Intro
I know what you’re thinking: How could an “ATHF” game about GOLF of all things, possibly be good? Well, here’s the thing… it kind of just is. Sure, it’s dumb as all hell, broken in more places than one, and the premise sounds like Midway blindfolded an intern and had them throw darts at a board of topics. But despite all that (or maybe because of it), Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-Am turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly fun PS2 games I’ve played in a while. I’d even go so far as to put it in my personal top ten for the console.Gameplay: Tee Off and Throw On… Some Boxing Gloves
On paper, it sounds like a disaster—golf, brawling, racing, zombies, and Aqua Teen weirdness all mashed together. But when you're actually playing, it’s surprisingly entertaining. Smashing through waves of Carl’s crabs and those living trees, just to reach your golf ball; all with the background objective of trying to outscore your opponents (or yourself). It has a chaotic charm that just works for a game with an IP as notoriously raunchy as ATHF.And the game isn't completely brainless either. There’s a decent bit of challenge here, especially as you get further along through the courses and the enemies are more plentiful. It keeps you on your toes, but never gets so punishing that it kills the fun.
Content: Way More Than a Joke Game
What really caught me off guard was just how much content the game actually has. There are unlockable cameos, a bonus mode, and whole-ass episodes tucked all throughout. It’s the kind of game that rewards digging around, and honestly, it made me want to keep playing long after I expected to put it down.Critics definitely undersold this part—this isn’t just a lazy TV cash-in. It feels like the devs had genuine fun with it, and that enthusiasm shows in every weird, janky corner.
Presentation: Classic Adult Swim Vibes
If you’re a fan of the show, the cutscenes and episodes alone are worth the price of admission. The writing is spot-on, the original voice cast is all here, and Carl absolutely steals the show every time he opens his mouth. It genuinely feels like you're playing through a long-lost season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force… That also happens to take place on a golf course?Visually it’s very PS2, but the art direction nails the tone, and the soundtrack is full of bizarre energy that totally fits the world.
Final Thoughts: Better Than It Has Any Right to Be
Zombie Ninja Pro-Am is one of those games that defied my expectations. It’s easy to write off based on the name or premise alone, but if you give it a shot, there’s a wildly entertaining, content-packed gem within the chaos. It’s weird, loud, and often a little too ridiculous, but I had a blast with it.Score: 8.5/10
Come for the zombies, stay for Carl’s INCESSANT TALKING while you try to putt.
Pros
- + Surprisingly fun and chaotic gameplay blend of golf and combat
- + Fully voiced by the original cast with hilarious cutscenes AND a narrator cameo of ESPN host Scott Van Pelt
- + Loads of unlockables and bonus content
- + Captures the Adult Swim/Aqua Teen vibe perfectly
- + Genuinely challenging in parts
Cons
- - Janky controls and rough combat mechanics
- - Repetitive enemy encounters
- - Not much polish
- - Definitely not for players unfamiliar with or uninterested in the show
8.5
out of 10
Overall
Zombie Ninja Pro-Am is one of those rare oddball games that completely catches you off guard. At a glance, it looks like a throwaway joke—just another bizarre Adult Swim tie-in—but once you’re in it, there’s a shockingly fun, content-packed experience underneath all the madness. It’s messy, absurd, and loud in all the right ways. And honestly, I couldn’t stop playing.
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