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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Sport Developer: T&E Soft Publisher: Nintendo |
It proven that the Nintendo DS doesn’t lack in the golf genre so with the release of “True Swing Golf” players aren’t going to get anything
new. With that in mind, this game is surprisingly solid and well developed, even if it may lack a huge assortment of features and doesn’
t have the greatest graphics. The game’s real value is in its amazing use of the touch screen to pull off a great game of golf.
T&E Soft has been in the world of golf games since the 16-bit days, but even with that intense of a focus on one particular sport, the
development team offers players with links that have always been hit or miss. In their latest golfing release, “True Swing Golf,” players
are given a generic presentation, but it could possibly be the best golf game yet from this company. The team picks up the missed
opportunities left by other golf game, though “True Swing Golf” lacks any professional players and real courses. The game creates
touch screen control that is instinctive and works well in a familiar golf environment.
This time around players won’t be able to use the usual hit button that controls the swing. In its place is a full touch screen control that
mimics hitting a ball with a club. Players drag the stylus and drive through to the ball icon to send it on its way. The power and accuracy
comes from how far back the stylus is, how fast the player swings and how close to the center of the ball the player is. It is a simple
mechanic and it seems to work well.
Though the swing mechanic works well, a swing mechanic can only be as good as the physics engine that follows it. No matter how
well of a shot that players has off the tee, if the game has a poor ball mechanics for the airborne shot or the fairway roll, it doesn’t matter
how well the game controls work before the shot. It is for this exact reason that it is a good thing that “True Swing Golf” handles the ball
control so well. The ball rolls and bounces realistically in the 3D engine and the variety of terrain affects the shot before and after the
swing as well as expected in a solidly developed golf game. Players may find that putting may be a little more difficult than what players
would first expect and the ball seems to bounce off the rim of the cup with a little more bounce than the usual golf outing. After they get a
little bit of practice and become familiar with the way that the putting handles in the game, players will be able to easily adjust their play
in order to make sure that the ball is sunk with the easy shots.
“True Swing Golf” proves to play well enough, but the great game play has to shien through some boring graphics and the lack of
features. This game misses a few key elements for players to get a more realistic golf experience, especially in the lack of professional
players and real life golf courses to play on. Some of the best golf games available have lacked both of these elements, but they
benefited from a more ecaggerated game with additional game play features to add more to the overall experience. This game is
simply straightforward generic gold with only the basic golf matches available, and it is missing some features that most gold game
normally offer. Players can’t save or view their best shots on a course, so a hole in one shot cannot be proven to disbelieving friends,
unless of course they are watching the game over a shoulder, which is highly unlikely.
Of course, as players will quickly find out, the game isn’t a very good game graphically. Compared to other golf games on the Nintendo
DS which were visual triumphs, there isn’t any denying that the game just boring and blurred with alarmingly low resolution. The blocky
graphics make it hard to appreciate the television style presentation that the game tries to pull off, especially when the camera tries to
show a long distance putt in a cutaway and the resolution makes it impossible to see where to whole is.
Thanks to a career mode that encourages players to advance through the ranks with money awards, the game still offers a strong
experience. The cash that players earn can be spent at the golf shop on unnecessary items like shirts and hats, but also on equipment
that can change the way players play the different courses. There will be clubs, balls, shoes and special shots that offer more distance,
better roll, and better fades and draws.
Also available to make the experience better is the addition of single cartridge multiplayer. Most of the multiplayer experience will come
from the multiple cartridge networks, but this game allows for full features competitions between two to four players using a single copy
of the game. This multiplayer mode is as seamless as the single player options and players have the added ability to send picture chat
style messages to each other, even while another player is in the middle of their shot to throw them off a little bit.
