Zany Golf

I'm just writing this review to clarify that - contrary to what the previous reviews state - the game does have limited strokes. And you can loose the game if your run out of strokes before the ball reaches the hole. I don't know if the issue persisted for a long time, since I only acquired the game recently. But if those problems existed, then they were fixed. As for the rest, Zany Golf is a game that I played A LOT back in 1990. It's a cool little game to spend some time moving the ball through the whacky scenarios. If you don't have problems playing a 16-color EGA game (it's a palette which I kinds like). If you have young kids and you want some fun, simple, safe game which you can play with them and which requires very few skills (game control is mouse only) then I'd say this is a good option.

For starters, as a previous review stated, this port is (or was, I didn't play this version long enough to find out if this is still the case) basically stuck in a cheat mode that takes away the challenge. What I'd like to add is that presentation wise, this is the weakest version and is completely outshined by any of the other ports. My recommendation is to only buy this when it's on sale so you can legally download one of the better ports. I suggest the Amiga version because it has a very easy to use emulator and has the fluid mouse control for the cursor. To review the game proper, it's an alright golf simulator with some cute locales and gimmicks but there were points that I had a spot of trouble lining up shots and the game is very short at only a couple of holes, which is all the more reason to wait for a sale. Only huge mini golf fans who aren't afraid to dabble in some technical mumbo jumbo to get the proper experience need apply, in other words.

I was initially hesitant to buy Zany Golf after reading some earlier reviews, particularly concerns about the inability to fail. Thankfully, this issue has been fixed; you can now indeed fail to beat the game. What really kept me playing were the quirky, imaginative courses and the nostalgic charm that instantly brought back memories of my Commodore Amiga days. Zany Golf is perfect for anyone who loves retro gaming fun and some lighthearted competition. It’s especially enjoyable with friends, thanks to its simple controls, creative level design, and, as with many Amiga classics, a great soundtrack. The game strikes a nice balance—neither too easy nor punishingly hard. Each course is just challenging enough to keep things interesting without feeling unfair. Ironically, having the old cheat where you couldn't fail might have been a fun option, since this game was tough back in the day! The inventive course designs really stand out. Each hole throws in unique obstacles and interactive elements, even some pinball-style action that speeds up the gameplay and keeps things fresh. That creativity sets Zany Golf apart from other mini-golf games of its era. Performance-wise, the game ran flawlessly for me on both GOG Galaxy and the desktop DRM-free version. There were no floppy disc crashes or freezes like back i the day! Overall, Zany Golf is a fantastic revival of a classic. It’s great fun, well worth the price, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a charming, accessible game to play solo or with friends. PS: GOG staff, if you’re reading—how about some box art or a poster? Would love that extra touch!

A good enough port, but it makes me miss the old Apple II GS version with the superior (and actually very good sound) for the days.