Mean 18

Mean 18 is a computer golf game designed by Rex Bradford with graphics by George Karalias, both of the small game development company Microsmiths, and released by Accolade for MS-DOS in 1986. It was ported to the Amiga, Apple IIgs, Atari 7800, Atari ST, and Macintosh.

Mean 18
Amiga cover art
Developer(s)Microsmiths
Publisher(s)Accolade
Platform(s)MS-DOS (original)
Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari 7800, Atari ST, Macintosh
Release1986
Genre(s)Golf
Mode(s)Single player

Description

Mean 18 is notable for two reasons: it was the first computer golf game to give the golfer's point of view of the course, and it was the first golf game to come with a course editor that allowed players to create their own courses.

Mean 18 featured the Augusta National and Pebble Beach and St. Andrews courses. It used the soon popular 3-click control system, whereby the first click starts the swing, the second sets the power, and the third sets draw or fade.

The game features Beginner and Expert difficulty options. The Expert mode has more pronounced draw and fade effects, making the timing of the third click more crucial. The player can also choose between regular and professional tees. For the regular mode, the tees are shorter and the computer automatically recommends the best club. Using the professional tees, the computer still recommends clubs, but not necessarily the best ones for the shot.

Reception

Computer Gaming World cited the practice green, the computer caddy, and course editor as reasons for preferring the Amiga version of Mean 18 to the also-"outstanding" Leader Board.[1] Info gave the Amiga version four stars out of five, stating "If you're a golfer, you'll like Mean 18" but criticizing the "blocky IBM-style graphics. Complete Amigatization would solve a lot of the problems".[2] Compute! listed it in May 1988 as one of "Our Favorite Games", praising the graphics, sound, realism, and course editor.[3]

David M. Wilson and Johnny L. Wilson reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "This may be the ultimate professional golf simulation. Outstanding graphics and sound are its hallmarks."[4]

References
  1. Wagner, Roy (December 1986). "Amiga Preferences". Computer Gaming World. No. 33. p. 44. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  2. Dunnington, Benn; Brown, Mark R.; Malcolm, Tom (January–February 1987). "Amiga Gallery". Info. pp. 90–95.
  3. "Our Favorite Games". Compute!. May 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  4. Wilson, David M.; Wilson, Johnny L. (April 1988). "The Boys of Spring: A Computer Sports Survey". Computer Gaming World. 1 (46): 12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.