Jackson Reid
What the Golf? is a physics-based golf parody video game where every golf course is a new surprising type of golf. The game was developed and published by Danish studio Triband and released in 2019 for iOS, macOS, and tvOS. The game features various levels that rarely involve actual golf, including bowling, cycling, archery, soccer, and more. One of the levels in the game involves soccer, which can be particularly frustrating when using a mouse due to its requirement for quick and repeated guidance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | 19 September 2019 |
| Developer | Triband |
| Publisher | The Label |
| Platforms | iOS, macOS, tvOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 |
| Genre | Sports video game |
| Game description | A physics-based golf parody with a new surprising type of golf in each course |
| Control scheme | Pull back, aim, and release |
| Gameplay | The game has a simple control scheme, but the levels are not always straightforward. For example, in the soccer level, kids might kick your ball away. |
| Reception | Positive, with 93% of 4,054 user reviews on Steam being positive |
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What You'll Learn
The soccer levels are frustrating with a mouse
The soccer levels in What the Golf? can be frustrating when using a mouse. The game is a physics-based golf parody where every golf course is a new and surprising type of golf. While the game is hilarious and addictive, with an innate accuracy of finger gestures, the levels with a soccer ball or other items requiring quick, repeated guidance are better suited to a touchscreen laptop.
The game's humour is derived from slapstick comedy, and the levels were designed to be short to fit in as many jokes as possible. The slow-motion feature, originally intended for the soccer level, was eventually added to the entire game.
The game's controls are simple: pull back, aim, and release. This scheme is used in every level, including for moving around the map between holes and levels. However, when golf becomes soccer, bowling, cycling, or archery, finishing the level is rarely straightforward.
In the soccer levels, players have reported that the mouse is not ideal for quick, repeated guidance of the ball. The game's menu can also be a bit boring and slow-paced, especially when navigating with a mouse. However, the quick-to-restart nature of the levels means that clipping issues are not a significant problem.
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The slow-motion feature was first intended for the soccer level
The physics-based golf parody game What the Golf? features a slow-motion mechanic that was first intended for the game's soccer level. The game was developed by Triband, a Danish studio, and released in 2019 for iOS, macOS, and tvOS.
What the Golf? is a unique take on golf, with each level presenting a new and surprising type of golf, ranging from the absurd to the brilliant and hilarious. The game's creators have stated that they \"know nothing about golf,\" positioning it as a \"golf game for people who hate golf.\"
The soccer level in What the Golf? is particularly challenging, requiring quick and repeated guidance of the soccer ball. This level is better suited to touchscreen devices, as they offer more innate accuracy for finger gestures. The slow-motion feature was likely added to this level to provide players with a greater degree of control and precision, allowing them to more easily navigate the challenges presented.
The slow-motion feature ultimately proved so successful that the developers decided to implement it throughout the rest of the game. This addition aligns with the game's focus on entertainment and accessibility, ensuring that players can enjoy the humorous and surprising experiences without being overly hindered by the game's mechanics.
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The levels are better suited to touchscreen accuracy
The levels in What the Golf? are better suited to touchscreen accuracy. The game, which is a silly physics-based golf parody, was initially released on iOS, macOS, and tvOS, and is better played on smartphones or touchscreen laptops. While it is not unplayable on PC, levels that require quick, repeated guidance, such as the soccer levels, are more suited to the accuracy of finger gestures. The game's controls are simple: pull back, aim, and release. However, when golf transforms into bowling, cycling, archery, soccer, or other things, completing the level is rarely as straightforward as simply pulling back and releasing.
The soccer levels, in particular, can be frustrating when using a mouse. The ball requires quick, repeated guidance, which is more easily achieved with the innate accuracy of finger gestures on a touchscreen device. The game's developers chose golf as the sport to parody, stating that it was "mostly played by rich people, so it seemed like a safe target". The levels in the game are designed to be short, allowing for as many jokes as possible. The game's humour is largely based on slapstick comedy, which works regardless of the player's location.
The game has received critical acclaim for its surreal humour and gameplay, winning multiple awards and becoming one of Apple Arcade's most popular titles. It has been praised for its delightful soundtrack and surprising world, where everything is golf even when it isn't. One reviewer noted that the game is "polished, hilarious, enthralling and highly addictive". The levels in What the Golf? are full of surprises, with new courses featuring random objects such as toasters, hot dogs, and office chairs.
The game also includes a level editor, allowing players to create their own silly levels and share them with the world. What the Golf? is a unique and entertaining game that offers a fresh take on the traditional sport of golf, and its levels are best experienced with the accuracy and convenience of touchscreen devices.
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The ball can be kicked away by kids
"What the Golf?" is a physics-based golf parody game where every golf course is a new and surprising type of golf. The game was developed by Triband, whose creators have stated that they "know nothing about golf", and was designed as a "golf game for people who hate golf".
While the game does contain some elements of traditional golf, it often veers into other sports and activities, such as bowling, cycling, archery, soccer, and even first-person shooters or interplanetary physics simulations. The levels are short and filled with jokes and slapstick humour, and the game does not demand a high level of skill or precision from players.
One of the challenges players may encounter is having their ball kicked away by kids. This is one of the many unexpected obstacles that can make completing a level more difficult. The game is full of surprises, and players never know what to expect as they progress through the levels.
The game received critical acclaim for its humour and unique gameplay, and became one of Apple Arcade's most popular titles. It has been described as a hilarious, enthralling, and highly addictive game that provides a fun and enjoyable experience, even for those who are not fans of golf.
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The game is suited to those who hate golf
What the Golf? is a physics-based golf parody game that is suited to those who hate golf. The game was developed by Danish studio Triband, whose creators proudly "know nothing about golf". The developers chose golf as the sport to parody because it is "mostly played by rich people, so it seemed like a safe target".
The game has a simple control scheme: pull back, aim, and release. However, the levels rarely stick to traditional golf, with the game turning into bowling, cycling, archery, soccer, or something else entirely. For example, sometimes you're a cat, a crab, or a moon lander. The game is full of surprises, secrets, and references, and is highly addictive.
The game does not demand a high level of skill or that you complete a level in a certain number of strokes. Instead, it takes you along for a ride, focusing on entertainment and humour. The game's world is anarchic and doesn't make much sense, but that's part of the fun.
The game is better suited to smartphones or touchscreen laptops, especially for levels with a soccer ball or other items that require quick, repeated guidance. These levels can be frustrating when using a mouse due to the innate accuracy of finger gestures.
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Frequently asked questions
What the Golf? is a 2019 sports video game developed and published by Danish studio Triband. It is a physics-based golf parody where every golf course is a new surprising type of golf. The game received critical acclaim for its surreal humour and gameplay, winning multiple awards and becoming one of Apple Arcade's most popular titles.
What the Golf? has a simple system that you learn immediately: pull back, aim, and release. This same control scheme is used in every level of the game, and for moving around the map between holes and levels.
While there are some elements of traditional golf in the game, What the Golf? often turns golf into bowling, cycling, archery, soccer, or something else entirely. Sometimes there are explosive barrels, sometimes kids kick your ball away, and sometimes you're a cat, a crab, or a moon lander.
