4D Golf
- March 22, 2024
- CodeParade
Get on Steam"4D Golf" is a distinctive golf game set in a 4-dimensional space, offering over 120 levels across 7 colorful worlds. Players can visualize 4D space using various options, build their own courses, and race the clock in Marble Platforming Mode. The game features moving platforms, shifting gravity, and speed boosts, with custom accessories to unlock by completing challenges.
Reviews
- The game provides a surprisingly intuitive introduction to navigating 4D space, making it accessible for players unfamiliar with higher dimensions.
- The level design is creative and engaging, with a variety of challenges that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.
- The inclusion of a level editor and community features adds significant replayability and encourages player creativity.
- The difficulty can be frustrating, especially for players who struggle with traditional mini-golf mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve.
- Some players have reported issues with the controls, particularly regarding the putting mechanics, which can feel inconsistent.
- The game may feel short for some, as the main content can be completed relatively quickly, despite the potential for custom levels.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its innovative use of four-dimensional mechanics, which are both intuitive and engaging, allowing players to explore complex spatial concepts while enjoying a straightforward mini-golf experience. While some players found the gameplay basic and occasionally confusing, many praised its fluidity and the clever integration of new mechanics across levels, making it a fun and mind-bending experience. Overall, the game successfully combines technical design with enjoyable gameplay, appealing particularly to fans of mini-golf and those interested in unique spatial challenges.
“Really interesting and fresh mechanics for spatial intuition.”
“This game does an excellent job of introducing 4D concepts, and I was surprised by how intuitive the mechanics felt by the end.”
“Mind-bending mechanics and very fun to learn.”
“The gameplay itself is extremely basic, but it has to be since simply understanding where objects are in the world is a quite difficult task that requires training.”
“My biggest complaint is that the default gameplay settings make things more confusing than needed.”
“The fact that this game exists is mind-blowing, but the gameplay isn't.”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it enjoyable, catchy, and dynamic, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that it can become grating over time, despite its pleasant and soothing qualities. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its adaptability to gameplay and its contribution to the game's atmosphere.
“The environments are simple but often beautiful, the navigation is about as intuitive as you could hope for, the level editor is handy for understanding-by-creating, and the music is enjoyable and occasionally catchy.”
“The music is kick-ass.”
“The soundtrack is really nice and adapts to your current 4D perspective.”
“The music is, I'm sorry to say, really grating after not too long.”
“The last challenge of Thumper, a nail-biting rhythm game, cruelly has no music.”
“10/10 from what I see, really nailed the graphics and music, and I have high expectations for the rest of the game once I get to it.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their fun and vibrant artwork, with many users highlighting the impressive 4D visuals and smooth performance even on mid-range hardware. The combination of stunning graphics, effective level design, and engaging visual effects enhances the overall gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game. Players recommend adjusting various graphical settings to optimize performance while still enjoying the captivating visuals.
“The visuals are cool.”
“Brilliant graphics and level design.”
“Almost everything -- the amazing graphics, the super hard rage-game-feeling courses, the entire premise, the twist in the final course -- is amazing along with the entire premise of the game, a normal human placed in a 4-dimensional world who has to seek knowledge about said world through mini golf.”
“If the game is a little slow (as it was for me on the final course), there are a few performance-improving graphics settings you can enable.”
“The game also uses a lot of compute (understandable given the custom rendering), so expect to lower the graphics settings unless you have a top-shelf GPU.”
“If you think this is 'just 3D golf' with some trippy visuals, you probably haven't gotten to Arctic.”
- story10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered minimal and unobtrusive, serving primarily as a backdrop to the engaging gameplay. While some players find the plot uninteresting, many praise a surprising and impactful twist at the end, which elevates the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is subtle and not the main draw, but it does offer some intriguing elements for those who pay attention.
“Nice story.”
“+ cute story with a very cool surprise at the end.”
“The plot twist at the end is fantastic too, one of the best and most surprising I've ever seen in any game, and I've played quite a few with wild twists.”
“It looks like an early 2000s game, and the plot is so bare-bones it’s basically non-existent, but the gameplay itself is really fun and the 4D-ness is really impressive.”
“And it's not like this game has much of a story.”
“There is a story, but it is much more subtle than the last game, which works well to not take focus away from the gameplay.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as genuinely entertaining and childlike, with players experiencing laughter from both absurd scenarios and clever gameplay mechanics. The presence of a higher-dimensional being adds a unique twist to the plot, while the game's unexpected categorization in the Steam library provides an amusing touch. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the experience, making it both engaging and delightfully maddening.
“This game has genuinely made me laugh like a giddy little child, like a kid in a candy store.”
“And there's nothing quite so hilariously maddening as navigating a 4D maze with strokes to spare and then spending three shots trying to get the ball in the hole right in front of you.”
“[spoiler] Also, the Steam library automatic grouping thing put this game in the 'racing' category, which you only unlock at the end of the game, so that's funny.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through unlockable clubs and balls, as well as the opportunity to improve scores. Additionally, the inclusion of a "marble mode" adds variety, while the gradual increase in difficulty and accessible tutorials encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, players find it worthwhile to revisit the game for both skill enhancement and exploration of its features.
“Very well made, has a mind-blowing ending, and some replayability with cool clubs and balls to unlock.”
“The progression of difficulty isn't too fast, and all tips and tutorials are replayable.”
“Worth the playthrough, and there is plenty of replay value in just getting better scores, but there is also a 'marble mode' similar to Super Monkey Ball.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its intuitive design and solid optimization, though some users experienced slow performance in specific areas. Fortunately, there are various graphics settings available to enhance performance.
“Surprisingly intuitive and well-optimized too!”
“If the game is a little slow (as it was for me on the final course), there are a few performance-improving graphics settings you can enable.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of games like Thumper, The Witness, Tunic, and Outer Wilds, noting that they provide unique experiences that blend intellectual challenges with profound emotional impacts. The absence of music in Thumper's final challenge and the metafictional elements in Tunic and Outer Wilds are particularly noted for delivering powerful emotional moments alongside their gameplay mechanics.
“It's incredibly rare that a game can give me a genuinely novel experience, both intellectual and emotional.”
“The last challenge of Thumper, a nail-biting rhythm game, cruelly has no music; The Witness turns the entire game world into a magnificent puzzle; Tunic and Outer Wilds have metafictional puzzles that are as much emotional gut-punches as they are brain-melting mysteries.”
