There are two things I already love about Dangerous Golf besides the concept of the game itself. First is that Three Fields Entertainment -- an indie studio created by Criterion Games founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry -- isn't relying on Kickstarter, Steam Greenlight, or a publisher to fund or propel their game. No safety net. The second thing...ok, you caught me, it's actually the concept of the game itself.
Here, look at this screenshot and then ponder the wonderfully chaotic possibilities that come from the creators of Burnout developing a golf game:
Remember Showtime mode from Burnout Paradise? You'd force your vehicle into a crash and then defy physics and boredom by hurtling yourself toward as much wreckage as possible, leaving a wake of ridiculous destruction in your wake. That's essentially what they want to bring to the game of golf.
“When Fiona and I formed Three Fields Entertainment a year ago, we knew we wanted to focus on what we do best: making fast, fun and spectacular arcade style games,” said Alex Ward, Founder and Creative Director of new studio Three Fields Entertainment. “Dangerous Golf is just that. It’s as serious a golf game as Burnout was a serious simulation to driving games."
Much like that mode from Burnout Paradise (which was lovingly parodied with humans instead of cars in Saints Row IV's "Insurance Fraud" mode), the entire point of Dangerous Golf is to cause as much monetary damage as possible with your best trick shots across 100 different holes in 4 locations just begging for destruction.
You'll watch your golf ball's destructive powers get magnified -- and even turn it into a bomb -- as you wreak havoc across settings like a palace ballroom, rural gas station, and medieval castle.
Bonus points: Dangerous Golf will feature turn-based play both online and offline, and you better believe couch multiplayer is in the mix, as well as a local party mode for up to 8 players. Alex Ward tells Polygon that the emphasis here is to "smash the place up and bang the ball into the hole." No stodgy rules, no par concerns, no time limits.
More bonus points: The studio worked closely with
Though I've yet to see the game in action, the concept alone has me ridiculously excited, and the pedigree of the developers involved has me hopeful. Between this and 100ft Tall Robot Golf, 2016 is going to one hell of a fun year for golf games. I never imagined myself saying that.
Dangerous Golf launches in May for PlayStation 4, PC (via Steam) and Xbox One. My fingers are crossed hard for PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift compatibility.
