Pro Golfer Saru - Kage no Tournament (Japan)
Getting to Know Pro Golfer Saru - Kage no Tournament (Japan)
Pro Golfer Saru - Kage no Tournament is a golf game released for the Famicom Disk System in 1987. It was published by Bandai and came out exclusively in Japan. The title translates to 'Pro Golfer Monkey - Shadow Tournament' and features a monkey protagonist. This is an official release, not a hack or homebrew.
You take control of a monkey golfer and compete in tournaments across various courses. Gameplay involves selecting clubs, aiming your shot, and timing your swing with a power meter. The Famicom Disk System allowed for saving progress, which was handy for a tournament-style game. The Japanese menus might be intimidating, but the golf mechanics are straightforward once you get used to the controls.
For retro golf fans, Pro Golfer Saru offers a quirky twist with its monkey theme. It's a solid example of early sports games on the FDS, and the disk system's save function was ahead of its time. While it's not groundbreaking, it's a charming piece of Famicom history worth a few rounds if you enjoy classic golf games or want to explore Japan-exclusive titles.
How to Play Pro Golfer Saru - Kage no Tournament (Japan) Online
First, boot up the game from the Famicom Disk System menu. The title screen appears in Japanese, but you can press Start to proceed to the main menu. Options include Tournament (トーナメント), Practice (練習), and Course Select (コース選択). Use the D-Pad to highlight and the A button (X key) to confirm.
Once you select a mode, you'll be at the tee. The core loop is: pick a club with the B button (S key) to cycle through options, aim your shot using the D-Pad, and set power by pressing the A button to start a swing meter. Press A again to stop the meter at your desired power, then a second press determines accuracy. Hitting the ball straight requires timing.
The game saves progress automatically to the disk, so you can resume tournaments later. Since everything is in Japanese, remember that the top menu option is usually Tournament and the bottom is Exit. Experiment with Practice mode to learn the swing timing without pressure.
Pro Golfer Saru - Kage no Tournament (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
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