I’m not a big golfing fan but Golf Story is good at keeping me enticed to play more, Golf Story for the Nintendo Switch released Sep 28, 2017. It is obviously a game about golf but it plays as more of an RPG in a world where almost everyone is obsessed with golf.
So progressing through the story will require you to competing in golf or play various different challenges. This first impression is based off the first 4 hours; roughly.
Now i have to say it again i’m not at all a golfing fan at all and do not like watching it, but i do find some portable golfing games a nice side distraction. I don’t play many sport games at all really but the look of Golf Story reminded me of some Retro RPG’s.
Story
The game starts you off 20 years in the past as a child, your father is taking you out to teach you golfing in Wellworn Grove and this is mainly a tutorial, learning the basics of golfing in the game. Shortly after, fast forward 20 years and we have our character now grown up awaking from bed because of a call from what seems to be an Ex girlfriend. We quickly find out our character has decided to move away to take up golfing to continue the training he and his father started 20 years ago.
You decide to go back to Wellworn Grove to start practicing golf again. It doesn't take long before you come across some golfers and a coach, even though it already seems like you are better than the coaches students who are shockingly horrid, everyone treats you with disrespect and don't want to give you a chance. After 2 story quests in Wellworn Grove you have joined the team and are being used to snoop on a neighbouring town for an upcoming competition. As this happens you are introduced to the world map which certainly gives a lot more scale to the world.
The writing in this game has quite a lot of charm to it and doesn't make me want to skip all the text. I won't go into any more specific details about the story to avoid details and there isn't a whole bunch more to cover in my 4 hours of gameplay so far
So right out the gate the game has a very underdog RPG feel to it, you are not some professional golfer already in this world you are currently a nobody who needs to earn some money for better equipment and practice and level up his golfing skills.
Gameplay
Golf Story has much more of an RPG feel to it than a sports game, even before your first golfing match you first would be completing golfing challenges and leveling up your character and his golfing skills. You will find yourself walking around town and finding plenty of people offering their own side quest challenges for some money and experience points. Most challenges are related around golf but there are some other activities like races and frisbee throwing. Once you have gained enough experience you will be able to level up and upgrade different parts of your golfing skill:
- Purity (How true the ball will stay to where you want it to be going)
- Strike (How much power is lost when you don’t hit the ball right)
- Ability (how much spin and control you have over the ball)
- Spin (how much further the ball will be able to roll once landing)
While money you earn can go towards new golfing gear you can find in different towns.
Golfing courses are also littered with some obstacles like normal games and introduce some new like in Wellworn Grove there will be moles where if the ball comes into their area they will move the ball to a specific place meaning you will need to put some thought into where you want to hit the ball.
Art & sound
Golf story is an immensely charming game, the Retro RPG artstyle and feel brings back many good memories of me sinking hours into some of the many charming RPG’s on the older handhelds, The soundtrack differs to each area you go to but from everything i have encountered it is a nice catchy soundtrack i've found myself
humming to as i play
Conclusion
Golf Story combines two unlikely genres and manages to make them work only time will tell if the formula Golf Story has introduced me to so far has enough to stay interesting or ends up becoming quite stale as i find most golfing games get to me. I will definitely be coming back to write a full review on this game once i've 100% completed the game, but so far Golf Story looks extremely promising and i would recommend to everyone who has a switch to pick up Golf Story for only $14.99 USD
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