Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Hole In One Special builds upon HAL Laboratory’s earlier golf titles by offering a refined, top-down 18-hole experience that appeals to both casual players and seasoned veterans. From the tee-off to the putting green, each hole demands careful consideration of wind, terrain, and club selection. With three difficulty levels—Average, Expert, and Pro—the game scales smoothly, ensuring beginners can learn the basics without feeling overwhelmed while experienced golfers face a genuine challenge.

The inclusion of multiple modes—Stroke Play, Match Play, and Tournament Play—adds significant replay value. Stroke Play lets you conquer the course at your own pace, while Match Play turns every hole into a head-to-head duel. Tournament Play, which can be set for one to four days, injects a campaign-like structure into the experience as you strive for the leaderboard’s top spot. This variety in competitive formats encourages you to adapt your strategy, whether you’re battling friends or the computer.

Customizing each shot is intuitive yet deep. Players can adjust the direction, choose from a range of clubs, manipulate the ball’s curve, and precisely set stroke power. The learning curve is gentle, thanks to clear on-screen indicators, but mastering ball spin and slope reading on slanted greens takes practice. These nuanced controls enrich every swing, making it satisfying when you execute the perfect shot.

Graphics

Hole In One Special is the first in its series to fully leverage the MSX2’s graphical capabilities, and the upgrade is immediately apparent. The courses are rendered with crisp, colorful tiles that bring fairways, bunkers, and water hazards to life. Compared to its predecessors on the original MSX, the details in the grass textures and the subtle shading on rolling hills create a more immersive environment.

The top-down perspective remains classic, but the MSX2 hardware allows for smoother animations and a broader palette. Clubs swing fluidly, and the ball’s flight path is easy to track even against complex backgrounds. The overhead view also dynamically shifts to highlight important course features, such as a raised green or a hidden bunker, giving you the visual cues you need to plan each stroke.

While the game doesn’t attempt any flashy post-processing effects, its strength lies in clarity and consistency. The user interface is sleek and unobtrusive, with clean readouts for wind speed, distance, and club selection. Even on smaller CRT monitors of the era, the graphics remain legible, ensuring that visual polish directly supports your strategic decisions.

Story

As a golf simulation, Hole In One Special doesn’t weave a traditional narrative, but it cleverly frames each tournament as part of your rise through the ranks. You start as an eager amateur, entering local matches and striving to outperform your rivals. With each day in Tournament Play, you can almost feel the pressure mounting as crowds spectate and the leaderboard shifts.

The progression from Average to Pro mode feels like advancing through different tour levels. You’re not just playing isolated rounds—you’re building a reputation. Early rounds may feel forgiving, but as you move into Expert and Pro difficulties, the “story” emerges through escalating challenges: tighter fairways, tricky pin placements, and more unpredictable wind patterns.

By treating each competitive mode as a chapter in your golfing career, the game manages to inject a narrative arc without a single cutscene. Your personal bests, rivalries in Match Play, and climactic final rounds in four-day tournaments all contribute to a sense of achievement that keeps you invested beyond individual holes.

Overall Experience

Hole In One Special represents a significant step forward for the MSX golf series. Its robust gameplay options, from solo rounds to multi-day tournaments, ensure that players of all skill levels find something engaging. The shot mechanics are deep enough to reward mastery, yet accessible enough that newcomers won’t be discouraged.

Graphically, the title makes smart use of the MSX2’s hardware, delivering a clear and colorful course aesthetic. Smooth animations and a clean interface complement the strategic elements rather than overshadow them. While the lack of real-world licenses or detailed player avatars might disappoint those looking for a more modern sports spectacle, the game’s focused presentation keeps your attention squarely on the golf.

Ultimately, Hole In One Special shines as a pure simulation. It captures the quiet tension of a well-executed drive and the thrill of sinking a long putt. If you own an MSX2 and have even a passing interest in golf games, this release is a must-try. It’s a testament to HAL Laboratory’s ability to iterate on established formulas and deliver a polished, satisfying experience for competitive play.

Retro Replay Score

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