3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Deluxe

This is a fairly straightforward fantasy minigolf game, and if I remember correctly, this is one of the first games I bought on Steam.  It has appropriate, "cartoony" graphics and it's easy to sit down and get started, as the gameplay is straightforward, you aim, then you putt.  There is the option of using the tradition 3-click method of computer golf games or a simpler hold and release method.  In either case, most people won't have any problem with the basic mechanics though it can be tough to gauge the proper amount of power to use.

The course designs are what you would expect from a minigolf videogame and include Wild West, Space, and Carnival themes.  The game also includes a course editor that I didn't try during my time with the game.  

One interesting element is the powerups obtained by rolling over brightly lit icons with your ball: these include spring, fire, and ice powerups.  These powerups can then be deployed by a mouse-click and interact with the course environment in various ways.  These seem a bit out of place, but they do make for an extra bit of thought after the shot, a relative rarity in a golf game. 

Overall, it's an interesting time-killer and right in line with what you would expect for the price and the genre.  This is a game targeted at the casual gaming/family audience.  However, that's not to say that it's easy; one of my biggest frustrations with the game is its seeming emphasis on "trick" shots.  On most holes, there is a method of just making it through the hole contrasted with a high risk "trick" shot that most often results in a hole-in-one.  This results in a bit of a balance issue in some situations; effectively taking the "safe" route resulted in a score of one or two over par while the "trick" shots were sometimes so difficult that not even twenty tries would result in a success.  I understand that there should be an incentive to take the risky shot and that the risky shot should be challenging, but I feel like the proper balance is off.  There is no real psychological reward to making the "trick" shot because it sometimes feels more like luck than skill and taking the "safe" route results too often in a bogey or double bogey as opposed to a par or bogey: the result being that you can't afford to take a shot at the trick shots and miss, but you can't afford to simply play it safe. All of this may have gotten better with practice (and some may think this is appropriate), but the learning curve seems a bit steep.  

Conclusion

With the exception of inconsistent difficulty, this game is exactly what you would expect and makes for a satisfying change of pace when you're tired of shooters. It's a casual, reasonably fun, and good looking game that holds some appeal for anyone who's visited a miniature golf course (especially those who think it would be really super cool if they kicked it up a notch).

http://store.steampowered.com/app/10140/