1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (34 votes, average: 3.29 / 5)
Loading...

Winning Putt

Winning Putt is a 3D golf simulator that incorporates RPG elements and a wide range of customization through items and gear. Take to the green, level up, and compete in tournaments against other players.

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Playerbase: Low
Type: Golf Simulator
PvP: Tournaments/Casual Play
Release Date: January 14, 2016
Shut Down Date: December 14, 2018
Pros: +Lots of customization. +Guilds. +Extensive tutorial.
Cons: -Level-restricted courses. -Heavy grind for gear.

Overview

Winning Putt Overview

Winning Putt is a golfing simulator that incorporates RPG elements in realistic settings. Travel to lush courses and swing through 18 holes to earn the highest score. Customize your character with an assortment of presets and sliders, and select one of three player types: Power, Accuracy, or Balance. Level up by completing challenges and earn gold to purchase new items. Gear up by visiting the game's shop for golf balls, bags, and a set of clubs to optimize your gameplay. Before each swing analyze wind direction, the slope of the course, mentality, stamina, and the club equipped. Use items stored in the golf bag to revitalize your energy, such as snacks or drinks, or GPS and mini-maps to garner a better view of the terrain.

Winning Putt Key Features:

  • Club Enhancement - enhance your golf clubs to increase your stats and drive the ball farther.
  • Extensive Tutorial - learn the basics of golf through a tutorial elucidating each aspect of the game.
  • Various Environments - built on CryEngine, golf across gorgeous courses from around the world.
  • Tournaments - climb through the ranks, from rookie to pro, by winning tournaments and completing courses.
  • Realistic Variables - for the perfect swing players have to take their club, ground slope, wind direction, stamina, and mentality into account.

Winning Putt Screenshots

Winning Putt Featured Video

Winning Putt - Official Trailer

Full Review

Winning Putt Review

By, Marc Marasigan

Winning Putt is a 3D Golf MMO set in a fictional picturesque country club. Players compete with NPC’s, other players, and themselves to move from being an amateur to the pro leagues, and eventually reach the top of the rankings. The game's graphics look amazing with great character models and lush, highly-detailed terrain (gotta love that grass), which isn’t surprising considering that the game runs on Crytek's CryEngine—a powerful game engine used by more graphics-intensive games like Evolve and Armored Warfare. The sound effects are spot on and realistic. Although the background music is a bit "meh" if you ask me. Personally, I'd rather turn it off altogether and blare out my own tunes. The voice acting could also use a bit more work, along with a few more voice-overs in general. I know golf is supposed to be a "quiet" sport but a little more commentary apart from the constant, and mildly annoying, "fairway", “rough”, or "approach" remarks wouldn't hurt.

Looking Like A True Golfer

Before stepping into the fairway players first create their characters. Players can choose from three character types: Power, Accuracy, and Balanced, which are self-explanatory. Players can also get the chance to choose their character’s gender and customize their appearance. For a golf game, Winning Putt features a surprisingly in-depth character customization system which offers a ton of options that can rival those of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Black Desert Online. Sliders are available to tweak minute details like eye size, body type, height, and a variety of other options. Not really what you would normally expect from a golfing game. The options, however, are limited to conservative golfing looks and attire. The most extreme look I’ve managed to create so far was a golfer sporting a purple Mohawk.

Golf Academy

Every great golfer started with the basics which is where players will be starting their careers in Winning Putt, courtesy of Christina, the gorgeous, albeit slightly high-pitched instructor at the golf academy. The tutorial consists of a handful of objective-based lessons on shot control, targeting, choosing clubs, putting, and getting out of tight spots; ultimately ending in a quick 3-hole round which players must complete within 16 strokes to pass the academy. Once players have completed the tutorial, they are automatically transported to the country club’s square where players will be spending most of their time outside of matches.

Go For The Sweet Spot

Winning Putt is, at its core, a golf-game which means that players will be spending most of their time swinging their fictional clubs in one of the game’s many playable courses. But don’t expect the game to be as in-depth as PGA Tour or other golf simulators. The game can easily be picked up by newbies and veterans of golf sims alike thanks to the game’s classic three-point click system typically used in most golf simulators. The first click sets the target, the second-click determines the power, and the third click determines the accuracy or push/pull on the ball. Just remember to hit that all-important sweet spot and you should be golfing like a pro.

Golf Meets RPG

Winning Putt is far from being your run-of-the-mill golf simulator. The game also features MMORPG elements like leveling, character stats, skills, enchanting (yes, it's actually called enchanting in-game, no idea why), guilds (clubs would have been more appropriate but that's the way it is), and PvP, as well as a central square where players can roam around and talk to other players, buy items, and acquire quests from NPC's. Unfortunately, these quests won't have you hacking poor cute and defenseless creatures to death with your golf club, but rather requires players to complete specific requirements during a match such as scoring Par or better 5 times in a 6-hole course. Not nearly as fun as bludgeoning mobs with one of your "Legendary Enchanted" golf clubs, but hey, it's a golfing game. What do you expect?

Taking On The Competition

Want to play a round of golf with your buddies? Then head over to the game’s multiplayer lobby where players can choose to join a variety of room-based matches where they compete against other players’ replays or ghosts, or in real-time. Players also have the choice of going head to head against a single player, or joining tournaments against up to 4 players in a variety of game modes, including betting rounds where players can gamble their in-game gold for bigger prizes.

The Club Shop

Since the game was launched there has been a constant debate on whether the game is pay-to-win or not. I’m leaning towards pay-to-win rather than pay-for-convenience since important items like golf clubs, caddies, enchanting items, as well as a number of items that give stat bonuses can easily be purchased using the game’s premium currency, Platinum. Although, these items can also be purchased using Gold, the in-game currency, saving up enough to buy a set of golf clubs for your level takes a whole lot of time, effort, and grinding, which paying players can easily avoid with a simple swipe of their, or their parents’ credit card.

The Final Verdict – Great

Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of golf games aside from a few games of Pangya and a brief stint with a Windows 95 golf simulator decades ago. Which is why I was thoroughly surprised that I was enjoying Winning Putt. The game does have its flaws such as its pay-to-win business model along with a few minor aspects such as the lack of crowds and commentary but overall it’s Winning Putt’s simple, fun, and surprisingly addictive gameplay that makes it one of, if not, the best MMO golf games around. The game’s superb graphics and comprehensive character customization system also earns it plus points in my book.

Screenshots

Winning Putt Screenshots

Videos

Winning Putt Videos

Playlist: Winning Putt

System Requirements

Winning Putt Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 or higher (32/64 bit)
CPU: Multi-core Processor
Video Card: Geforce 86xx or Radeon HD 83xx
RAM: 3 GB
Hard Drive: 3 GB

Recommended Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7 or higher (32/64 bit)
CPU: Multi-core Processor
Video Card: Geforce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 6850
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 4 GB

Music

Winning Putt Music & Soundtrack

Coming Soon...

Additional Info

Winning Putt Additional Information

Developer(s): Webzen Onnet
Publisher(s): Bandai Namco

Game Engine: Cryengine

Announcement Date: January 14, 2016

Open Beta: January 14, 2016

Development History / Background:

Winning Putt is developed by Webzen Onnet in partnership with Bandai Namco. The Western Open Beta was announced and released on January 14, 2016. The game previously released in South Korea, and was first displayed at G-Star 2013.