Ah, golf - a sport where the only thing moving faster than the players' swings are the amounts of boredom seeping through the audience. Now, imagine bringing the iconic John Daly into the digital realm for a golf game. John Daly's ProStroke Golf hit the PlayStation 3 in 2010, and let's just say it's about as thrilling as watching grass grow while someone reads the phone book out loud. Strap on your visors as we dive into the lush, pixelated fairways of this not-so-pro creation.
John Daly's ProStroke Golf offers an impressive twelve courses from around the world-not that anyone really cares where these digital fairways lie, given that your experience will mostly hinge on the game mechanics and Daliesque escapades. The gameplay consists of three distinct modes: Career, Quick Game, and online multiplayer. In Career mode, you take control of Daly (or at least his digital doppelgänger) to tackle various challenges like the longest drive or attempting not to hit a near-unconscious squirrel. What shines through here is the seemingly positive reception of the PlayStation Move controller support. Imagine swinging around your living room with what feels like an actual golf club! It's a dazzling experience, and by dazzling, I mean it'll make you dizzy. ProStroke mode makes a return from the previous title, aiming to make you feel like you're standing on the warped grass alongside Daly. The problem? Standing still might have been a better choice considering how glitchy the AI golfers can be, as evidenced by the occasional disappearing ball and crashing camera angles that resemble a badly hungover camera operator trying to keep up. Don't even get started on the commentary from Sam Torrance and Peter Kessler, which ranges from bland observations to commentary that sounds like it was recorded while they were balancing on a wobbly chair. If you're looking for genuine golf commentary, you're better off putting on some low-volume golf documentaries while you putt around in your garden.
Graphically, John Daly's ProStroke Golf holds about as much impact as a wet cardboard box. The visuals often take players back to the *PlayStation 2* era, complete with pixelation that could rival a vintage 8-bit game. The golfers sometimes resemble comedic cartoon versions of themselves. For example, Daly looks like he's lost a bet and is now the poster child for a new 'before' weight loss campaign. You're promised lush green landscapes and expansive courses, but it's more 'Can I borrow your lawnmower?' than 'It's a beautiful day for golf.' Critics were quick to slam the graphics, labeling them inadequate and lifeless. If you enjoy an unpolished look consistent with maybe a half-finished Minecraft project, then you might find a silver lining in that dim cloud.
In conclusion, John Daly's ProStroke Golf is undoubtedly a missed putt. While its intention of providing an immersive experience with motion controls is a noble one, it ends up feeling more like a high school project: ambitious but riddled with problems. If you're in the mood for a mildly entertaining distraction, it might just suffice, but don't expect to shift your golf game up a notch. Go get yourself a real golf club or better yet, simply head to the nearest minigolf for your dose of golf-related fun. You know, the kind where you can take a break from pixelated blunders and enjoy some actual sunshine. In the mean time, I'll be over here trying to unravel the mystery of why John Daly should be the face of a golf game - someone fetch me a script.