I do love a good golf video game. I hold any new golf game up against my holy trinity:
- Microprose Golf (1991, Atari ST)
- Mario Golf (1999, GBC)
- Links 2004 (2003, Xbox)
A few more of note that I’ve spent quality time with over the years:
- Everybody’s Golf (1997, PS1)
- Vijay Singh 3D Golf (2005, J2ME)
- Golf Story (2017, Switch)
Anyway, I recently discovered the series of golf games by Japanese developer T&E SOFT. Initially through the SNES versions I had added to my SNESC, but I quickly moved to the Mega Drive versions as they’re much better IMHO. Specifically, the Japanese releases with the extra dithered grass.
The best way to play the Mega Drive versions these days seems to be though the PicoDrive emulator, which allows the CPU to be overclocked to 400% and a few other niceties which all mean that game plays at a silky smooth 60fps and so feels quite modern.
I’ve since become slightly obsessed with the series. I was going to attempt to play them all. Until I saw exactly how many they released over the years. The task is made easier as they basically made one engine every few years and then released a bunch of games that used it. So that means I can get away with playing a slice of the following list if I do my research and pick the games accordingly. This will also be a little more affordable as importing old big box Japanese games is quite expensive.
THE LIST
Precursor
Real Golf Game
リアルゴルフゲーム
1982, PC-6001
Original
3-D Golf Simulation
3Dゴルフシミュレーション
1983, MSX
1982, FM-7
1983, PC-6001
1983, PC-8801
3D Golf Simulation Part 2
3Dゴルフシミュレーション Part 2
1984, PC-8801
3-D Golf Simulation - High-Speed Edition
3Dゴルフシミュレーション・高速版
1984, MSX
3-D Golf Simulation Super Version
3Dゴルフシミュレーション スーパーバージョン
1985, PC-6001 mkII
1
New 3D Golf Simulation: Harukanaru Augusta
遥かなるオーガスタ
1989, PC-98
1990, FM Towns
1991, X68000
1991, SFC
1993, MD
2
Eight Lakes G.C. (Add-on)
エイトレイクスG.C.
エイトレイクス ゴルフクラブ
1990, PC-98
1990, FM Towns
1991, X68000
3
T&E Selection (Add-on)
T&Eセレクション
1990, PC-98
New 3D Golf Simulation: Harukanaru Augusta HD
遥かなるオーガスタHD
1991, PC-98
4
Waialae no Kiseki (Waialae Country Club)
ワイアラエの奇蹟
1991, PC-98 (add-on)
1991, SNES
1992, SFC
1994, 3DO
1994, MD
1997, Satellaview
1998, N64
5
Pebble Beach no Hatou (Pebble Beach Golf Links)
ペブルビーチの波涛
1992, PC-98 (add-on)
1992, SFC/SNES
1993, MD
1995, 3DO
1995, SAT
6
Devil’s Course (Wicked 18)
デビルズコース
1992, PC-98 (add-on)
1993, SFC/SNES
1994, MD
1995, 3DO
Masters: Harukanaru Augusta 2
マスターズ 遙かなるオーガスタ2
1993, SFC
1994, PC-98 (no add-ons)
Masters New: Harukanaru Augusta 3
マスターズ NEW 遙かなるオーガスタ3
1994, 3DO
1995, SAT
1995, SFC
T&E Virtual Golf (Golf)
T&E ヴァーチャルゴルフ
1995, VB
The Hyper Golf: Devil’s Course (Valora Valley Golf)
ザ・ハイパーゴルフ デビルズコース
1995, SAT
Pebble Beach - The Great Shot
グレートショット ~ペブルビーチ~
1996, ARC (ST-V)
Pebble Beach no Hatou NEW: Tournament Edition
ペブルビーチの波濤 NEW トーナメント・エディション
1996, SFC
Masters New: Shin Harukanaru Augusta
マスターズ 新・遥かなるオーガスタ
MASTERS 新・遥かなるオーガスタ
1996, PSX
Pebble Beach no Hatou Plus
ペブルビーチの波濤PLUS
1996, PSX
Waialae no Kiseki: Extra 36 Holes
ワイアラエの奇蹟 Extra 36 Holes
1997, SAT
Jun Classic C.C. & Rope Club
ジュンクラシック&ロペ倶楽部
1997, SAT
1998, PSX
Masters '98: Harukanaru Augusta
MASTERS '98 遥かなるオーガスタ
1997, N64
Waialae Country Club: True Golf Classics
(Western only release)
1998, N64
Harukanaru Augusta for Windows
遙かなるオーガスタfor Windows
1999, Windows
Golf Paradise (Swing Away Golf)
ゴルフパラダイス
2000, PS2
Golf Paradise DX
ゴルフパラダイスDX
2000, PS2
Disney Golf Classic (Disney Golf)
ディズニーゴルフ クラシック
2002, PS2
Super Real Golf
2005, FOMA
Touch Golf (True Swing Golf)
大人のDSゴルフ
2005, NDS