A Golf Game That Doesn’t Golf
Golf Peaks, despite its name, is not a golf game. There are no 3-click meters to manage, clubs to choose, hazards to avoid, scores to keep, bad pants to wear, and wind to monitor. Golf Peaks is actually a puzzle game. A casual puzzle game, in fact, that anyone can play and enjoy.
Like golf, the goal is to get the ball into the hole using a set number of strokes. The player does this by selecting cards from the bottom of the screen. Each card does one specific task such as moving one tile up, or chipped upward one tile’s elevation, or chipped up one then roll two, and so on. Each level usually only features a few cards to play so the challenge is never too high. Creative course design keeps the pacing and challenge constant as the player still has to navigate slopes, water and sand hazards, and even some bumpers like in mini golf.
Using an isometric perspective, each stage has been carefully designed to never interfere with gameplay without having the need to rotate or zoom the camera. The simple geometric shapes and pastel colors also provide a casual experience through and through. This, coupled without a time limit or penalty/game over system, and the soothing soundtrack, Golf Peaks will relax and entertain all without frustration. In fact, upon booting up the game for the first time, the player is just immediately presented with gameplay without an intro screen, options menu, or tutorial. The player does not need any of these things with such a well-paced title.
Costing only a few bucks on the Switch eShop, this is a stress free puzzler that is sure to please the hardcore gamer or the grandma looking to kill time in her retirement.
SCORE: 8/10
Not As Good As: playing 18 holes on a hot summer day with your friends and a case of beer
Better Than: Sudoku
Also Try: a Tangrams game
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
Twitter: @ZackGaz
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