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Golf Story Review Thread

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Cerium

Member
This is a very unusual situation where reviewers got codes the day before release and the public rendered a verdict on it before the press. Nevertheless, a larger quantity of reviews have come in, so I thought I'd do a belated review thread.

Nintendo Life: 9/10

Golf Story is a surprisingly gripping game, hooking you with fantastic gameplay, loads of content, and a well-written script. This is one that'll have you coming back for many hours in the story mode alone, and the multiplayer does a good job of expanding on this with even more replayability. We would highly recommend Golf Story to anyone looking for something a little different. There's a whole lot to love here, and if you're a fan of RPGs or golf games, this is a must buy.
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Game Informer: 9/10

Yes, this is just a golf game at its core, but Golf Story makes you care about the characters and their world just as much as sinking a do-or-die putt. Part of its charm is keeping you off kilter, forcing you to hit a 300-yard drive with pinpoint precision one second, then solve a murder mystery the next. A continual delight to play, Golf Story is a breath of fresh air for sports, and another fun story to follow for role-playing fanatics.
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Nintendo Wire: 9/10

When I first saw Golf Story I was intrigued and excited, but also slightly skeptical. After all, a narrative-driven golf RPG is a pretty odd premise that'd be hard to pull off without the right sort of affection. Sidebar nails it, making one of the most enjoyable adventures I've had in a long while that manages to outshine most of Nintendo's own comedic RPG output in recent years. If you have a Switch and want a game that offers not only a fun narrative, but pristine and precise gameplay, Golf Story is a hole-in-one you can't miss.
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Vandal: 8.5/10

Cheap, charming, long, fun... Golf Story is a very positive surprise, and if you're looking for something different on Switch, we think you should try this.
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Nintendo World Report: 7.5/10

Golf Story doesn't totally live up to the legacy of those Mario sports RPGs, but it does a very good job at touching on those classics and putting its own spin on the genre. A few nagging issues might draw down the experience, but the golfing is fun enough to work in tandem with a wacky story and world to make a genuinely enjoyable adventure on Switch.
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Eurogamer: Recommended

The world itself is a delight to discover, tied together with cartoon logic and a love for the links, full of haunted groves and blissed-out beaches, and all rendered in Super NES style. It's an aesthetic that isn't entirely original; its loungey soundtrack, while perfectly listenable, has the insubstantial wispiness of library music, and there's something of the stock image in its 16-bit-style characterisations. They're easy shorthands, though, and as an appropriation in part of the great Earthbound, Golf Story at least goes beyond the pixels and works towards aping some of the heart and soul of Shigesato Itoi and HAL Laboratory's masterpiece. Golf Story is a goofy game, but one with the same gentle humour and human warmth of that all-time great.
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Taxman said:
http://wegotthiscovered.com/gaming/golf-story-review/ - 4/5

http://twinfinite.net/2017/10/golf-story-review/ - 4/5

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/10/03/golf-story-review - 7.5
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The Eurogamer review is what got me to buy the game. The game definitely has an Earthbound-esque charm to it.
 
Neiteio said:
This really is the sort of game that we'll remember fondly for a long time.


Is "sucked in" an Australian expression? Never heard it before this game.
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I have no idea, but I love the weird, wonky Aussie slang in this game. It's so charming.

4 hours in and I love this game. Such a great change of pace from games like Destiny.
 
A-V-B said:
Harvest Moon Golf? Or is it more like an Earthbound thing?
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backflip10019 said:
Wouldn't say it's quite Harvest Moon. More Earthbound-y from what I've played of it. There's definitely a lot of golf to be played, though.
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I kind of find the comparison to EB negligent. While they may share some qualities I think it isn't doing Golfstory any favors setting the bar so high with a beloved game and I think people are too quick to use old/other games as shorthand to describe things even when the clubs don't fit just right.

It definitely leans towards the quirky but it isn't outright weird like EB. It also isn't as expansive as EB.

