Dangerous Golf is a blast.
Cheesy joke aside, there is no better way to describe this game. It’s heaps of fun, and there’s plenty of carnage, but you might be left a little underwhelmed when it’s over.
Dangerous Golf was created by independent studio, Three Fields Entertainment. You may not have heard of them, but founders Fiona Sperry and Alex Ward are both ex-employees of Criterion Games; you know, the studio responsible for the Burnout series – the games where racing is secondary to fiery explosions and glorified road rage. Dangerous Golf acts as some sort of spiritual successor to the popular series, and while it is definitely not Burnout, the influences are noticeable. You see, where Burnout had you driving around in vehicles trying to wreak as much havoc as possible, Dangerous Golf uses golf balls.
Dangerous Golf maintains that destructive and arcade-styled gameplay that made Burnout popular, and if you’re a fan of Burnout, you’ll probably find a lot to love about this game. Fans of golf might not have the same appreciation, however. I guess there’s a difference between those who want to tear up the golf course figuratively, and those who very much want to do it literally.
It might not be much of a golf game – though I doubt that’s what Three Fields Entertainment were aiming for – but for what it’s worth, Dangerous Golf does present the golfing mechanics well enough. While you’ll probably want to get the ball into the hole to maximize your score, it is entirely possible to pass through levels simply by racking up enough damage.
The gameplay itself is actually rather simple. The most important weapon in your arsenal is a mechanic called Smashbreaker. After teeing off, you can initiate Smashbreaker, giving you more control of the ball and allowing you a better opportunity to hit targets and increase your score.
And there are plenty of targets, including paint cans, statues, wine bottles…. Hitting these isn’t essential, but they can be important, depending on the stage.
There are several regions in the game, including France, USA, Australia, and England. The main game mode is the World Tour, where you travel from area to area, wreaking havoc in order to unlock new levels. Yet, while there are four different regions to play in, the levels within each particular region have similar themes. The United States, for example, features a lot of levels based in kitchens, while France spent far too much time in wineries. More variation within these environments would not have gone astray. Also, given the idea of traveling around the world, I would have liked to see more famous landmarks.
In fact, the majority of the levels take place inside. Even the ones that happen outside were limited in scope. This is understandable given the size of the team, but there could be plenty more to explore further down the line through DLC or a potential sequel.
Despite these minor complaints, the game can be pretty fun, however it can also become frustrating, and personally I would have appreciated more of a challenge.
It is important to note that Three Fields Entertainment has been listening to fan feedback for Dangerous Golf. While the recent update included some technical and quality of life improvements, it also improved some holes to make them less difficult. It actually seems like Three Fields Entertainment are interested in making improvements to the game, which is great for prospective buyers, and not something you always see from games outside of early access programs.
Dangerous Golf is also a great game to play with friends. You can go through the world tour with local co-op, or play the game online. If you know people who enjoyed Burnout, you might want to have them check this one out too.
At the end of the day, while the experience can get tiresome after long sessions, Dangerous Golf should provide a golfing game that not just fans of Burnout, but many casual gamers can enjoy. If there’s one thing that this game isn’t, it’s simulation.
If you’re interested in a unique take on golf, there should be little to stop you from picking up this one. Dangerous Golf brings a lot of interesting elements together in the name of arcade destruction. Plus, even if it isn’t perfect, it’s heaps of fun.
