Super Swing Golf review (Wii)

Super Swing Golf has finally arrived on the Wii after enjoying a popular run on the PC.

After playing the tech-demo style game found on the Wii Sports disc, many will have a taste for golf on the console that the free nine-holes simply will not fulfil.

The latest golf game for the Wii then is sure to hold the attention of some gamers with its quirky, stylised play and characters. However, for others, this love-it-or-hate-it game will simply frustrate and disappoint.

There are several different modes that gamers can try, including stroke and match play tournaments, multiplayer and training sessions.

However, most of your time will be spent attempting to complete Pangya Festa, the single player story mode.

In Pangya Island's past, the locals decided to rid the island of an evil force field by condensing all living spirits in the Mystical Phoenix Ball and then hitting it into a force field using an Air Lance.

This act is commemorated each year with a festival where they play Pangya (or golf). As may be gathered from this summary, gamers looking for a realistic golf game are unlikely to find that this offering fits the bill, either graphically or in terms of controls.

It features golfers from "another dimension" and the caddies available include a paper bag with a face and a dolphin so convinced it can fly that it carries a parasol to aid landing.

Having said this, Super Swing Golf has a similar appeal to that of Mario Golf as it is weird, utterly unrealistic and, at times, immensely fun.

Graphically, Super Swing Golf is a typical Wii offering in many respects. It features cutesy characters, stylised environments and bizarre courses and hazards.

It is nicely, if simply, rendered with engaging, distinctive characters that will particularly appeal to fans of manga and anime.

So does Super Swing Golf live up to the immense golf game potential of the Wii remote?

It offers players two methods for making shots - one uses the buttons only and does not utilise the motion controls.

However, for most Wii owners, this will defeat the point of the game and indeed it does detract from the fun (though not the accuracy) of Super Swing Golf.

The swing control is fairly similar to that used in Wii Golf, although it uses a slightly more complex aiming system and requires the A button to be pressed once the backswing and appropriate power is reached.

Within a fairly short space of time, gamers will be hitting Pangyas - full power or above - on a regular basis and the additional skills, such as spinning the ball and doing a Super Swing shot, are all easily used by clicking icons.

While some games on the Wii have a tendency to leave players swinging and waving remotes wildly to achieve the same results as a more experienced player, this is not the case with Super Swing Golf.

Technique actually plays some part and, if done incorrectly, perfectly lined up shots can be hooked or sliced and end up way off target. Having said this, the multiplayer can lead to frustrating situations where better players can "cheat" and master the swing sitting down with a well-practiced flick of the wrist.

So far the game appears to be a serious contender for the title of top golf game on the Wii.

However, there are a number of features and omissions that leave a lot to be desired.

The putting is agonisingly difficult to master. Even when players think they have got it sorted out, it can still be frustratingly hard.

This is only compounded by the lack of any way to skip your opponent's shots during single player games. When playing 18 holes, it takes a long time to finish a round and a few poor putts towards the end of the back nine after watching 60 or more strokes by the computer can leave you fuming.

The visual style is an acquired taste - those with Xbox's or Playstation 3's may be thoroughly unimpressed with the simple graphics used in Super Swing Golf.

The audio is also a bit of a let down, and the combination of these two factors may leave some players feeling that they are playing a Game Cube game with a Wii remote.

The failure to support online play is a surprising omission from the makers, particularly as Super Swing Golf originated as Albatross 18, a free online game for the PC.

Despite a number of flaws and frustrations within the game, Super Swing Golf will provide Wii owners with hours of entertainment with its engrossing gameplay and accessible yet challenging swing techniques.

While the slightly girly-cute characters may not appeal to gamers looking for something similar to a simulation (such as Tiger Woods PGA Tour), it is nonetheless a fun and engaging offering.

7/10

David Roberts