Back in the Wii days, I was an avid golf game fan but since that era is long gone the digital green got no love from me until Golf Club Wasteland. Demagog Studio developed a unique take on the golf genre through the addition of a thoughtful narrative.
Reverse Bezos
When Jeff Bezos wants to go to space, he goes to space. I have no idea how it would feel like being so rich I could actually pay people to make me an astronaut. Jeff, I like to address the man with his first name because I sponsored his wealth plenty of times, does what he wants as do other wealthy people. Golf Club Wasteland might’ve been inspired by these events when they came up with the premise for the game. The earth has finally succumbed to the ecologic molestation that’s been going on for years. When people started to realize this was really the end for our dear planet, wealthy people found ways to go to Mars and colonize the place. With things carrying on over on Mars, Earth turns into a wasteland. Swapping planets hasn’t changed the way certain rich people seem to cope with boredom… Some have decided to go back to earth to play a casual game of golf in the barren wasteland as if it’s completely normal. You are playing as a reverse Bezos fully equipped with an orange spacesuit in search to finally lower that handicap.
2D golf
Golf Club Wasteland is a 2D representation of the game of golf. This makes the game easier to pick up than most golf games because of the lack of a third dimension. With just one all-purpose club to worry about the gameplay is extremely simple. You initiate your swing by pressing the joystick in the direction you want to shoot the ball. An arrow shows the angle at which you are about to hit your ball. By the press of a button, you unleash your shot in hopes of getting closer to the hole. You’ll soon find out the hard way that going for full force shots is often not the most ideal playstyle. To get your ball in good positions to continue, you’ll have to use some more finesse (and trial and error) in order to get to the hole in the allocated tries.
Each hole takes place in the desolated remains of what was left behind. With some subtle hints, the game references different iconic places and adds some extra end-of-the-world type flavor. With many hazards along the way, you’ll have to aim just right in order to make any progress. The rubble found all around is not a favorable landing place for your golf ball. Getting through a rundown museum for instance is quite the ordeal if you want to get a good score. These elaborate and quite inventive golf courses can often be maneuvered in different ways. Finding the ideal route could mean the difference between success and failure. Some courses even have special features like drainpipes and elevators that let you skip certain sections. Exploring is often rewarded with benefits.
Fits like a glove
Golf Club Wasteland can be played in three different modes. The challenge mode won’t let you advance to the next hole until you score under par. With some quick thinking and puzzle-solving, you’ll still have a rather casual time because of the unlimited retries you get. If you want the ultimate relaxing mode, go for the story mode, and don’t worry about failing at all. Those looking for an actual challenge can try out iron mode which is the hardest mode. This mode will leave no room for error. One mistake and it’s game over. I liked my game experience right in the middle with the challenge mode but could see myself give the iron mode a try once I feel like I mastered the easy-to-grasp controls a bit more.
Audiobook material
All throughout the game, Radio Nostalgia From Mars is playing in the background. The station brings a great soundtrack to the game intertwined with story elements through the smooth-voiced DJ. These snippets bring a real audiobook-like aspect to the game. I noticed myself listening to the narratives without actually playing the game for more than one occasion. The way the story unfolds really makes you think. The makers used their game to give their take on capitalism and ecologic downfall without being overly judgemental. They kept things open enough for the user to think for themselves. Something I truly applaud.
Conclusion
Golf Club Wasteland is a full experience. The gameplay is easy enough to grasp immediately but the courses add just enough challenge to keep you going whilst avoiding being frustrating. The environments are beautifully styled. The real star of the game is the Radio narrative justifying the price for this game on its own.
