Ludography
70/100
Players8 ratings
Player reviews
66% positive9 reviews
Runs on
Windows
Price
US$6.99

Where to get it

Zany Golf cover

1988 · Sandcastle · Golf · Simulation

Zany Golf

Sega console exclusive

Zany Golf, also known as Will Harvey's Zany Golf, is a video game with a fantasy take on miniature golf, developed by Sandcastle Productions and published by Electronic Arts. The game was originally developed in 1988 for the Apple IIGS and became the first Apple IIGS game to attract the mainstream gaming market and be ported to other platforms. It was subsequently ported to the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS machines. In 1990 it was ported to a video game console, the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

Released
1988
Platforms
AmigaApple IIGSAtari STAtari ST/STEMS-DOSSega GenesisWindows
Genres
GolfSimulationSportsStrategy
Developers
Sandcastle
Publishers
Electronic Arts
Modes
MultiplayerSingle-player
Perspective
Bird view / Isometric
Themes
ActionNon-fiction
Country
United States
Languages
English
Time to beat
0.5hmain story1hcompletionist

About

Zany Golf, also known as Will Harvey's Zany Golf, is a fantasy take on miniature golf developed by Sandcastle Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1988. The game was originally written for the Apple IIGS and subsequently ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS compatible operating systems. In 1990, a port was released for the Sega Genesis. The game was developed by Will Harvey, Ian Gooding, Jim Nitchals, and Douglas Fulton. Harvey was pursuing his advanced degrees at Stanford University at the time.

The game is played in a 3D isometric viewpoint and allows up to 4 players. Zany Golf consists of half a golf course – nine holes, plus a bonus hole.

Players say

Media

Zany Golf screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

At the beginning of the first hole, all players are given five strokes. On completing each hole, the remaining players are given more strokes equal to the par of the next hole. Any player who runs out of strokes is eliminated, and the other players are allowed to continue. The game ends when all players are eliminated or when the last hole is completed, and the scorecard is displayed.

On all versions except the Genesis version, the mouse is used to shoot the ball by clicking on it, pulling back in the reverse direction of the eventual shot, and releasing. On occasion, fairies are placed on the course; hitting them awards anywhere from 1 to 5 bonus strokes. Also, a timer bonus may be possible. If the hole is finished quickly, the player may earn up to four bonus strokes. If a fairy is present or a timer bonus is available, it will be announced prior to the first shot.

Reception

The game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #144 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars. Compute! described Zany Golf as "a moderately challenging game with topnotch graphics and sound".

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Apple IIGS31 December 1988North America
MS-DOS31 December 1988North America
Amiga31 December 1988North America
Atari ST/STE31 December 1988North America
Sega Genesis1 August 1990North America · Brazil 26 April 1993
Windows16 July 2024Worldwide

Box artone per regional release we hold art for

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Collections5 collections

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.