Jack Nicklaus' Power Challenge Golf for Genesis

Image: MobyGames

Jack Nicklaus' Power Challenge Golf

Un Bear-able

Genre: sports - golf

Publisher: Accolade

Year: 1993

System: Genesis

Gameplay Score: 1

Gameplay Notes:

There are a lot of things to dislike about this game. The main problem is that you can't see the overview of the hole. You just have to work from memory and guess which direction to aim for and how far too hit it. Oh and to set the power is quite a weird experience since the meter jumps in speed near the top 20% of the gauge making it near impossible to hit 100%. Instead the most reliable thing to do is to let it go to the very top and then only press once to stop it at the bottom. Allowing it to go to the top ensures you always got it at 120%. Again this is super weird and feels like an unintended cheat. So just pick a club that it 20% weaker than you need. The other major problem with the scheme is that when you do change the direction of your shot you have to hold down on the d-pad until it starts moving and then it zooms across and you have to let go. It just the right moment and each time you do this the screen has to repaint. This takes 5 seconds or so, so making tiny adjustments means It can take 30 or 40 seconds just to set up your shot. It's maddening. Putting is incredibly difficult which is weird because it's easy on the SNES version.

Level Design Score: 1

Level Design Notes:

The only modes are skins and a full round of 18 holes. And only the 18 is available if you're playing alone. Not much replayability it variety here. The holes are all boring with no slope and minimal hazards.

Theme Score: 0

Theme Notes:

Golf. Endorsed by an old guy I don't care about. But the game sure shoves his face down your throat as much as possible. His signature is literally ever present which is both weird and...well it's just weird.

Art Style Score: 0

Art Style Notes:

Easily the worst graphics in a golf game ever. The screen had to progressively load like it's a picture in a 1995 browser. Remember seeing images load a little bit at a time? Yeah that's how this game loads everything. It's insane. Also there's no animation whatsoever. I guess the ball moves. Sort of.

Audio Score: 2

Audio Notes:

There's only music on the title screen and between holes. It's not offensive. The only sound while playing is hitting the ball and some polite clapping after sinking a putt. In other words there's barely any sound but what's there is ok.

Overall Score: 19

Review ID: 987