Everybody's Golf World Tour Review

Written by: Darren Cartledge Posted: 28th April 2008

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Sony's latest golf game for everybody swings onto the PlayStation 3.

Everybody's Golf World Tour Details:

Goto Everybody's Golf World Tour Game Page

	Sports
	PlayStation 3
	Clap Hanz
	Sony

Out Now

N/A

Many golf games are generally inaccessible to general gamers who don’t really know much about the sport, but Sony’s arcade based golfing game Everybody’s Golf (or Hot Shots Golf to our North American friends) is very accessible, even if like me you haven’t got a clue when it comes to golf.

As mentioned above Everybody’s Golf World Tour is more of an arcade style golf game rather than a true simulation, however the game still does provide an accurate and enjoyable recreation of the sport and what’s better is that anyone can pick the game up and start playing straight away.

Everybody’s Golf World Tour features a couple of single player options and pretty good online and multiplayer support. The games main single player mode is the challenge option, in this mode you play through tournaments and one on one matches against characters in the game. Winning tournaments unlocks new items such as clubs, balls and character costumes. Whilst winning a one on one match will unlock that character for you to play as. Although playing as the same character throughout earns loyalty points that increase characters abilities and improves the way they play the game.

Other single player modes included are a single stroke play option which can also be played as a multiplayer mode along with match play. In the multiplayer option four players can play together on the same console, but the game takes multiplayer support a little further with its online modes.

Going online with Everybody’s Golf World Tour is very much a social thing. The game requires you to create a lobby character to represent you in the clubhouse, where you can talk to other players and arrange games by creating a room. When playing games with other players in the “Game Room” option all the players play the game together and you are able to see everyone else moving around the course as you play.

The other game option included in Everybody’s Golf online mode is the “real tournament” option. In these games up to fifty players compete in solo rounds of golf in order to achieve the highest ranking.

Overall the games online mode runs pretty smoothly, and as the game doesn’t have to deliver any blistering frame rates the game obviously runs without any lag.

When actually playing a round of Golf the game allows you to use one of two control systems traditional and advanced, the traditional shot system is pretty much the same as in other golf games you select your power with a pointer running down a bar then stop it in the specified location as it runs down in order to take your shot.

The games advanced shot control system is completely different, and gives a much more natural feel to the game, although some will find it difficult to master. The advanced shot system requires you to watch your characters swing and then press the X button to select the level of power to use, once power has been selected you then have to watch your characters club, as it comes down to the ball a small circle appears, the smaller it is when you hit the ball the straighter it will fly. It sounds simple but it is quite difficult to master, however in my opinion it is a far better way to play the game as it immerses you more and gives you a greater feeling of control. Although when using this system there is less, margin for error then in the traditional shot.

As mentioned above the game is pretty easy to get to grips with, however despite this you would expect the game to provide some kind of challenge, but sadly it seems no matter how bad you play with in reason, you are still able to win tournaments as the AI controlled players seem to drop an incredible amount of shots, especially in the lower ranked tournaments.

If you find yourself tied for the lead at the end of tournaments then the winner is decided on how many points have been scored, these are awarded for playing “stylish golf” and given for hitting the fair way or sinking a birdie or eagle and so on.

Everybody’s Golf World Tour provides a pretty good playing experience, however playing on your own may prove to be a little unchallenging to some, especially in the early stages so you may find more enjoyment playing against other players either on or offline. Another good point of note is the game replay value, with various weather effects including wind and rain courses can often serve up something new!

Everybody’s Golf: World Tour looks good, the game features some very nice effects and realistic and well designed courses with a haze used to give a feeling of distance. The games characters aren’t the usual mix you would expect to find in a golf title, giving the game a quirky and sometimes amusing feeling as the characters will often throw their clubs in the air when you make a bad shot.

There isn’t much to say about the games sound as it’s pretty much what you would expect to find in any golf game, sound effects are good however the voices used for the characters are a little over the top and slightly annoying, the only saving grace is that there’s not much of it.

Everybody’s Golf: World Tour overall provides a pretty enjoyable playing experience for both the more casual and dedicated golf gamer. The games extensive online support adds a lot of replay value, to an already packed game that should keep you swinging away for quite sometime.