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1990 · BlueSky Software · Beat 'em up · Fighting

Ninja Golf

Atari exclusive

Ninja Golf is an Atari 7800 video game which combines scrolling beat 'em up with golf simulation gameplay. Released in 1990, it later gained some renown for its outlandish subject matter and unique blend of gameplay styles.

Released: 1990
Platforms: Atari 7800
Genres: Beat 'em up Fighting Golf Ninja Sports
Developers: BlueSky Software
Publishers: Atari Corporation
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Comedy
Country: United States

About

Ninja Golf is a 1990 golf video game developed by BlueSky Software and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 7800. It was programmed by David A. Dentt and David R. Sullivan as one of the last releases for the console.

A version for Atari 8-bit computers was in simultaneous production but was cancelled. In a gameplay mix between the sports and beat 'em up genres, the ninja player character hits a golf ball at the beginning of each hole, then fights enemies in side-scrolling sections to reach it. Each green is guarded by a fire-breathing dragon boss that the player must defeat by throwing shurikens.

›Story

For ten years you've trained to be a Ninja. And now your Master tells you that it's time to take the final, most difficult test and become a Master Ninja. You must complete the game of death. You must play nine holes of...

Ninja Golf? You knew your Master was a bit weird, but nothing pre-pared you for this! You must attempt to sneak in a birdie between karate kicks while you battle Ninja opponents. Par for this course means leaving the green littered with fallen foes.

You gain points for both your golf game and defeating attacking Ninja. You can also earn points for finding treasures and other bonus items along the course. Once you've completed all nine holes successfully, be ready to challenge the disguised Master Ninja. This final battle will determine whether or not you become a Master Ninja.

And if you win, it will improve your golf score!

Keywords

golf
martial arts
ninja
shark
brawler

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Ninja Golf mixes golf and beat 'em up gameplay and puts the player in the role of a ninja who has completed their training, tasked with nine holes of the titular sport as a final test. Each hole (stage) begins with the player aiming their golf ball via a mini-map and shooting it toward the green. The path to reach the ball is set up like a traditional side-scroller, where the player fights other ninjas and hostile animals along the way. These creatures include gophers, birds, giant frogs, sharks, and snakes, depending on the environment.

For instance, sharks are encountered in water hazards and snakes in sand traps. Ninjas exist in all the environments, including underwater.

Development

Ninja Golf was developed by BlueSky Software with a team consisting of programmers David R. Sullivan and David A. Dentt alongside artist Dana Christian. Sullivan was contracted by BlueSky while Dentt was led to employment at the company in 1988 while working at arcade video game developer Cinematronics. Ninja Golf was one of several titles pitched by publisher Atari Corporation's internal software team in early 1989.

Sullivan claimed that BlueSky was originally set to create a comedic platformer in the spirit of the film Caddyshack, but the simultaneous popularity of ninjas in the 1980s and the success of golf games like Mean 18 led to the finalized concept. "The way it was explained to me was that sports games were popular, ninjas were popular, so Ninja Golf", Dentt recounted. "One can not help but be in awe of the thought process!" After being given the concept, the team expanded on it as development progressed, frequently receiving feedback from Atari. According to Sullivan, Christian was responsible for the game's more absurd elements and Atari was unhappy that the game swayed from a more serious tone.

Reception

Critical reception for Ninja Golf has been mixed, though retrospective media sources have considered the game very memorable due to its unusual premise and mix of genres. Robert Naytor of Hardcore Gaming 101 felt that neither the golf nor the beat 'em up gameplay were particularly well-realized, leading to a difficult and repetitive experience once the charm of the concept wears off. AllGame reviewer Joseph Scoleri III gave a similar assessment, summarized, "While these facets of the game are imaginative, amusing and fun, the overall gameplay seems a little bland in comparison." John Delaney of the Retro Gamer team noted the serious delivery of its humor as deadpan and its gameplay as fun despite being simplistic compared to other beat 'em ups and golf simulations.

Wireframe contributor Ian Dransfield summarized it as having "sort of Jack Nicklaus-does-Shinobi vibes. Is it good? No, not really. Is it absurd and funny?