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Everybody's Golf (PSP)
by tom1clare
Whilst never likely to attract the same kind of attention as the Gran Turismo's and God of War's of this world, Everybody's Golf remains one of Sony's most enduring franchises. A series synonymous with its inviting, sunny veneer, EG mixes cute stylings with fiendishly addictive, accessible-with-hidden-depths gameplay that developers Clap ... Hanz have had nailed since back in the days of the original PlayStation.
...And the golf series' first outing in portable form is pretty much perfect. Having just applied the terms 'golf' and 'perfect' in the same sentence, I realise I may be going a touch funny in my advancing years, but as a gaming experience, it more than lives up to its all-inclusive name. If golf as a real-life activity seems a touch uniform and leisurely for some tastes, Everybody's Golf arranges things in such a way as to make it sprightly and fun, whilst its hilariously odd-ball cast of characters make for an eclectic and colourful bunch.
In all respects, this early PSP game has aged really, really well. Indeed, it even holds up strong when toe-to-toe with its excellent PS3 successor Everybody's Golf: World Tour. The only key element it lacks (aside from the HD visuals) is an Online mode, which truly would have been the icing on the cake, though sadly this is a facet of the PSP that is rarely put to use. Still, in some respects, it actually tops its next-gen counterpart. For starters, there's a whopping six 18-hole golf courses (as opposed to five in World Tour), a putting mode, and a highly comprehensive one-player campaign with hundreds of tournaments to enter.
By completing challenges that consist mainly of 9-hole tournaments or simple Match Play events against the computer, you can move up the ranks and unlock new characters. Interestingly, success in each individual event also leads to the unlocking of a new item for customisation purposes. These consist of either a hair-do, an outfit or an accessory. The range is unusual to say the least; you can attain racing overalls and a helmet, a nurses uniform, samurai or ninja garb, and various stuff like sunglasses, angel wings, hairbands and backpacks to go with them. There's a perverse hilarity to be had from discovering you can deck each character in virtually any outfit or combination of clothing, no matter how ludicrous it may appear. Cheerleader outfits and football kits may look okay on the more youthful characters, but along with the bikini and bunny girl looks, create an entire raft of inappropriate looks for the poor old guy Toshizo. Oh well, at least he suits the Santa gear.
As ever, gameplay involves taking aim, starting the swing, and then tapping X a further two times to determine the power and timing of the stroke. This forms the basis of the gameplay, but there is of course a fair bit more to it that this - wind speed and direction, as well as the angle of the lie prove a factor in where the ball heads, as does playing out of the rough or bunkers, or in rainy conditions - different characters react differently to the various circumstances.
So no wheels are in any danger of being reinvented, but the beauty of Everybody's Golf is that, unlike the more grey-looking simulations of the sport, it first and foremost engineers things to work well as a game rather than a strict adherence to golfing reality. It gets everything so fundamentally right that you don't even need to like golf for it to appear both inviting and immensely playable.
Control responsiveness is absolutely pin-sharp; the presentation is lovely and clean-cut; the gameplay fluid, brisk paced and virtually flawless. The courses, which include sea-side resorts, a bunker-filled links course, a desert with some rather fetching scenery and even a brilliant prehistoric course dominated by massive hills and chasmic waterfalls, are once again a masterclass in design. Those with a little bit of experience are encouraged to play more positively, as the game tempts you to take on 250 yard drives over water in order to leave a chance of a putt - risky, but endlessly rewarding when you start to find your timing.
Putting is the trickiest part of the game, as you are challenged to judge direction, elevation and power to an accurate degree. Whilst beginners will find this the biggest barrier to success in the early stages, the elevation lines (to help deduce the slope in all directions) and solid putting challenge mode both prove ideal in aiding the less experienced. It has perhaps the best-judged learning curve of any Everybody's Golf game to date and isn't as tough to finish as other instalments, and fortunately there are none of the nightmarish crater-like greens of old. However, on the hardest courses, even slightly mistiming your drive can see the ball flying out of bounds, which can prove costly and frustrating.
It's colourful and cute as a button, and runs super-smooth, clearly feeling right at home on the PSP. The characters themselves are highly simplistic, but the courses appear detailed and attractive. The music is of a good standard; delivering the same brand of catchy EG jingles that will inevitably leave you humming incessantly during play. Caddie voicing is mostly okay, with the highlight being that of Lisa, whose chameleon-like accent and pronounced lisp makes her an unlikely but fun voice-over heroine.
Extended play sees both player and characters improve in tandem, meaning for a genuine sense of development. Completing the Platinum tournament, which consists of more 40 events in itself, shouldn't prove too much of a hassle for seasoned campaigners, but it does ensure a heavy span of gameplay. Its small but engaging tournaments are in theory ideal for on-the-move gaming, though it has a tendency to expose and punish mistimed shots due to the stillness and concentration it demands. Still, it's an absolute must for PSP owners; superbly made, creditably lengthy and with a magnetically addictive one-more-go factor. In a word, excellent.
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