Publisher: Clap Hanz / Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PS Vita
Cert: 3+
Genre: Golf, Sport
I've always believed that a good golf sim needs to be played as a social event with multiple friends playing around a single TV / monitor. I have also never once thought what a golf game needed was to add fun cute graphics and a host of animated characters headed by a young spunky girl who you can have fun with remodelling her wardrobe. I, therefore, did not go into Everybody's Golf with high hopes. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that under the sugar and spice graphics lay an exceptionally good arcade game.
Fun in short doses or longer play, Everybody's Golf delivers an easy to pick up golfing sim. Even a complete novice (of golfing or gaming) will have no difficulties in playing and any control set-up that gives me flashbacks to my wasted youth with PGA Golf Tour 2 on the Mega Drive is always welcomed. Pick your club, aim (compensating for wind and terrain) and then carefully time pressing the x button to ensure you deliver enough power and avoid slicing the shot.
Offline and online modes work well, although I would have appreciated an option for turn based multiplayer on a single machine. There are also a whole host of extras and unlockables such as extra control modes and player characters. Other diversions can be found including customising your player and a lobby to have your cutesy avatar mingle with others online.
What worries me though is that for a game that delivers on pretty much every front, I don't think it will get a fair chance from many gamers. While I am not a golf fan by any measure, I know quite a number of them (of the real game and of its virtual counterpart) and the sad thing is I really can't think of a single one who would be willing to give this game a chance thanks to its graphical aesthetics and light hearted tone. I certainly can't deny that this game is not going to provide an EA Sports style experience and that many of the extra features may well be ignored by some more mature gamers but it unfair to dismiss this as just a 'kids' game. Everybody's Golf does exactly what it says on the tin. The gameplay will offer something for everybody, whether newcomer or pro, just so long as they give it a chance.
No-one could confuse this game for the Tiger Woods series graphically or gameplay wise but its accessible, arcade style is a perfect fit for portable gaming. For me, this was the surprise hit of the Vita's launch line-up and I highly recommend.
Rent or Buy: Buy
Graphics: 3.5/5
Gameplay: 4.5/5
Replay: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Reviewed by: JP Gallagher
