Who doesn’t love a good mini golf game? I can’t count the many hours I lost playing the incredible 3D Ultra Mini Golf Adventures on the Xbox 360 . The appeal of the game is easy to understand: everyone understands the basic rules and everyone, from seasoned gamers to newbies, can jump in and have a go. So, with this thought in mind we were very excited to get our hands on House of Golf on the Nintendo Switch. Coming from Atomicon, the studio who brought us JCB Pioneer: Mars, Bang Bang Racing THD and Switch Galaxy Ultra, House of Golf is a fun, challenging and rewarding mini golf game set in a house (yes, you probably guessed that from the title). Think Micro Machines and you’re more or less there. You get the option to test out your golfing prowess in a number of rooms, ranging from the kitchen to the garage, bedroom, attic and lounge.
The game’s obstacles are taken directly from the household objects found in the room you’re playing in and there are three levels of difficulty to choose from. The courses in House of Golf are well thought out and can often prove very tricky to master. For the most part objects are placed in just the right spot to cause you to stop, think and plan another route. You’ll be able whizz through some courses in a matter of minutes while others can take up to twenty minutes to complete. If you’re just looking for a quick pick up and play, Atomicon have provided the option to play one hole at a time rather than sitting down for a complete Championship mode which will involve playing all nine holes. As you progress through the game you’re rewarded by a number of custom designed balls, which gives House of Golf good replay value.
Graphically, House of Golf looks great on the big screen. The colours used are bright and vibrant and, although objects lack a little detail, they are well designed and do a great job of immersing you in the game. Through our road test, we sometimes found aiming the ball in just the right spot a little bit of a challenge. A fine tune option similar to those found in snooker and pool games would have been a huge benefit here. However it has to be said that the developers have nailed the ball physics down to a tee. The ball reacts exactly as it should and, should you miss a shot by a gnats eyelash, you have the feeling that it was your fault and not the games. For gamers who love playing alongside family and friends, House of Golf lets up to 6 people play together on the one console – making this a bargain for group competition.
Although far from ground-breaking, House of Golf is a fun, challenging title that will more than satisfy you mini golf cravings for months to come. Recommended.
8 out of 10
