There have been many golf video games on consoles in the past three decades, and certainly a few in particular stand out. Today's golf video games pretty much amount toTiger Woods and a few arcade-style releases. But of course you have the old PGA Tour games, the simple yet fun Golf back on the NES, Golden Tee (especially when having some beers) and even Microsoft Golf. More recently, the non-continuation of the Links games from 2003-2004 still bothers some players.

However, one game from the past that has quietly gone under the radar is Pebble Beach Golf Links, released back on the Genesis and SNES in 1992. By no means a flashy, branded release, this game is focused on delivering a simulation experience on just one course. To that end, this title, particularly in the Genesis release, succeeds at that goal.

Why Was It Awesome?

Pebble Beach Golf Links doesn't make the best first impression because of its simplicity. The color palette is quite basic, the animations (and framerate) are downright clunky, and the customization options are limited, but once you actually play the course, you peel back the layers to see the depth of the simulation. All of the details matter in how you set up and take your shot. Risky shots will often lead to perilous situations, and your ability to judge wind, distance and angle of the terrain is quite demanding. That said, none of the gameplay ever feels unfair. You can see how the wind took your shot or how you misjudged the power meter when hitting out of the sand. 

There are great tools at your disposal, but there aren't the conventional assists and do-overs of today's games. Also, since the simulation feels so accurate, it's easy to get invested in the game's suite of modes, including skins games, match play and tournaments with full leaderboards that change quite dynamically and believably.

The set up of your shots matters a great deal in Pebble Beach Golf Links, and you are given some helpful tools to assist you. A course fly-by, aerial cameras and a vertically adjustable tee-off camera all help with you gaining a perspective on the course, and you can even view the green at any time just to get a sense of how your approach shot will bounce or roll. There's also a very detailed terrain view for putting, which is great for gauging just how much you need to put on a shot to compensate for a slight bump in the green or a particularly strong bank to the left.

Taking a shot requires this same level of detail, as you can decide exactly where to make contact on the golf ball, literally to the “dimple.” You would think that this would mean too much control, but when you factor in the angling needed for certain shots, compensation for the wind and some truly accurate weather effects, it's great to be able to have this extra precision. Also, since the game takes place in an earlier “era” of golf, it's fun to actually have a little less distance on the clubs, adding an emphasis on iron play and laying up rather than just blasting 300-plus yard drives on every shot.

Pebble Beach Golf Links is also memorable for how it represents its titular course. From the emblematic crashing surf of the 18th to the short but memorable drop of the par-3 seventh hole, all of the course is recreated accurately, as much as it can be from a 16-bit release. Still, even now, everything is presented in such a measured, classy way, and the rag-jazz soundtrack keeps things bouncing along as you pontificate on a shot.

How Could It Be Awesome Today?

What I could see happening is a smaller developer crafting a digital download title that has the level of specificity that Pebble Beach Golf Links has. There's something to be said for a game that focuses on one course and a very accurate, precise replication of golf. There's truly nothing “arcade” about Pebble Beach Golf Links, and it could be actually quite refreshing to see a game that strives for this realism on a micro scale. It doesn't mean the game has to be boring; it just means that the control, detail and accuracy of the simulation is such that it feels rewarding when you read the situation right and make your shot. So many strokes in today's golf games just seem automatic. You're racing to hit the ball as fast as you can sometimes. It can be a pleasure to play the game at a bit more of a leisurely pace and still have awesome moments that feel authentic.

Will It Return?

Being honest, it's hard to imagine a game this old and this specific returning in any sort of HD remake or “remastered” release — especially a title like this that has no real brand or previous pedigree — but it certainly belongs in any “Classics” collection that would be released by Nintendo or, more likely, Sega. As said previously, I hope a developer takes a crack at a new game with a philosophy similar to that of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

It truly is all in the details with this classic game, and Pebble Beach Golf Links is able to find a sense of identity this way, because all aspects of the game seem contingent on your ability to read the situation and adjust accordingly. Nothing feels automatic or easy, but it feels rewarding because you are sussing out what needs to be done and executing so precisely.