Though the game’s looks may be a little raw, but players will easily be able to see the game play is great. T&E Soft offers players a fun
and challenging golf game with some great courses and intuitive touch screen controls. The lack of any professional players or real life
courses is a bit of a letdown, but the game is able to hold its own without them. “True Swing Golf” stays ahead of most other golf
games simply because it offers something unique for golf fans to enjoy.
new. With that in mind, this game is surprisingly solid and well developed, even if it may lack a huge assortment of features and doesn’
t have the greatest graphics. The game’s real value is in its amazing use of the touch screen to pull off a great game of golf.
T&E Soft has been in the world of golf games since the 16-bit days, but even with that intense of a focus on one particular sport, the
development team offers players with links that have always been hit or miss. In their latest golfing release, “True Swing Golf,” players
are given a generic presentation, but it could possibly be the best golf game yet from this company. The team picks up the missed
opportunities left by other golf game, though “True Swing Golf” lacks any professional players and real courses. The game creates
touch screen control that is instinctive and works well in a familiar golf environment.
This time around players won’t be able to use the usual hit button that controls the swing. In its place is a full touch screen control that
mimics hitting a ball with a club. Players drag the stylus and drive through to the ball icon to send it on its way. The power and accuracy
comes from how far back the stylus is, how fast the player swings and how close to the center of the ball the player is. It is a simple
mechanic and it seems to work well.
Though the swing mechanic works well, a swing mechanic can only be as good as the physics engine that follows it. No matter how
well of a shot that players has off the tee, if the game has a poor ball mechanics for the airborne shot or the fairway roll, it doesn’t matter
how well the game controls work before the shot. It is for this exact reason that it is a good thing that “True Swing Golf” handles the ball
control so well. The ball rolls and bounces realistically in the 3D engine and the variety of terrain affects the shot before and after the
swing as well as expected in a solidly developed golf game. Players may find that putting may be a little more difficult than what players
would first expect and the ball seems to bounce off the rim of the cup with a little more bounce than the usual golf outing. After they get a
little bit of practice and become familiar with the way that the putting handles in the game, players will be able to easily adjust their play
in order to make sure that the ball is sunk with the easy shots.
“True Swing Golf” proves to play well enough, but the great game play has to shien through some boring graphics and the lack of
features. This game misses a few key elements for players to get a more realistic golf experience, especially in the lack of professional
players and real life golf courses to play on. Some of the best golf games available have lacked both of these elements, but they
benefited from a more ecaggerated game with additional game play features to add more to the overall experience. This game is
simply straightforward generic gold with only the basic golf matches available, and it is missing some features that most gold game
normally offer. Players can’t save or view their best shots on a course, so a hole in one shot cannot be proven to disbelieving friends,
unless of course they are watching the game over a shoulder, which is highly unlikely.
Of course, as players will quickly find out, the game isn’t a very good game graphically. Compared to other golf games on the Nintendo
DS which were visual triumphs, there isn’t any denying that the game just boring and blurred with alarmingly low resolution. The blocky
graphics make it hard to appreciate the television style presentation that the game tries to pull off, especially when the camera tries to
show a long distance putt in a cutaway and the resolution makes it impossible to see where to whole is.
Thanks to a career mode that encourages players to advance through the ranks with money awards, the game still offers a strong
experience. The cash that players earn can be spent at the golf shop on unnecessary items like shirts and hats, but also on equipment
that can change the way players play the different courses. There will be clubs, balls, shoes and special shots that offer more distance,
better roll, and better fades and draws.
Also available to make the experience better is the addition of single cartridge multiplayer. Most of the multiplayer experience will come
from the multiple cartridge networks, but this game allows for full features competitions between two to four players using a single copy
of the game. This multiplayer mode is as seamless as the single player options and players have the added ability to send picture chat
style messages to each other, even while another player is in the middle of their shot to throw them off a little bit.
Though the game’s looks may be a little raw, but players will easily be able to see the game play is great. T&E Soft offers players a fun
and challenging golf game with some great courses and intuitive touch screen controls. The lack of any professional players or real life
courses is a bit of a letdown, but the game is able to hold its own without them. “True Swing Golf” stays ahead of most other golf
games simply because it offers something unique for golf fans to enjoy.
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