Mini Golf is a game that takes skill. You have to have the eye for the hole and the readiness to take the shot when everything around it is just right. Sometimes, wind, water, even the height of the course can, with one misaligned putt, cause the ball to be lost and cause your score to keep increasing. But yet, when you play with friends and family, the game can also become this friendly competition that really can leave a lasting memory. So does developer, Mighty Coconut show us what it’s like to play the game of Mini Golf on so many different levels? Let’s find out with Walkabout Mini Golf for Quest/Quest 2 and PCVR.
Walkabout Mini Golf is a VR game bringing the world of Mini Golf that allows you to escape into a fun and beautiful world filled with putting that is easy and natural, the physics are completely realistic with a wide variety of courses providing the perfect challenge for hardcore golfers and casual players alike while playing alone or with others in different 18-hole themed courses that will feel larger than life.
So before you go in and put like a mad player on energy drinks, there are a few things that you will want to know about. First, embrace the game of Mini Golf as some of these courses will be nothing like you have played before. Second, take the time to enjoy each course. It’s there not only for you to enjoy, but take in as well. And finally, make sure at least one of your controllers is fully charged. I mean, you should probably have both charged just in case, but make sure at least one is charged. With all that said, let’s continue…
In Walkabout Mini Golf, you are, of course, playing Mini Golf in Virtual Reality across some of the most detailed courses this side of the Walkabout. When you first start the game you are presented with the different courses that are available that each of the 8 available courses has a regular daytime mode and a nighttime hard mode. The nighttime hard modes do need to be unlocked by scoring below par or collecting 10 Lost balls throughout the regular daytime course. To the right, you have the DLC courses that are available and on the left side, you can select if you want to play multiplayer, which I will get to more on this in a minute. But right in the middle, you will see any news or tips, and then on the counter, on the green mat, you are presented with the controls which are a very nice touch, your choice of color for the putter, and a selection of colored balls that you can select from. If you move away from the stand, on each side, you can see a poster of the DLC to what is coming soon. It really is a nice presentation that doesn’t try to hide anything but shows you what’s available.
But it’s once you have selected your putter, your ball, and the course you would like to play on, do you get immersed into the world of that course. Courses like Tourist Trap have you in the outdoors on an island with palm trees, waterfalls, and bridges. And, really, it’s courses like this one where you can hear just the right volume of music and the more empowering sounds of the waterfall that really helps with the immersion. Earlier I said that to make sure at least one controller is charged as that is all you will need. There is no need to hold the putter with both controllers, just one is all that is needed. And to top it off, you can play sitting. Is that the best way to play? That depends on your style. But if someone was recovering from surgery, maybe they were sick or felt more comfortable sitting, the developer really has made it easy to get into the game and play. And I am sure many players of all different abilities will appreciate that.
Each course before starting gives you the option to play the round, play the front or back 9, or even practice. And another option the game allows you to have is the ability to see the entire layout of the course but on a smaller scale. This way, you can see exactly where the hole is and what you have to look forward to.
But when you feel like you have had enough practice or that you need some of that friendly competition, this is when the multiplayer aspect comes into play and I will say, that I never had any problems finding a game even if I joined a game (that puts on you a randomized course) with a player that was already playing. It’s here in this mode that where you can customize your avatar to make it you, from the color of the skin to the hair to even the eyes. I decided to go with the default Conan O’Brien.
But I will admit that when you play against other players, you cannot control any words that they may use, so if, at any time that you feel that it’s not something you may want to be around, it is easy enough to leave that game and join another which players with younger family members should really appreciate. But it’s when you do find the right people to play with that you really start to have a great time.
Oh, there is one thing that I mentioned briefly and that was Lost Balls. Each course does have Lost Balls that you will want to be on the lookout for. They can be anywhere and once collected, can be added to your collection so then you can select to be your balls as you play which is really pretty awesome trying to find all the different ones. While I was playing an online match, I found one that I think maybe my new favorite thus far.
Let’s talk about the graphics and sound. Each course is very well themed from the buildings that you see in the Cherry Blossom course to the atmosphere of Original Gothic. Not only is it fun trying to find the Lost Balls, but just enjoy the environments of all the courses. Sound also helps with the presentation and immersion as each one has its own music and sounds to go along with the course. I mean there is nothing like trying to get that hole in one while the sounds of seagulls are going on on the Seagull Stacks course.
There are just a few things that I would love to see added. For one, in Quick Match, it’s just 1v1. When you create a private game, you can play with up to 5 players. I think it might be fun to have even more players in the Quick Match just to add even more variety to the mix. Second, I would love to see even more avatar options added. Third, maybe add some holiday-themed courses just to contribute to the festivities. And finally, maybe having some tournaments where the winner or winners can earn tournament-themed cosmetics.
Walkabout Mini Golf allows us to play Mini Golf on different levels of different courses. It allows us to just escape and play in short bursts and for the complete 18 holes alone or with others. It shows us that when we are faced with a challenge, no matter how crazy it may be, if we just take the time to enjoy the things around us and keep trying, we might just be able to face that challenge head-on and reach the next course in life on our way to make that hole in one.
Walkabout Mini Golf is out now for the Quest/Quest 2 and Oculus Rift/Rift S on the Oculus Store, Steam VR, and Viveport. A review code was provided.
To learn more about Mighty Coconut, please visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Also, check out the Walkabout Mini Golf interview.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I have to keep practicing, find more Lost Balls, and see who else is ready for a game.
