arrow appears
at the top of the screen. This can be moved to change the direction in which the ball travels.
Pressing the fire button gains control of the club, and pulling back on the joystick swings the
club.
The stroke is played by pressing the fire button a second time. You may have to play several
shots to get the ball onto the green, but once you get there you can go for the hole, which
is presented in a small window in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. By correctly
positioning an arrow behind the hole you should be able to sink the ball.
There is also an option for a two player game where each player takes his or her turn as
dictated by the rules of golf. Oh, and there's a practice option which allows you to tour the course.
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R.E. |
I've never played Leader Board, but it's not at all difficult to tell that this is a third class
rip-off. What we have here is a game which should be called 'Mr Deformed Sprite Gets Hold of a
Twig and Hits a Hydrogen-Filled Ball' because that's all there is to it. What annoys me most (I
was amused at first, though) is what happens when you hit the ball into a lake: the screen redraws
the surroundings and you see yourself standing on the surface of the lake! The program then realises
this is impossible and returns you to the tee! Oh dear. As far as I'm concerned, a cup of tea and
a round of sandwiches are far more enjoyable than a round of Hole in One.
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Julian Rignall |
After Leader Board we're back to the really dire golf programs. This is really bad, maybe
with a little extra programming it could have been good, but as it stands it's a really dull
golf game. It's also frustrating.boring and completely and utterly NAFF! The graphics are
very poor - the loading screen looks like an elephant man playing golf, the main sprite is
completely deformed, and the ball moves as though there's a 90 mph gale on the course as it
goes all over the shop. Save your pennies and buy Leader Board, it's more expensive, but miles
better.
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Gary Penn |
If Hole in One looked, sounded and played more like Leader Board then it would be amazing.
Unfortunelately, it doesn't and isn't. With a bit more effort Hole in One could have been
as good as Leader Board but with English style golf courses. However, the golfer looks rather
deformed, although he is well animated, and the ball movement is poor - very unrealistic.
I like the way the scenery is drawn, but I don't like playing the game. It's a shame Hole
in One doesn't look and play better - it would have been great.
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