Swing Away Golf
Score: 94% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Games Developer: T&E Soft Media: CD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Sports
Graphics & Sound: Swing Away Golf is very clean looking and textures are smooth as silk. Fully polygonal characters with reactions bring out the emotion of the game. But where the game really shines is in the camera angles and the way they elegantly move around the golf course, providing a bit more interest than the boring old behind-the-ball angle. As far as golf games go, Swing Away Golf is nearly perfect. Background music is not too intrusive, and varies enough to keep from being annoying. Players and caddies will speak to you and for the most part, whatever they say matches what is on the screen. The only place where sound is lacking is in between rounds when your opponent talks to you. It is text-based here and could have very easily had voice implementation.
Gameplay: When it comes to sports titles, I'm in it for the pure simulation. So when I got a hold of Swing Away Golf, I was a bit leery. You see, SA Golf doesn't involve any real-life pros or courses, but instead it revolves around 10 very emotional characters (3 are unlockable). However, after giving it a chance, the game really did surprise me. Along with the normal modes of play associated with golf games, Swing Away Golf also offers a Career (Story) Mode in which you start out as an amateur and work your way up through the pro tour. As you improve, you receive cash and/or skill points to improve your player's equipment and stats. In addition, you have the opportunity to unlock new modes of play including Skins, Best Ball, Sudden Death, and more. Swing Away Golf also offers a basic course designer (which I believe is a first in console golfing). Here you can enter information that the computer will interpret and will, in turn, automatically generate a course for you. Although this is not the most user-controlled way of doing it, the course designer is quick and efficient, and adds a ton of replay value to the game. And if you don't have a memory card or don't want to take up space with a ton of courses, there is a password option. Now that you have made your 'home' course, why not challenge your buddy to a game with a friendly little wager. Any players that have been used in Story mode and have earned money or equipment will be allowed to participate in side bets.
Difficulty: Swing Away Golf is actually a bit easy. Sure, it will take you a few rounds to get the hang of the way the game works, but in general, you will probably be winning tournaments without much competition. Of course, when playing human opponents you will have a whole new game on your hands. Difficulty basically comes down to how well you can use the swing meter.
Game Mechanics: Using the typical 3-click swing meter, Swing Away Golf is fairly easy to pick up and play. The game's speed is a bit slow, however. If you have a computer opponent playing at your side, you can expect to be playing for a solid hour per 18 holes of golf. Even so, the developers must have seen this coming, because you have one of the best options ever made for golf games available at your fingertips... the ability to save at any point in the game. It is features like this that make Swing Away Golf a strong first golf game on the new platform. If you're into golf, you may want to pick up a copy of this very addicting title!
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
Street Sk8ter 2 Sydney 2000