Sensible Golf
Encyclopedia
Sensible Golf was a 2D golf
game released by Sensible Software
in 1994 for the Amiga
.
The game featured the same pin-like characters that had previously been used with great success in Sensible Soccer
and Cannon Fodder
, although upon release it was deemed a commercial failure and received lacklustre reviews. Part of the problem was because it had been designed as an arcade game
rather than a serious golfing simulation, which many critics felt reduced its overall longevity. Level designs were often purposely unrealistic, with small areas of fairway submerged in water.
Although it featured four difficulty levels and a full career mode which could be played out over 25 separate courses, the courses were all made up from a pool of the same 72 holes. The 2D
nature of the game also made it extremely difficult to putt a ball on the green, not helped by the greens being more hilly than those found on real golf courses.
Sensible Golf was awarded the company's lowest ever score by Amiga Power
of 66% and marked a sharp decline in the fortune of Sensible Software, which was regarded as being one of the most innovative and successful software house
s in the United Kingdom
during the early 1990s. It was to be their last commercial Amiga release, with only Sensible Train Spotting
to follow.
The theme tune for Sensible Golf was written by the lead game designer, Jon Hare
.
The video for the game was filmed in Regents Park, London, and was directed by Carl Smyth
from the group Madness
.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
game released by Sensible Software
Sensible Software
Sensible Software was a software house active during the 1980s and 90s, from the United Kingdom.The company was well-known for the very small sprites used for the player characters in many of their games, including Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and Sensible Golf.- Early history :Sensible Software...
in 1994 for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
.
The game featured the same pin-like characters that had previously been used with great success in Sensible Soccer
Sensible Soccer
Sensible Soccer, often affectionately known as Sensi, is an association football video game series which was highly popular in the early 1990s and which still retains a cult following...
and Cannon Fodder
Cannon Fodder
Cannon Fodder is a short series of war themed action video games developed by Sensible Software, initially released for the Commodore Amiga. Only two games in the series were released, but were converted to most active systems at the time of release...
, although upon release it was deemed a commercial failure and received lacklustre reviews. Part of the problem was because it had been designed as an arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
rather than a serious golfing simulation, which many critics felt reduced its overall longevity. Level designs were often purposely unrealistic, with small areas of fairway submerged in water.
Although it featured four difficulty levels and a full career mode which could be played out over 25 separate courses, the courses were all made up from a pool of the same 72 holes. The 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
nature of the game also made it extremely difficult to putt a ball on the green, not helped by the greens being more hilly than those found on real golf courses.
Sensible Golf was awarded the company's lowest ever score by Amiga Power
Amiga Power
Amiga Power was a monthly magazine about Amiga computer games. It was published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and ran for 65 issues, from May 1991 to September 1996....
of 66% and marked a sharp decline in the fortune of Sensible Software, which was regarded as being one of the most innovative and successful software house
Software house
A software house is a company whose primary products are software.- Types :There are a number of different types of software houses:*Large and well-known companies such as Microsoft, SAP AG, Oracle Corporation, HP, Adobe Systems, Apple Inc...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the early 1990s. It was to be their last commercial Amiga release, with only Sensible Train Spotting
Sensible Train Spotting
Sensible Train Spotting is a video game by Sensible Software for the Amiga computer. It is Sensible Software's last ever Amiga game and was available only on an Amiga Power cover disk from issue 53, dated September 1995...
to follow.
The theme tune for Sensible Golf was written by the lead game designer, Jon Hare
Jon Hare
Jon "Jops" Hare is a British computer game designer, game artist and musician. He is one of the two founder members and directors, with Chris Yates, of Sensible Software, one of the most successful European games development companies of the late 1980s and 1990s.Hare was co-designer and artist of...
.
The video for the game was filmed in Regents Park, London, and was directed by Carl Smyth
Chas Smash
Cathal Smyth, also known as Chas Smash is an English musician, best known as the backing singer and dancer in the ska/pop band Madness. He also plays trumpet, acoustic guitar and various percussion instruments...
from the group Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
.