Mini-Putt

• Release Date: 1987
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Miniature Golf

Game Description

Mini-Putt features the ability to practice single holes or play a complete course. There are a total of four course with nine holes a piece: Deluxe, Classic, Traditional, and Challenge. Deluxe includes many straightforward holes with some hills. Classic is filled with buildings such as castles and windmills. The course also has moving parts and more water hazards than the other courses. Traditional includes many hills and requires accurate shots through small openings. Challenge has the most hills going in many different directions.

Hitting the ball requires two button presses. The first is for the strength of the shot and the second for accuracy. Placing a cursor at the ideal location of where you want to hit a shot will provide you with the appropriate power needed. However, the power level provided does not take hills into consideration.

Up to four players can play a course together. Mini-Putt also keeps track of the three best scores for each course.

Review: Overall

Nothing can replace the actual experience of playing miniature golf but Mini-Putt gets about as close as you can get. Gameplay is very simple and the controls are extremely accurate. If you do not hit the accuracy meter in the dead center then your shot will not go directly to where you placed the cursor. With so many small openings to hit a ball through the game will certainly test your skill.

The courses are well-designed but it would have been nice to have a second course similar to the classic course. Classic is the best designed course as it is the only one with buildings and moving parts. On the classic course you will encounter such items as an elephant with moving trunk and tail as well as a cannon that will launch your ball directly into the hole.

Deluxe, Traditional, and Challenge will test your skill much more because of the many hills. The hills require good judgement on aiming and in your decision of how much power to use. Hills are at least not difficult to read. Courses are viewed from overhead so the hills are flat but are covered in arrows which point out the direction your ball will roll.

Graphically Mini-Putt is crisp and the screen is set-up perfectly. About 3/4 of the screen contain an overhead view of where your ball lies on the course. Below that is your golfer and the power and accuracy meters. To the right of that is a complete, miniature view of the current hole. Directly right of that are your name, par for the current hole, and the number of shots you have taken.

If you enjoy miniature golf then Mini-Putt is a must own game. Even if you are not a fan of miniature golf you may enjoy this one. It provides a simple to play experience that moves along at your own pace.

Review: Enjoyment

A game of skill that is fun by yourself and with friends.

Review: Graphics

Good color scheme and nice screen layout.

Review: Sound

Could use some music but all of the effects match the onscreen action.

Review: Replay Value

Four courses plus the top three scores set on each course are kept track of.

Review: Documentation

Short but covers everything you need to know.

Production Credits