Win 95/3.1 CD-ROM
Is there anything more fun than a few rounds of putt-putt? (Okay, maybe there is, but go along with me on this one.) But with the cold weather settling in, we may not be able to enjoy this great pastime. But wait - thanks to those great programmers at Sierra, we can putt-putt all winter long and never leave the room.
"3-D Ultra Minigolf" is certainly hot enough to combat the cold weather. This game is by far one of the best golf simulators to hit the market. The premise is simple: put the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible.
The 18 holes contained on this CD-ROM are extremely creative and range from the standard windmill green to holes underwater and in outer space. There are multiple paths to each hole and you never know when you may stumble across a new one. The graphics are pretty well done, but due to some of the camera angles, lining up a shot may prove to be difficult.
The music for each green is also very appropriate. For example, the band breaks out the banjos for a hole set in the Wild West.
The mechanics behind the game are solid and close attention was paid to the physics of ball motion. There are two methods of control for the putter: True Putt and Easy Putt. True Putt depends on mouse movement and is more difficult to master, whereas Easy Putt is based on holding down the mouse button and letting go. Other putting options include a choice of ball color and an all-too-helpful aiming line (this makes putting way too easy).
Minigolf offers three modes of competitive play. Naturally, there is the regular old game of putt-putt and skins-style mode of play is also offered. The third option - race mode - pits the golfers against the clock as the lowest total time wins.
The game is great when playing with a group, as unpredictability and laughter reign. Some of the holes are just too hilarious to watch. An octopus may throw a ball back at you, a pelican might fly off with your ball, or even worse, a dinosaur just may feel like a little lunch. The game will offer many hours of playing time before all the secrets and quirks expose themselves, so the investment will be well worth it. Check it out if you want to have a little fun.
- Deveron Q. Sanders
01-08-98
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