What it is though is a very competent 2-d golf game, with solid shot mechanics, varying challenges and 'quests' (sidenote they in joke a lot about fetch quests), and some quirky writing/story.

But I wouldn't even put it close to the type or story/writing of Earthbound. The actual plot and sublines aren't even in the same state. However, it has it's own flavor and it definitely goes in on golf culture and golfclub culture.

It also has to be noted that it is buggy and hell. I've been lucky to not have experienced anything horrible in my 13 hours so far, but it definitely needs some more polish. Nothing that should prevent a purchase though.

I cam say it has become my favorite game in about the last 5 months or so. I have had a hard time putting it down since Thursday. I really loke the challengss and different things you can do in the world. Heck I am still discovering new things every time I play.
 
The Camelot Mario Tennis and Golf games made my youth grand. So happy that this follows the tradition, can’t wait to dive in.
 
Neiteio said:
This really is the sort of game that we'll remember fondly for a long time.


Is "sucked in" an Australian expression? Never heard it before this game.
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I think it's something you say when somebody falls for something, got tricked, gullible etc

Think: "the man got sucked into the pyramid scheme"
 
TheGreatMightyPoo said:
I think people here overrate the game but it’s good.
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People are excited about it, they aren't proclaiming it to be the greatest game of all time. I think if anything, it's a surprise that it's actually a good game after there being so little press about it leading up to its release, which I find quite refreshing in this day and age of overexposure.
 
K-Gun said:
Is the golf as good?
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No, but it's fine.

I picked up the game last night and played for a while. The golf mechanics are serviceable but not as good as those games. I would look at it like this: Those games were golf games first, RPGs second. This game is RPG first, golf game second. It's a small distinction but accurate based on what I've played so far, IMO. The game is very enjoyable and like any golf game you have to get used to certain nuances such as the click-bar speed, how far the ball rolls past your target area on a perfect hit, how much wind affects the ball at what speeds, etc. But the focus in this game is on the RPG aspects and puzzle-solving, rather than rock-solid golfing mechanics.
 
Game has a lot of content as well. I can't say exactly how far I am, but I'm about 12 hours in and i feel like i'm maybe 60% of the way through?
 
Dr. Zoidberg said:
No, but it's fine.

I picked up the game last night and played for a while. The golf mechanics are serviceable but not as good as those games. I would look at it like this: Those games were golf games first, RPGs second. This game is RPG first, golf game second. It's a small distinction but accurate based on what I've played so far, IMO. The game is very enjoyable and like any golf game you have to get used to certain nuances such as the click-bar speed, how far the ball rolls past your target area on a perfect hit, how much wind affects the ball at what speeds, etc. But the focus in this game is on the RPG aspects and puzzle-solving, rather than rock-solid golfing mechanics.
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I really like the fine-tuning and precision shots in this game, which give you more flexibility than I'm used to vs other arcadey golf games. Green lies aren't as complex, but there are a lot of things to be aware of (mostly hazards and boosts) around each course, especially once you're past the first area.
 
Dr. Zoidberg said:
No, but it's fine.

I picked up the game last night and played for a while. The golf mechanics are serviceable but not as good as those games. I would look at it like this: Those games were golf games first, RPGs second. This game is RPG first, golf game second. It's a small distinction but accurate based on what I've played so far, IMO. The game is very enjoyable and like any golf game you have to get used to certain nuances such as the click-bar speed, how far the ball rolls past your target area on a perfect hit, how much wind affects the ball at what speeds, etc. But the focus in this game is on the RPG aspects and puzzle-solving, rather than rock-solid golfing mechanics.
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Well said and seconded.
 
Game is awesome... charming story, lots of variety in course design and just fun to play. It definitely is RPG first, and golf game second, which works for it. Personally hate the disc golf controls, but that's all I can knock it for so far.
 
At minimum Golf Story is an extremely promising 1st release from an otherwise completely unknown 2 person indie team. I hope they can thrive with their next effort and not experience the sophomore slump like some indie devs do.
 
