In Cursed to Golf, you’re a lightning-struck and fatally beaten champion golfer trying to get out of golf hell. A great spin on the roguelike game. A devilish series of courses dooms him to his Sisyphean nightmare of clearing 18 holes or putting the green.
The game is laid out like a side-scrolling roguelike, with randomized halls, items, and rewards, but instead of utilizing traditional platforming, you only move when you hit the ball. The map is large, with multiple levels, and the ball must be holed within a set number of swings, giving the whole a satisfying puzzle element. Do you want to smash your driver and drive past the puddle ahead? There are five swings per hole, but there are destructible trophies on the map to increase that total. Power-up cards also take the strain off your shoulders, allowing you to swing more or practice your shots before failing. Some of them get really crazy, increasing or changing the direction of the ball in flight.
Cards become essential as the difficulty increases. New biomes – with three main regions, each with their own themes and obstacles – add complexity and present ever-escalating challenges. You’ll want to collect as many cards as possible to take your chances. A full run can actually take quite a while, so you don’t lose all progress at all. There is a possibility.
Luckily, the longer you play, the more comfortable you become with each club. All clubs have different power levels and features that need to be mastered. This will allow you to breeze through the early holes. The randomization that comes with roguelikes can burn you out, but in general the games are very forgiving and fun enough to create that “one more run” roguelike feeling.
The game nails just about anything it sets out to do. The pixelated graphics are vibrant and varied, the writing witty and eerie, and the music repetitive but brilliant. All aspects of the title come together in harmony to create an unexpectedly fun and entertaining roguelike with an exhilarating and unique premise.
