With the meteoric success and popularity ofRocket League, it was only a matter of time until a new iteration of the racing-sport genre would come along.Turbo Golf Racingis projected to be exactly that kind of game, with its distinctive style and gameplay reminiscent of its forebear. Developed by Halfcalf Studios and expected to release later this year across PC and Xbox platforms withXbox Game Passavailability,Turbo Golf Racingcould well be a contender on the esports scene with its engaging formula and high-octane action.
At first glance, the game seems like the spitting image ofRocket League, leading many online to draw comparisons between the two, but whileRocket Leaguefollows season releasesof new content and focuses on player competition,Turbo Golf Racingis set to deliver an altogether different racing experience. Incorporating actual racing gameplay with course hazards and power-ups familiar to the karting subgenre of racing, it would actually be more fitting to describeTurbo Golf Racingas the lovechild ofMario KartandRocket League, all tied up in the bow of the sport of crazy golf.
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When Rocket League Meets Mario Kart
As mentioned,Turbo Golf Racinghas many similarities in overall game design and the basic game mechanics compared toRocket League. For instance, both games share the same futuristic cyber aesthetic that became synonymous withRocket League’soverall design. Additionally, both games have similar control schemes, including boosts, aerial maneuvers, “jumps” and more, withvehicle control central to successfulRocket Leaguegameplay.It’s not an unusual decision, as attempting to inject realism into a game about vehicular sports while colliding with opponents and careening through the air would be a hard task for any game developer. Despite this imitation, fans are in agreement thatTurbo Golf Racingis doing its best to emulate thatRocket Leaguefeel without infringing too much on anyone’s intellectual property.
This might be whyTurbo Golf Racingventures to include a broader mix of gameplay elements to move beyondRocket League’smore traditionalist approach. Typical of the karting style of games likeMario Kart,Turbo Golf Racingalso includes a range of “power-ups” for players to collect that will help themselves or hinder others. In the game’s announcement trailer, for example, a rocket-like weapon is used to stun a player mid-race, akin to how green, red and blue shells function to stall players. It’s not only thesepower-ups where theMario Kartcomparison is made, but also in its courses, as true to its golfing namesakeTurbo Golf Racinguses exclusively point-to-point “tracks” or sprints.Mario Karthas a range of courses with varying degrees of environmental hazards and sprints that have a similar style toTurbo Golf Racing’sown, making it an ideal blend of Nintendo’s and Psyonix’s two respective titles.
Turbo Golf Racing’s Independence
Despite these comparisons being drawn by fans, this doesn’t stopTurbo Golf Racingfrom bringing its own unique flair and identity to the table. UnlikeRocket Leaguewhich focuses on soccer,Turbo Golf Racingwill unsurprisingly utilize golfing. More accurately though, it would be better to sayTurbo Golf Racingwill use crazy golf instead, astraditional golfing in gameswould not have all players competing to score a hole-in-one fastest at the same time, nor would it pit players against another other with power-ups and rocket-powered cars. Moreover, unlike ordinary crazy golf, the courses have been designed in such a way to best suit vehicular play, with welcome additions such as rings that will boost balls towards the goal.
To that end,Turbo Golf Racingalso makes a number of improvements to help with the quality of life gameplay that perhapsRocket Leagueshould pay attention to. For example,Turbo Golf Racingallows players to have a visual aid of where the ball will go when hit, and the game demonstrates a better approach to aerial control of both player and ball to keep the game more accessible to play. The game, therefore, could provide gameplay that is easy to enjoy but a challenge to master, and could putTurbo Golf Racingin the running for a new possible esport alongside the likes ofRocket League. AlreadyTurbo Golf Racingseems to be anticipating this model, as Halfcalf Studios has been holding open betas via Xbox, but it will remain to be seen just what kind of impact the game’s official launch will have.
Turbo Golf Racingis set to be released on August 4 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
