Vertiginous Golf
- May 6, 2015
- Kinelco & Lone Elk Creative
Get on Steam"Vertiginous Golf" is a steam punk mini golf adventure game set in a floating city above a polluted world. Play through challenging golf courses in story mode to uncover a looming insurrection, while avoiding the propaganda messages of peace and prosperity. Experience temporary escape from the gloom below in this dystopian mini golf journey.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique steampunk aesthetic with beautifully designed courses that provide a visually appealing experience.
- Gameplay includes interesting mechanics like a rewind feature and the ability to control the ball, adding depth to the mini-golf experience.
- The multiplayer aspect is enjoyable, allowing for fun interactions with friends and a variety of ways to play the game.
- The controls are overly sensitive and can be frustrating, making it difficult to aim and execute shots accurately.
- Sound design is poor, with some players reporting issues like constant audio fluttering that detracts from the overall experience.
- Many players find the level design convoluted and unplayable at times, leading to excessive strokes and a lack of enjoyment.
- graphics25 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive generally positive feedback, with many users praising the beautiful visuals, steampunk aesthetic, and varied course designs. While some reviews mention a lack of polish and minimal storytelling, the overall impression is that the graphics are appealing and contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience. The game's art style and smooth performance further enhance its visual appeal, making it a standout feature for players.
“The steampunk/Victorian aesthetic does wonders for being able to read the course and intuit what the ball might do when it lands.”
“Beautiful graphics, an inventive way to do 'flybys' of the hole in play, a wonderfully eclectic decor, and some unique twists that will keep you wanting to play more.”
“The visuals look great and the courses are varied.”
“The graphics aren't all that polished, although it is still in alpha.”
“Visuals are alright but the theme is a bit dulling (an opinion I built up in my time considering getting this before I got it for free).”
“Graphics is not too alright but recommended playing with multiplayer.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of innovative mechanics and traditional mini-golf elements, featuring unique additions like a rewind feature and a mechanical bird for course scouting. While some players find the courses convoluted and frustrating, others appreciate the smooth mechanics and stylish design, suggesting that the game offers hours of fun despite its quirks. Overall, the gameplay is engaging but may not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional approach.
“The gameplay is smooth and some unique mechanics like rewinding and meditation spice up the regular golf experience.”
“The mechanics allow for a new spin on a classic game which allows for hours of fun.”
“The stylish design and gameplay blend together perfectly and it never feels contrived.”
“As an exercise in what can be done with a bit of clever coding and imagination, full marks -- but the gameplay value is almost zero.”
“The mechanics and rewind system is strange and unclear, but the most notable issue is probably the fact that the maps are simply too boring and far too convoluted at the same time, and at some parts also simply frustrating.”
“But it's actually a mini-golf game where the ball falling out of bounds into oblivion is the main game mechanic.”
- story21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it captivating and unique, while others criticize it as minimal and poorly executed. Although there are efforts to incorporate a storyline, many feel it lacks depth and resolution, leading to disappointment. Overall, the narrative aspect seems to be an interesting but underdeveloped feature of the game.
“This is one of the most interesting games I've ever played; the actual golf courses are insane and borderline unplayable, with me and my friends sometimes getting 20+ shots on a par 4. But it's absolutely fascinating the whole time we're doing it, from a story mode that was surprisingly captivating from start to end and a general world that is unique and clever; I would love to see a sequel with better golf mechanics.”
“This golf game is unique and fun, with a nice atmosphere and even an interesting storyline.”
“There is a story, though I have only gotten the very start of it, so I can't say much about it, except for the fact that I like the effort to add a story.”
“The story mode is also a bizarre inclusion.”
“Third, and I'll try not to spoil what little plot there is, but the resolution is quite possibly the laziest thing I've seen in video game storytelling.”
“I was disappointed to find that the storytelling in this game is minimal, the graphics look amateurish at best, and the controls are just bad.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, featuring impressive graphics and a captivating fantasy-inspired setting. Reviewers highlight the blend of fun gameplay with an engaging storyline, noting the developers' dedication to creating a rich and atmospheric experience. Overall, the game's ambiance is described as both original and compelling, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the minigolf experience.
“This golf game is unique and fun, with a nice atmosphere and even an interesting storyline.”
“The atmosphere in the game is dripping wet from the blood and sweat the developers put into the game.”
“It's a minigolf game with a really cool fantasy-esque atmosphere and neat little contraptions all over.”
“The atmosphere in the game is dripping wet from the blood and sweat the developers put into it.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected and uninspired.”
“Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels flat and lifeless, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its fitting mood and quality, others find it uninspiring and suggest it detracts from the overall experience. There are calls for more musical variety, as certain elements, like the emporium, are seen as unnecessary. Overall, the sound design is generally well-received, complementing the game's aesthetics.
“Great music.”
“The game controls aren't difficult to grasp, the music and sounds are well designed, and the interface is nice and clean, not interfering with the graphics -- did I mention they were gorgeous?”
“Also, if you do end up playing this, turn off the uninspiring music because that's definitely what kills this game the most (for me at least).”
“The sounds are also a fitting inclusion, and the music really fits the mood when it kicks in.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a few glitches and bugs, particularly in online multiplayer and physics, which some players find adds to the charm of the early access experience. While there are notable issues, they are generally viewed as manageable and do not significantly detract from the enjoyment.
“I will admit the game is a tad bit buggy and has the occasional physics or weird clipping bug, but it's kind of hard to stay mad at it when it's an early access game.”
“Couple of glitches here and there, but it adds to the fun.”
“- Online multiplayer is a little buggy, but whatever, still cool.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Despite having hardware that exceeds the recommended specifications, users report persistent frame drops and stuttering, indicating that the game's optimization is lacking.
“My specs are well above the recommended for the game; however, it still has fairly constant frame drops and stuttering.”
“The game feels poorly optimized, as I experience significant lag even on high-end hardware.”
“Despite having a powerful setup, the performance issues make the game nearly unplayable at times.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's high replayability, noting an abundance of options that ensure players can continually find new experiences. The potential for community involvement on platforms like Steam further enhances this aspect, promising fresh content and interactions.
“The replay value is immense; I really don't see how I could run out of options, especially with the Steam community getting involved.”
“Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, thanks to the variety of choices and paths available.”
“The game offers so many different strategies and outcomes that I find myself coming back for more.”
“The replay value is minimal; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the game, I felt like I had seen everything it had to offer, leaving no reason to replay.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the comedic enjoyment of sabotaging friends, particularly through the use of explosive mechanics that lead to amusing outcomes, such as sending their balls flying out of the hole. This playful interaction adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay.
“It's hilarious to laugh at friends as you explode their ball into oblivion! Bombs are awesome; you can blast their ball right out of the hole.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and funny character interactions that keep you entertained.”
“Every time I play, I find myself laughing out loud at the ridiculous situations and clever puns sprinkled throughout the gameplay.”
