Steam Deck Verified!Normal Golf Game is a golf game at heart, but it never takes itself seriously. It comes from Luke Muscat, the developer behind Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride. (Yes, really) This is his second PC game, after Feed the Deep.
In Normal Golf Game, you find yourself trapped on Luke’s golf course. To escape, you have to complete bounties (more on those later) and uncover what’s so weird about this golf course. So, how does Luke’s latest outing hold up? Let’s find out.
The Game
The best way to describe this game is golf with QWOP-style controls. In other words, you’re always adjusting something.
At first, things start simply. You learn to swing the club, using the mouse’s momentum to build power. At the same time, you need to make sure the club face actually strikes the ball. Sounds simple, right?
However, the angle and position of the club face also shift randomly, so you have to correct them constantly. That’s where the real challenge lies. Swing, angle, position, power and actually hitting the ball add up to a lot to manage at once. It does feel more natural the more you play. Even so, you never stop thinking.
Bounties and Unlocks
The game revolves around challenges, and this is where the bounties come in. They range from easy to diabolical. For example, an easy one might ask you to drive the ball near a hole. A diabolical one, on the other hand, might ask for a hole in one on an island no bigger than a manhole cover!
As a result, some bounties are tough. That said, nailing one feels brilliant. You really feel like you’ve achieved something, and that makes you determined to complete even more.
As you progress, you unlock new things. For instance, you’ll earn new clubs that help with those bounties. You’ll also open up new areas. However, I won’t say too much about those, because they tie into the story and I don’t want to spoil it.
Graphics
Visually, Normal Golf Game is mostly an animated style. The hands, golfer and clubs, though, look realistic. It’s a strange mix, but it suits the zany tone of the game well. In addition, the UI uses boxes laid out like windows on a desktop. I’ve seen other games do this before, but the names escape me.
System Requirements
The game is Steam Deck Verified, so you won’t have trouble running it on most setups. I’ve played it on my Steam Deck myself, and it’s a nice experience. Personally, I think keyboard and mouse is the best way to play. Still, you can have a good time with a controller too.
Wrapping Up
Normal Golf Game is a great one to pick up and put down. Most of the bounties open up fairly early, so you can tackle them in any order you like. If you want to spend 30 minutes on a diabolical one until you get it right, go for it. In short, there’s a lot of freedom here. You’re not forced to do anything, although the story missions do gate some progress.
Overall, I highly recommend this game. You can tell Luke Muscat has put a lot of love into it. I followed his dev logs throughout development, and his passion clearly shows.
Check out the gameplay trailer below to see if this one is for you. If you enjoyed this review, take a look at Martin’s Sniper Dan review. You can also find out more on the Steam page.
I give Normal Golf Game an 8/10. Although fantastic, it is quite short. You can get through it in about 10 hours.