Dr. Zoidberg said:
No, but it's fine.

I picked up the game last night and played for a while. The golf mechanics are serviceable but not as good as those games. I would look at it like this: Those games were golf games first, RPGs second. This game is RPG first, golf game second. It's a small distinction but accurate based on what I've played so far, IMO. The game is very enjoyable and like any golf game you have to get used to certain nuances such as the click-bar speed, how far the ball rolls past your target area on a perfect hit, how much wind affects the ball at what speeds, etc. But the focus in this game is on the RPG aspects and puzzle-solving, rather than rock-solid golfing mechanics.
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I personally feel like the golf mechanics get a lot better the more you play and the more you unlock.

You can make a lot of adjustments to each shot. Precision mode, Hit Mode, Focus shot and the different club sets all affect the shot. As well when combined with the rpg mechanics you can really define the type of golfer you want to be. I tend to pump up my skills while barely touching power. I like being able to be more accurate with a slower swing bar, more spin and ability to get more face on the ball. It is all there from an RPG aspect. You could go a completely different direction though which is neat.

There are different types of greens, roughs and fairways. The only thing golfwise I don't like is that there are few courses if any without the hokey obstacles. So it at times has a Caddyshack vibe.


OH MAN I just realized what this game itches even slightly, its that Caddyshack golf club joke vibe.

Anyway back to the golf. It's a better than solid but it isn't amazing. In fact they joke that you don't actually play a lot of golf later in the game. However the actual mechanics are there but they trickle some of that stuff out.

Also the bit on the greens. The well manicured checkerboard greens show slope and speed. Which is great, unfortunately those are the only greens like that 😑
 
Yeah I actually searched out reviews last week and couple only find a couple. Hopefully more outlets will cover this little gem.
 
JetSetRadio said:
I'd describe it as golf STORY after an hour, don't buy this to play golf. I like it though, it's funny too.
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Yeah, I was extremely disappointed by the way the actual golf part of the game plays. I don't care for the stupid humor or story. I'll stick with Hot Shots Golf World Invitational for my portable golf game of choice.
 
Don't tell the police, but I only paid FOURTEEN DOLLARS AND NINETY NINE CENTS for this game.

It's very good
 
mazillion said:
I think it's something you say when somebody falls for something, got tricked, gullible etc

Think: "the man got sucked into the pyramid scheme"
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Nah. It’s more something you say in reaction to something. Like if someone were to drop an ice cream you’d be like “haha, sucked in!”
 
Ahhh, this is such a great game so far, but got a soft lock on the game w a stupid disc getting caught bouncing infinitely up and down on a bench so bb I had to reset and the game didn't save anything I did for the last 45 min or so. Sucked in, I suppose.
 
ghibli99 said:
I really like the fine-tuning and precision shots in this game, which give you more flexibility than I'm used to vs other arcadey golf games. Green lies aren't as complex, but there are a lot of things to be aware of (mostly hazards and boosts) around each course, especially once you're past the first area.
Click to expand...
tebunker said:
I personally feel like the golf mechanics get a lot better the more you play and the more you unlock.

You can make a lot of adjustments to each shot. Precision mode, Hit Mode, Focus shot and the different club sets all affect the shot. As well when combined with the rpg mechanics you can really define the type of golfer you want to be. I tend to pump up my skills while barely touching power. I like being able to be more accurate with a slower swing bar, more spin and ability to get more face on the ball. It is all there from an RPG aspect. You could go a completely different direction though which is neat.
Click to expand...
Yeah, outside of the green it doesn't feel like it's lacking depth imo.

Just got to Cheekypeak, I'm enjoying a lot although it's really rough around the edges polish wise.
 
I'm torn between Golf Story and Stardew Valley for my next switch game.

Does anyone dare to recommend one over the other?

For the record, I'm not particularly interesting in golf nor in farming. But I'm willing to try.
 
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