Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Greg Norman’s Golf Power delivers a classic golf simulation experience that balances accessibility with depth. From the moment you tee off, the game’s straightforward swing meter system becomes second nature—choose your club, set your aim, and watch your power bar determine not only distance but also shot accuracy. The intuitive design ensures that newcomers can pick up the basics quickly while still offering enough nuance for seasoned players to refine hooks and slices.

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One of the standout features is the variety of play modes. Whether you prefer stroke play to challenge yourself against par, match play to battle friends hole by hole, or practice mode to hone your putting and full swings, there’s a format to suit every mood. Practice mode in particular is invaluable, letting you work on the putting green’s subtle breaks or tackle a dedicated practice hole until you master your timing and power gauge.

Course variety and customization further deepen the gameplay. You’ll tour pre-designed courses set in the U.S.A., Japan, England, Scotland, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, and Hawaii, each with its own unique wind patterns, bunker placements, and green speeds. For creative golfers, the built-in course designer lets you sketch out fairways, hazards, and greens from scratch, crafting everything from gentle parkland layouts to punishing links-style tests.

The weather system adds another strategic layer, dynamically shifting between sunshine, showers, downpours, and breezy conditions. A sudden rain shower can dampen green speeds, while gusty winds force you to adjust your aim and club selection. Combined with three difficulty tiers—novice, amateur, and professional—Greg Norman’s Golf Power offers a tailored challenge that keeps you coming back for more rounds.

Graphics

Visually, Greg Norman’s Golf Power comfortably sits among 16-bit era sports titles with clean, colorful sprites and well-defined course tiles. Each locale feels distinct: lush fairways in Scotland contrast with sun-drenched sand traps in Australia, and the blue ocean backdrops of Hawaii add a picturesque touch. Course elements such as trees, bunkers, and water hazards are clearly defined, aiding both strategy and immersion.

The dynamic weather system is not merely functional but also adds visual variety. Rain clouds roll in with animated drops that briefly obscure your view, while wind indicators shift and sway the trees around you. These subtle touches reinforce the sense of playing on a real course under changing conditions. Sunlit sessions feature bright, saturated hues, and day-night transitions (when available) lend additional authenticity to your rounds.

While animations remain relatively simple—comfortable for quick gameplay but lacking the fluidity of modern titles—the swing meter and aimed trajectory overlays feel responsive and clear. Ball flight is depicted with a trailing arc graphic that changes color and length based on club choice and shot strength, ensuring you can track every chip, drive, and putt with confidence.

Character and UI design are functional and unobtrusive. Club selection menus, scorecards, and weather readouts are laid out cleanly at the screen edges, letting you focus on your swing without clutter. Though the game doesn’t feature detailed golfer avatars or cinematic replays, its aesthetic choice favors clarity and performance—an advantage for players who value precision over flash.

Story

As a golf simulation, Greg Norman’s Golf Power doesn’t present a traditional narrative campaign or story-driven progression. Instead, it weaves its theme around the global scope of professional golf, inviting you to play famous courses across multiple continents. Each venue carries its own character, offering a sense of journey as you progress from the rolling moors of Scotland to the sleek layouts of Japan.

Your “story” unfolds through performance: lowering your score, mastering challenging holes, and customizing your own course becomes its own form of personal achievement. The lack of a forced storyline allows you to create your own milestones—whether that’s shooting a personal best on the German course or crafting the ultimate links-style challenge in course designer mode.

The presence of Greg Norman’s name and endorsement adds a layer of authenticity, suggesting that the game’s approach to club dynamics, course design, and weather realism aligns with professional standards. While Golf Power doesn’t dramatize this connection with cutscenes or character bios, the branding serves as an assurance of quality for golf enthusiasts seeking a serious simulation experience.

In lieu of scripted narrative, the game does reward consistency and skill progression. Unlocking tougher difficulty levels and mastering varied weather conditions become milestones in your golfing career, providing a self-directed storyline that keeps you engaged round after round.

Overall Experience

Greg Norman’s Golf Power stands out as a robust and accessible golf sim that caters to a wide audience—from casual players to dedicated golf fans. The blend of pre-designed world courses, customizable layouts, and dynamic weather conditions ensures that no two rounds feel quite the same. Practice and play modes provide ample opportunity to improve, compete, and experiment.

Though simple by today’s graphical standards, the game’s visual clarity, responsive controls, and clean interface combine to create an experience that remains enjoyable decades after its release. The swing meter system, backed by distinct shot feedback, rewards both strategic thinking and manual dexterity, making every birdie or bogey feel earned.

The lack of a narrative might deter those looking for character-driven progression, but the open-ended nature of tournament play, course creation, and self-paced challenges offers its own brand of motivation. Whether you’re diving into matchplay against friends, tackling professional difficulty, or designing the perfect course from scratch, Golf Power delivers a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Overall, Greg Norman’s Golf Power is a timeless entry in the golf genre. Its combination of varied locales, strategic depth, and user-friendly design make it a strong recommendation for anyone seeking a full-featured golf simulation that stands the test of time.

Retro Replay Score

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