This article will start a series of articles entitled “The First Few Hours”. Let’s face it, once you’ve bought a game really you cant be sure if it’s a stinker until you get into it a bit. Unlike a full review, these are in depth hands on impressions. In my case, I always give a newly bought title (at least) an hour. So having picked up Super Swing Golf today, I immediately put an hour into the game.

Super Swing golf is a game based off an asian golf MMORPG called “Pangya”...yeah an online multiplayer fantasy golf game... Anyway, the game starts off simply enough with two characters to choose from, about four courses instantly available (in stroke play mode), Tournament mode and multiplayer mode for up to four people. Right off the bat you can tell that this is going to be a much deeper experience than Wii Sports: Golf. Obviously there are visual differences but the control in Super Swing is really a shining point and the option to customize your shots by doing various things to the ball is great. The courses are varied and entertaining and the super-deformed characters are saccharin sweet. The music, on the other hand, has to go. I really wish Tecmo had used the custom soundtrack feature because the elevator music in this game is horrible.
My only minor gripe at the moment (besides the music) is positioning. In Wii Sports Golf you stand and swing sideways, mimicking you on screen avatar but in Super Swing Golf you face the screen head on which can seem unnatural at times. Control is spot on and the ability to totally customize your view, track your shot with the camera and rotate your shots makes this game worth every penny. Too bad there’s no mulligan system or the option to beat the snot out of the annoying “COM” player on the first course.
In closing, Super Swing Golf is a great game...especially for people who don’t like Golf games. With unlockable characters, outfits, club sets and caddies there’s plenty here to keep you coming back for more. It’s also a great multiplayer game for people like myself who are having a hard time finding nunchuck attachments. The game supports four player using only remotes. no nunchucks needed. Rent it. Try it for an hour and see for yourself. I bet you’ll buy it.


First Hour Rating:
B+

Posted in: on Sunday, January 14, 2007 at at 8:49 PM