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Let's Golf! Review
Written by Robert Workman on Friday, February 5, 2010
Only $7, gameplay is ideal for all ages and skill sets, 64 holes, various modes (including the pass-around Hot Seat party game), customization options.
Load times in-between holes, visuals aren't as impressive as Hot Shots Golf or Pangya: Fantasy Golf, no online multiplayer.
There are two types of golf games: simulation-based (like the Tiger Woods series) and those with a more casual approach. Games like the Hot Shots Golf series and Pangya: Fantasy Golf easily fall into the latter category, with their anime-style characters and a tap-tap swing system that's simple for anyone to master with just the right amount of practice. Gameloft's latest PSP Mini offering, Let's Golf!, follows this formula to a tee, and it's not bad considering the seven-dollar asking price.
In the game, you'll choose from a handful of characters (you start with four, but unlock more as you play in the tournaments) and hit the links. Four courses are available, ranging from Scotland's beautiful greens to Fiji's tropical surroundings. The game provides options for these courses, whether you want a full 18-holes, a quick 9-hole session or an even quicker three-hole Instant Play game.
No matter which of these you choose, Let's Golf!'s pick-up-and-play controls are easy to learn. The game utilizes a similar three-tap swing system. You hit the X button once to initiate the swing, the second time to gauge your power in an arc-shaped meter and the third to position your accuracy. Get the slightest thing wrong and you'll end up shanking your ball somewhere in the woods. Fortunately, we rarely found a situation where we couldn't place it in a proper spot to score a birdie or par.
The putting system is also incredibly simple. The green is laid out in a grid pattern, so you can see slopes and hills with ease. From there, you simply tap the X button twice, preferably with enough power (and angle) to get into the hole.
Let's Golf! features a few modes that offer great value. As we mentioned, Instant Play gives you a three-hole run, while Free Hole lets you practice any of the game's 64 holes. There's also a pass-around Hot Seat mode, where you can challenge friends locally to a quick multiplayer match-up. Online multiplayer didn't make the cut, unfortunately, but no PSP Minis offer that, so it's not a big issue.
Customization also plays a role. While you can't create your own character, you can dress up the in-game characters any way you choose with a variety of outfits, hairstyles and golf equipment. There are many cool items to play around with, from 80s headbands (we almost wanted to hum "Let's Get Physical" as an ode to Olivia Newton-John) to golf visors, and you unlock more as you complete tournaments.
In-game music is soothing and changes with each course you play on. Unfortunately, the visuals are a notch down from what we've seen in previous golf games. Players don't animate smoothly, and special effects, like the sparkle surrounding a hole after scoring a birdie, look pedestrian at best. Also, there's no option to place the camera behind the ball. It sticks with side views, which makes it hard to see where you'll end up.
On top of that, the game has load times between each hole. It's not a minute or anything like that, but it does take several seconds for the next one to load. Considering the game installs directly on your Memory Stick Duo, there's no reason for this.
If you already own some variation of Hot Shots Golf, you won't find anything about Let's Golf! that really stands out. If you don't, however, or you're looking for a quick and headache-free round of golf to play on car trips or around the office, this is worth hitting the links for.
