It is inevitable that we have started to see a large amount of interactive sports games on the Wii- Wii Sports ensured this. Naturally it will be the case that some of these games will be fantastic, while others will be shameless cash-ins. Being the sceptical person that I am, I half expected Super Swing Golf to fall into the latter category; a game that poorly attempts to use the new features offered by the Wii. But boy was I wrong!

Super Swing Golf is one of those games that seem to capture the very essence of fun; just take a look at the box and you will notice the game is bright, vibrant and not too serious. The characters you come across are most certainly quirky. The courses themselves include a normal green, a blistering desert, a bizarre course arranged over a series of aircraft carriers, and even more surreal environments. Even the golf clubs are imaginative; ranging from baseball bats to maces. All in all, this is not your typical game of golf.

Of course Pangya still bears some semblance to an actual game of golf- it is not that far detached from real world physics. The main objective is to get the ball in the hole in as few shots possible. As expected, you physically swing the Wiimote in order to take each shot. However, unlike Wii Sports there is a further element of depth to the motions required. Instead of choosing your direction and simply swinging players need to be aware of the angle and follow through of the swing. Twisting your wrist, swinging too close or too far away from you body can really change the dynamics of a shot. When first getting to grips with the game this does pose some difficulties; a lot of you shots will be spliced. If you do manage to get the perfect swing then the words ‘PANGYA’ will appear across the screen; at this point you will feel warm and fuzzy inside.

As you make your way around a course, your ‘Pangya Combo Gauge’ will start to increase, especially when you perform good shots. The meter is divided into three chunks and each chunk symbolises one power shot. Power shots simply allow you hit the ball and extra 10 yards further. If you really want to make use of the combo gauge, perform a ‘special shot’; these babies are shots that tend to break the laws of golf physics ever so slightly. Two such shots are available; the Cobra and Tomahawk. A Cobra shot will send the ball flying low over the course; giving the distinct advantage of not being effected by the wind. Tomahawk shots go very high in the air, but once they land the ball does not roll an inch.

Skill does have quite a prominent role in this game, especially when planning shots. Players need to be aware, and account for, elements such as terrain. If you happen to hit your ball off the fairway, then chances are that it will be more difficult to pull off your next shot. Sand for instance reduces your shows power by 15%, and obstacles such as water will be completely unplayable if you hit the ball in there (thus, your ball is reset an extra shot added to your score). You also need to pay attention to the wind levels of the course; a strong wind can totally change the direction of your hit. Careful planning is required before each shot, especially on the more complex courses where wind direction is prone to sudden, drastic, changes.

There are several ways to play and win at Pangya- these are all important to learn. First of all there is the classic stroke play; you go around the course trying to make as little shots as possible and your total is added up. Then there is match play- a simple win and lose system; the player with the least shots on a hole gets one point. This mode certainly is not the fairest way to score the game, but it does allow for much closer competition. If a game happens to end in a draw then the winner is decided by who has the most Pang Points. Basically, Pang Points are points you gather from good shots; so hitting the ball further than expected, getting accurately onto the green, and putting the ball from long distances are some ways of gaining these.

Once you have gotten to grips with the base mechanics of the game you truly start to appreciate how huge it actually is. There are several modes in the single player campaign; you can follow the ‘story’ through a tournament mode, you can also play for strokes on 18 hole courses, or even have individual matches with computer opponents. I was actually overwhelmed by the sheer amount of single player matches available; quite simply, you will never run out. Tournament mode is the most enjoyable and challenging of these single player options- you get to see the quirky story pan out and fight your toughest golf matches where there is no margin for error.

Customisation also plays a role in this game of fantasy golf. By using your pang points you can go to the shop and buy new clothes, balls, clubs and caddies; all of these will improve your stats in some ways. There are also potion style items that you can stock up on to boost your performance during a match. And finally, if you feel like getting some random prize there is the ‘Spinning Dolfini’. This is a lottery style game where you use the Wiimote to, er… spin the Dolfini, and then press A to release your prize.

There is also a VS mode for multiplayer matches; it must be said that the most enjoyment comes from this multiplayer mode. You can play courses on either stroke or match play, plus there is the addition of a balloon pop game where you have to pop balloons with your shots. Being able to play with friends gives a really nice competitive edge to the matches. Although I can’t help but feel that if Super Swing Golf were online like its PC cousin, then it would be so much better.

The bright visuals, accompanied by cheerful music, gives the game a nice cheerful vibe. The courses all look gorgeous and you can tell that real effort has been made in presentation. Characters and their customisations all look the part as well. Generally speaking the music is always great too, but sometimes it can get a mite irritating, although not enough to mar the quality of the game.

Unfortunately at times the AI can be tiresome. Seeing the computer come back from the verge of losing by pulling off extremely lucky shots is quite irritating…either that or I am a sore loser. Likewise, when they decide to hit the same shot into the water nine times in a row, things can get rather frustrating. Camera angles can also be a pain; at times scenery will block you from seeing the direction your shot took. Asides from these relatively infrequent issues, Super Swing Golf is a flawless experience.

Conclusion

[screenshot=45ed93e35c46d]Pure Fantasy From Beginning To End[/screenshot]Overall I would say that Super Swing Golf is an absolutely fantastic game. It expands upon the physics that Wii Sports had, offering a much more dynamic approach to play. With a huge amount of levels and lengthy single player campaign you will not be putting this title down for quite some time. Sure it is not an overly serious game, but the core principles of golf are there. The zany characters, whacky courses, and bizarre accessories all combine together to form a fantastic round of fantasy golf.

Basically, if you enjoyed Wii Sports Golf, you will love Super Swing Golf.