Shaun Munro reviews Turbo Golf Racing (in early access)…
Released this past week in Early Access, Turbo Golf Racing seeks to do for golf what Rocket League did for football. And while it’s easy to dismiss Hugecalf Studios’ (When Ski Lifts Go Wrong) rocket-powered car golfer as another me-too attempt to cash-in on that game’s mammoth success, it’s ultimately proof that imitation need not be cynical or insincere.
Yes, the inspiration speaks for itself, but Turbo Golf Racing does plenty to stand on its own as a ludicrously entertaining competitive sports title well worth your time. The rub is simple; eight players race online to thwack their comically oversized golf balls to the end of an elaborate course, using their rocket car as the putter.
It’s a devilishly basic setup, enough that it’s surprising it’s taken seven whole years since Rocket League’s release for somebody to put this thing out. Much like that game, the thrill of play here comes from tack-sharp physics, which can prove both hilarious and infuriating depending on whether they’re working in your favour or not.
Of course it’s not quite as simple as straight-laced golf; the game’s 30 courses are filled with ramps, rings which can boost your speed, sections of track which can replenish your boost bar, and rough sand dunes which will add seconds to your par time if you get stuck in them.
Though you’re sadly unable to directly interact with your rivals’ balls – perhaps a blessing in disguise given the potential for torment – you can find pick-ups strewn across the map to give yourself a leg-up. Boosts will give you a speedy nudge, rockets can be fired to temporarily incapacitate other players, and shields will protect you from the same being inflicted your way. And finally, as you level up you’re able to unlock cores – one passive, one active – which provide additional advantages, such as boosting your speed or increasing the size of your ball.
And that’s about it; this is an incredibly easy game to pick up and play casually, with the intuitive ball-tracking and precise physics making it a sure delight to tear around the track in pursuit of first place. While hardly the most visually arresting game you’re likely to play this year, and the colour scheme doesn’t venture far outside the Rocket League wheelhouse, the slick vehicular designs and vibrant tracks are appealing to look at.
During release week, matchmaking was fast and fluid on PC, ensuring that you can play through a three-round match in barely five minutes, making this perfect for bite-sized play when you’ve got a small measure of time to kill. It’s just a shame it’s an Xbox console exclusive, though, because this thing would be killer on the Nintendo Switch.
Really the only notable bugbear about Turbo Golf Racing is the fairly minimal amount of content on offer, albeit with the major asterisk that this is an Early Access release that isn’t expected to launch in official v1.0 capacity for another year. The central gameplay loop is certainly compelling enough, but the solo time trial mode likely won’t hold the attention for more than an hour or two, the lack of offline play with bots is a little disappointing, and the cosmetic unlocks likely aren’t interesting enough to lure away those obsessed with Rocket League’s licensed drip.
But Hugecalf was extremely smart to get this thing on Xbox Game Pass, which will hopefully ensure it maintains a healthy player-base for the foreseeable future, rather than dropping off before the promised additions can be delivered.
It’s now a waiting game to see how players en masse embrace the game (or don’t) and how comprehensive the updates are, but at present Turbo Golf Racing is an absurdly enjoyable multiplayer title that enthusiastically positions itself as far more than a mere Rocket League knock-off.
Pros:
+ Overall “gamefeel” is great.
+ Addictive gameplay loop.
+ Snappy matchmaking and fast-paced games.
+ Solid visuals.
Cons:
– Low on content at the moment.
– Cosmetics aren’t very interesting.
– The solo “campaign” is very basic.
– Lack of offline bot play.
Rating: 7.5/10
Reviewed on PC (also available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S).
A review code was provided by the publisher.
Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling, or e-mail me here.
