Ninja Golf


Ninja Golf is an Atari 7800 video game developed by Blue Sky Software which combines scrolling beat 'em up and golf gameplay. Released in 1990, it was one of the final eleven games Atari Corporation released in 1990-91 for the 7800 before dropping support for the system.

Gameplay

The player starts each hole by aiming his ball and shooting it toward the green, then runs toward the ball, in traditional side-scrolling video game fashion, fighting various enemies encountered along the way. These enemies include other ninjas, gophers, birds, giant mutant frogs, sharks and more, depending on the environment the ninja golfer is currently in. Sharks are encountered in water hazards and snakes in the sand traps. Ninjas are encountered in all the environments, including underwater.

Reception

gave the game a two and a half star rating out of five. The review described that the hybrid of golf and a 2D fighting game was "interesting" as well as noting the repetitive gameplay and lack of replay value.
In an AtariHQ review, Matthew Lippart praised the fighting, disliked the golf elements, and concluded with "a good game that's worth having just because it's friggin' weird."
The game's cover is listed by IGN as one of the most notable covers in video game history and best of all time.