Everybody's Golf (PSP)

Everything works so well in this game, the controls, the cute but detailed visuals, the music, the presentation, and most of all the sense of progression it gives. I've been playing pretty much solid since xmas day, and only yesterday i managed to sink my first albatross, on my way to a 12 under par finish. It may not sound like much, but the sense of achievement you get when you pull something like that off or when you move up a grade, or unlock a new course... no other game has given me the same feeling of achievment, short possibly of FFVII, and surely i can say no more about that.

The PSP is designed to give short sharp thrills, and this game can do that better than most, exemplary loading times are an example to other develpers (THQ....Smackdown....ahem...), but it does this while still remaining an incredibly deep and rewarding and lasting experience. And I havent even gone multiplayer yet!

You can choose wether the golfer is left or right handed, which affects the degree of curve of ball depending on how you're facing....and then there's the wind to factor in. Overall, many factors are considered in the physics of the game which makes it more interesting and challenging and is a major factor in driving you to "perfect that swing". However, compared to others in the same genre, there are little differences with this game that may take some getting used to. Usually, if you hit the ball too late (ie third press too late), you slice the ball to the right, and if you hit the ball too soon, you curve the ball to the left. However in this game, when you miss a perfect impact, the ball does the opposite (ie if the resultant impact is to the left of perfect -> ball is hit to the right and may not curve much at all and vice versa).
An advantage is that it doesn't matter very much if you choose male or female characters...everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses to get used to (what a charcter loses in power made be made up for by their control/spin etc).

Loading times are FAR better than Tiger woods PGA Tour golf. Game loads also give you hints'n'tips which are an interesting read whilst you wait for the game.

The graphics are simply gorgeous. Each course has its own distinctive look, and there are quite a few (and their mirrors) to unlock. The detail of the trees and surroundings is amazing. The characters are very 'cartoony', but that's perfect for this type of game....it really fits in to the overall feel of the game, without detracting from the gameplay itself. The sounds also fit too....with cows loewing in the swiss alps and birds chirruping in the Japanese woods.
However, there are a few minor graphical glitches. If you hit your ball into a tree (that you may do once in a while) you can see that the ball hits the tree, but when you move in close to do your next shot the tree won't be there any more. Then, when you swing, "tadaahhhh"...the tree appears magically in front of you again to ruin your shot. This ONLY happens when the tree is very very close to you (within a few feet), otherwise the in game view is perfect. You quickly get used to remembering where the ball lies and relying on the overhead map prior to each shot as this will give you an accurate picture of ball lie (the computer opponents also have the same issues).

My only major criticism is that I wish you earned new courses more quickly, but the thought of getting them gets you to perfect the courses you have available and to build up your score. You're always earning more items and more bonusses, so even your small victories still give you a reward. The little cut-scenes are cute but maybe slightly monotonous after a while? (pressing the X button allows to skip most of these scenes).

Overall, despite these very very minor quirks, this game is enjoyable and fun...i'd recommend it -> 9/10