Genre: Sports (Golf)
Developer: Saurus
Publisher: SNK
Year: 1999
Platform: Neo Geo Pocket Color
Neo Turf Masters is a golf sports game developed by Saurus and published by SNK, released for the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. It offers players a chance to compete in golf tournaments across fictional courses located in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Germany. The game features six distinct playable characters, each with unique strengths and weaknesses in areas such as driving, precision, technique, stamina, and putting.
The gameplay is arcadey and fast-paced, with a simplified swing mechanic where the player clicks once for shot power and a second time for shot height. Unlike many golf games of its era which used more complex swing systems, Neo Turf Masters enables easier control but compensates with challenging course layouts and unpredictable wind effects to keep play engaging and strategic.
Players can enjoy stroke play for one or two players and match play specifically for two players via the Neo Geo Pocket Color’s link cable. The game also includes “super clubs” that can be used once per match and traded in multiplayer, adding a layer of tactical depth. Graphically, the game features colorful, cartoonish visuals with less detail than the Neo Geo arcade original, but maintains clarity and charm suitable for the handheld’s display.
