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Neo Turf Masters

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Neo Turf Masters
DevelopersNazca Corporation
Saurus (NGPC)
PublisherSNK
ProducersTakashi Nishiyama
Y. Kohdoh
ProgrammerH. Yamada
ComposerTakushi Hiyamuta
PlatformsArcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket Color
Release
January 29, 1996
  • Arcade
    • WW: January 29, 1996
    Neo Geo AES
    • WW: March 1, 1996
    Neo Geo CD
    • JP: May 3, 1996
    • NA: 1996
    Neo Geo Pocket Color
    • JP: July 29, 1999
    • NA: July 31, 1999
    • EU: October 1, 1999
GenreSports
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

Neo Turf Masters[a] is a 1996 golf video game developed by Nazca Corporation and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. This is also one of the first two titles by Nazca before being acquired by SNK; the other series being the popular Metal Slug.

The game was released as an arcade cartridge (MVS) and as home cartridge (AES), as well as for the Neo Geo CD console. The Neo Geo version was later re-released as part of the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 compilation for the PS2, Wii and PSP, as well as for the Wii Virtual Console.[1] Developer DotEmu released a standalone iOS and Android port in 2016.[2] Hamster Corporation re-released the game as part of their ACA Neo Geo series for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android and iOS (under the title Big Tournament Golf, due to a trademark conflict with Augusta National Golf Club over the "Masters" name).[3]

A version for the Neo Geo Pocket Color was later released in North America in 1999. The NGPC version features cartoonish, less detailed graphics compared to the Neo Geo version which had partially digitized sprites and realistic art.[4] This version was later re-released as part of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 in 2021.

Although improved for the Neo Geo platform, the game is in many ways similar to Major Title 2: Tournament Leader by Irem. This was because the game was programmed by a group of former Irem employees who had already worked on Major Title 2.[5]

Gameplay

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Arcade version screenshot

The game is a fast-paced, arcade-style golf game. Players choose from two game modes, stroke play for one or two players, and match play for two players only.[6]

Competing on one of four fictional golf courses located in the United States, Japan, Australia and Germany, players choose from one of six players with different attributes:

Unlike many golf games of the era which used a two-click swing system to determine the hook or slice of the ball, Neo Turf Masters uses a single click for the power of the shot, and a second for the height of the shot; hook and slice are selected with buttons B and C before making the shot. This makes the game much easier to pick up and play than its more technically demanding contemporaries, but it compensates for this reduced difficulty with fiendish (if somewhat unrealistic) course layouts and highly variable wind.

Reception

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In Japan, Game Machine listed Neo Turf Masters as the twelfth most-successful arcade game of March 1996.[7]

IGN gave the Virtual Console release of the game 7.5 out of 10 stating "If you're the type of gamer who appreciates SNK's arcade style and can jibe with the idea of juiced-up, high-speed golf, Neo Turf might be well worth your 900 Wii Points".[8]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Also known as Big Tournament Golf (Japanese: ビッグトーナメントゴルフ, Hepburn: Biggu Tōnamento Gorufu) in Japan.

References

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  1. ↑ "USA VC Releases: Mega Man and Neo Turf Masters". Retrieved August 18, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "NEO TURF MASTERS COMING TO MOBILE!". May 25, 2016. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ ShawnS (January 26, 2021). "Neo Turf Masters". Delisted Games. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Neo Turf Masters NGPC Review at NeoGeoForLife.com". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Neo Turf Masters review". January 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ "IGN: Neo Turf Masters Review". Archived from the original on August 23, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 – TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 514. Amusement Press, Inc. March 15, 1996. p. 25.
  8. ↑ "Neo Turf Masters Review – IGN". August 19, 2008.
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