The Indie game market is bigger than it ever has been before, with countless titles releasing every year than run the gamut of video game genres. While some Indie genres are much more popular than others, withSoulslikes, roguelikes, and platformers often performing very well, there are always those titles that seemingly come out of nowhere, and bring something brand new to the video game landscape.Rocket Leaguewas one such game, and this year’sTurbo Golf Racingis another.
Releasing in 2015,Rocket Leaguewas an instant success. Blending both the racing and sports genres,Rocket Leaguewas able to appeal to a vast player-base, and with simple controls, it’s easily accessible for video game fans of all kinds. With the immense popularity ofRocket League, it was only a matter of time before other games started taking direct influence from its formula, and the recently releasedTurbo Golf Racingis a standout example.
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How Turbo Golf Racing Borrows Rocket League’s Formula
Released in early access just a few days ago,Turbo Golf RacingtakesRocket League’s general gameplay formulaand mechanics, and makes some interesting tweaks. Swapping out soccer for golf, it’s only natural thatTurbo Golf Racingwould need to change up its mechanics to best fit the sport, but its bones are very much reminiscent ofRocket League.
An average match ofTurbo Golf Racingwill see the player ram their car into an oversized ball, launching it down a forward-facing path. The player will then need to catch up to their ball, and continue to bump into it until it eventually finds itself rolling into the cup. The player who managed to pot their ball the quickest wins the match. Though the core gameplay formula is a little different toRocket League’s, the general idea is similar, and the mechanics are nearly identical.
During the match, players will be able to use boost pads to gain the edge over the competition, and can ram into opponents to try and knock them out of the way. Controls inTurbo Golf Racingwill be pretty familiar tofans ofRocket League, and players do have the ability to launch their car into the air. Interestingly, players also have the ability to glide through the air, which is a pretty unique mechanic.
Though the controls may not be quite as responsive asRocket League’s, the same addictive gameplay loop is there, and the same high level of accessibility is present. In fact,Turbo Golf Racingmight even be easier thanRocket League, as most of the action is kept in front of the player, as most courses will require the player to just keep moving forwards. This high level of accessibility ensures that just about any player can have fun with the game, regardless of their skill level.
With crazy golf being the inspiration,Turbo Golf Racingis also allowed to get pretty creative with its course design. While a good portion ofRocket League’s maps are quite simplistic, often being a square field with goals at either end, plus a little set dressing,Turbo Golf Racing’s coursesare sometimes a little more exciting. Different pathways are often open to the player, boost rings in the sky propel a well-placed ball further, and foliage and rocky terrain can force a player to think strategically about how to clear the obstacles effectively while still keeping track of the ball. It’s fair to say that whileTurbo Golf Racingcertainly draws a lot of inspiration fromRocket League’s formula, it makes the structure all its own.
Turbo Golf Racingis available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
