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0 House of Golf 2 by developers Starlight Games (originally named Atomicom), is the second entry in the crazy golf series. Released on the 16th of August on PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the Liverpool-based studio affectionately touted the game as “a labour of love”, as well as a collaboration with Razer.
Couch-based Crazy Golf with Family Fun!
Does House of Golf 2 make it to the green following the 2019 success of its predecessor? Or does it find itself out of bounds? Let’s take a quick putt over on PC!
Gameplay
House of Golf 2 allows you to play across unlockable crazy golf courses via either single-player or up to 4-player couch co-op. There is also a practice mode and an online championship for you to take part in.
Starting at Beginner, you play through a series of courses obtaining trophies to unlock the next career level. The game is nice and simple to get the hang of and its simplicity is one of the major attractions for me as it allows inclusivity with other family members of any age.
The controls are easy. Aim with the mouse, hold down the left button to select your power and then release. There is the handy ability to pilot a camera around freely to look at the course in more detail, and with no time limit either!
With the hole par in the top right-hand corner and the number of shots taken on the top left, the goal, as ever, is to sink the ball in the hole in the least shots possible. Now while golf can be an arduous affair, the courses that have been creatively imagined by Starlight Games are nothing short of fun and highly enjoyable.
Reviewing the course material
My first thought, being the age I am, is that the mini-courses reminded me of something from the legendary Micro Machines franchise. Each hole is set in a room within a house and is created using everyday objects. Books line the edges of the fairway, Scalextric track act as runways, while planks of wood and bricks form bridges. Lo and behold upon studying the marketing paraphernalia I discovered that the game was one of their inspirations!
Moving toy diggers act as obstacles, canons suck up your golf ball to fire them on, along with cranes that pick up and deploy your ball into the hole. I enjoyed the fabulous snakes and ladders-inspired course, that also features portals!
It certainly pays to use the free-look camera to take a glance around the course and see alternative routes to take. You’ll also spot any elusive gold medals that serve to help you unlock an assortment of golf ball styles that you can show off.
Let’s Par-tee!
The couch co-op is great fun with each player taking one hit each. There are no long waiting times between plays as it is simply aim and hit. This is a great party game and it also plays well on the controller. Just do not accidentally press B or Circle. It resets your ball to the beginning!
Achieving a good score on each course allows you to gain a trophy and play the next course. There are over 100 holes to play though in total. Sadly there is no true online mode to play live against other players. However you can have a go at setting scores and least shots online in tournaments. Here you can earn extra medals to put towards unlocking more golf ball designs.
Graphics & Audio
House of Golf 2 is very aesthetically pleasing. The design of each course, set in miniature fashion across playroom floors, kitchen sides, and lofts is great fun. You feel like a child playing. The lighting is lush and everything is very colourful as well as realistic. Animations are fluid, as are the physics. Trick shots are great fun as the ball sails through the air with the camera following.
The Razer tie-in is primarily via graphics and lighting. With Razer Chroma and Axon allowing you to bring visual effects to your devices while playing House of Golf 2. The latter allows dynamic House of Golf 2 inspired wallpapers. There is the Razer golf ball design to unlock.
The background music is playful and entertaining while the sound effects give some extra magic to the gameplay in hand.
Longevity
None of the holes are truly impossible and within a day you could have the bulk of them unlocked if you go at it. For me, the longevity lies in the couch co-op. My youngest son loved playing alongside me. Even if he did get the hump when he hit an out-of-bounds-shot and I laughed. This resulted in him quickly taking my shot before I could wrestle the mouse from him. Words were said after he declared that he had won…
Final Thoughts
House of Golf 2 is a fantastic mini-golf game that allows you to simply have fun. With amazing holes to play through as well as the fantastic setting that you get to enjoy them in, you will quickly find new and wonderful ways to get the golf ball from A to B.
If you want something to play that is friendly, casual and enjoyable by the whole family then Starlight Games have certainly nailed it.
I give House of Golf 2 the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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