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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       19th October 2005: Everybody's Golf  Is this really a golf game for everyone, as promised in the title? Or is it just a shallow cartoon golf game without soul? Read our review, it's for everyone... Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe Despite being a success on the PlayStation over five years ago, this is the first time that the Everybody's Golf has seen the light of day on the PlayStation 2 in PAL territories. To add to this wait is the fact that this is actually the second version of the franchise to hit the PlayStation 2, but the other was kept away from Europe for some reason. And what a shame that is when this game is so good. A few weeks ago we reviewed the PSP version of the game and liked it a lot, so it comes as little surprise that everything here is also quite pleasing. Everything is as you would expect it to be in a golf game that self indulgently claims to be for 'everyone'. The simplicity of the controls and setup is a real contrast to that of common golf games. It never aims for realism or in depth physics for even a fraction of a second - and is all the better for it. To explain, the shots are set up by simply aiming a marker using the D-pad and shoulder buttons (to alter distance) and pressing a button to start a swing, then the same button again to determine power. That's it! So you can option a more complex 'three button press' system to add extra accuracy and power to shots as well as an 'after touch' feature; but the simplest form of the game will be the most appealing to most people. There are some risky shots that you can toggle which will give extra distance (essential in a heated tournament) but with added risk, but these usually have to be earned by unlocking characters capable of performing them. This is a welcome initiative to entice the player into earning all they can. To be the best you must earn it, but without being bored in the process. So often is the case with unlockable features that they involve boring and tedious replay of stages and levels that a system of simply playing and earning really pays off. With 24 playable golfers available, there truly is a game of longevity here, even more so when costume additions are accounted for too. The clear nature of the visuals also adds to the accessibility of the game; overhead topography can be viewed at the tap of a button, as can reverse cameras that perch behind the flag. Everything that you need to key up a shot is always one button press away - at any time you can simply tap one button to return to the 'ready' camera to take the shot. Even the 'on the green' camera is helpful as overlaid lines move to show the slope clearly; a shot never feels random. When you miss a putt it is always apparent where you went wrong and where you can improve in future. The easy camera controls may seem too simple to begin with, but when they are used properly it is apparent that strategy is essential to success. Scouting out shots before taking them soon becomes second nature as it is not always the obvious shot that will be the most beneficial to your performance on a hole. For example, on one hole we played it was actually better to 'bounce' off a path and around a dogleg rather than hit it short of the curve. This kind of logic is something that is so far away from the simulation golf games that it cannot be compared with them directly at any stage. With twelve proper courses in many different locations there is much to do in the single player mode alone. Tournaments take place over these courses on a set basis, so the back nine of a given course will be the set location for a given competition. This ensures that you must be up to scratch on all the courses in the game in order to succeed. There are two crazy golf courses too, which add a little bit of the old 'pick up and play' idea to proceedings, as does a 9 hole course made up entirely of par 3 holes. These gimmicks don't really do much for the overall game, but it is a credit that they don't spoil it either. Small children may be able to enjoy the game by playing the crazy mode alone, so it is obvious why such features were added. Multiplayer can be played online or on a single console and does exactly what you would expect. You can have a simple score tournament where you evaluate your score against that of finished opponents (up to 50 in total) or you can play a real time 4 player match. This latter match allows heckling and nerves that would otherwise be ignored, but at the cost of waiting for others to shoot. But this is not a fault as the wait is part of the tension and emotion building. With great depth at the cost of realism, this is a quirky game that deserves to be played by anyone with even a casual interest in golf. It may annoy those who pride realism of adult natured games; but there are so many fans of blue hedgehogs and legalised tomb raiding that this can be ignored for the majority of people. We can imagine playing this for months, if not years, to come without tiring of it. Just don't expect Tiger Woods to sign your copy if you ever meet him… Chris Barnett             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  A game that will stand up to any length of play by any type of player. Get your nan, dog and best friend over and have a great laugh - or play them online if you are too lazy to organise things. Yes, this game even caters for the lazy! If you want to have fun, this is for you.  Related Games:  Everybody's Golf for PlayStation 2  4  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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