Surprising Golf Sim from Jetpack Joyride Designer Highlights the Appeal of Challenging Controls

Luke Muscat, the creative mind behind iconic titles like Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, is venturing into new territory with his latest project, Normal Golf Game. Unlike his previous hits, which thrived on straightforward controls, this game takes a quirky twist on the classic 18-hole experience, blending absurdity with genuine gameplay challenges.

In a sneak peek of the game, you find yourself at a local golf club facing a hefty tee fee and the unfortunate news that your car has been towed. As you’re tasked with removing outdated parking signs, you quickly realize just how challenging the course can be. While traditional golf games typically rely on power meters and compasses to manage swing strength, Normal Golf Game throws all assumptions out the window.

Your swing is controlled by a flick of your mouse or joystick, with the angle of your club determined by four different inputs, making it feel unsteady in your hands. To add to the chaos, you have no control over the weather, and there’s no overhead map of the hole, which always had a hint of the surreal.

The game carries a whimsical, Bennett Foddy-like charm, transforming basic swings into a delicate balancing act that tests your dexterity, much like a waiter juggling a stack of hot plates. Adjusting your stance feels almost paternal, as you find yourself reminding your avatar to square their shoulders every few seconds. You’ll be aiming at gongs, bowling pins, and even giant toilets. What’s fascinating about this demo is how it captures the essence of golfing more authentically than the finely-tuned mechanics of traditional simulators.

Set in a low-poly landscape, with a FMV-rendered character as your avatar, Normal Golf Game pays homage to Microsoft’s original Links series, which brought the joy of weekend golf into the office. My personal favorite from the Links lineup is the often-criticized Links Extreme, known for its inclusion of explosives and haunted swamps. While it may seem silly and outdated, it’s precisely that charm that makes it stand out. Normal Golf Game harkens back to those early days, suggesting that a more brutally realistic golfing simulator was always within reach. Just be prepared to potentially break your club while trying to escape a bunker!