Sensible Golf is a Windows based game that was developed by none other than Sensible Software and was released in the middle nineties by Virgin Interactive. It was originally created with the Amiga format in mind, but saw its most favorable response, like the rest of the Sensible series, on the personal computer. In fact, it was the last release by the UK’s Sensible Software for the Amiga, with more PC games to follow. It is a two-dimensional golf game that is friendly to both single player and multiplayer action.
Sensible Golf is actually anything but sensible. Since it had arcade action in mind during its design, much of the game play is intentionally fantastic or unrealistic. The courses border on silly, as opposed to the stiff and accurate links featured in other golfing simulations. For example, some fairways were actually completely underwater, as opposed to having water hazards on the sides or in spots to shoot over. The greens also tended to by rough and hilly. Although the realism factor was foregone, this made the game fun and challenging.
Sensible Golf featured many options from which the user could choose. There was a single game or a career mode, which was obviously much longer and all encompassing. There were 25 different courses, some of which did become a bit
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repetitive but terribly so. Sensible Golf also featured four distinct difficulty levels, which was a very good thing, since two-dimensional putting tended to be quite tricky until the user got the hang of it. Starting at an easier level was much less likely to cause rampant frustration. The graphics, while being two-dimensional, do still feature the cute little stick like players that Sensible Software was already famous for, having previously released both Cannon Fodder and Sensible Soccer using the same characters. The game is also very colorful and engaging, helped along by the unrealistic landscaping on the links. The game play is also quite good, if the user is not looking for a true simulation, but rather fun action. Sensible Golf is set up to start quickly and play quickly, keeping the pace and the action at a maximum instead of over-thinking each shot and formulating strategies. For this reason, the interface is simple and intuitive.
Overall, Sensible Golf is probably not a game for a serious golfer, prone to bending irons around trees after a poor hit. Instead, it is a fun little game for the casual player or the action sports fan.
