| Swingerz Golf | |
|---|---|
 North American box art | |
| Developer(s) | Telenet Japan |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive (Fresh Games) |
| Composer(s) | Shinji Tamura |
| Platform(s) | GameCube |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Swingerz Golf, known as Ace Golf in Europe and Wai Wai Golf (わいわいゴルフ, Wai Wai Gorufu, "Noisy Golf") in Japan, is a sports video game released by Telenet Japan in 2002. It is a golf simulation game that allows the player to choose from 14 different characters, each with different strengths and weaknesses, to play on any of the game's 6 courses, varying greatly in difficulty and atmosphere. Along with normal match and stroke modes of play, the game offers a tour mode, which simulates the career of a chosen character, a mission mode, consisting of a series of challenges that gradually increase in difficulty, and minigames, including a sudden death style of gameplay and a near-pin style of gameplay.
The game was released under Eidos' short-lived Fresh Games branding, and is the only game within its lineup to be a GameCube exclusive, while the other four games were PlayStation 2 exclusives.
Gameplay
Controls
Swingerz Golf was made exclusively for GameCube, so the controls are designed specifically for a GameCube controller. The player-controlled golfer can be aimed in any direction with the analog stick and can change clubs with the R and L buttons to in any distance or direction possible up to that golfer's particular power limitations. With the X and Y buttons, the player may raise up the camera angle, zoom in on the hole, or rotate the camera around to see what is around an obstacle. Hitting the B button will switch between a power shot and a normal shot. To swing, the player pulls back on the C Stick until the desired power level is reached, then flicks it forward. The accuracy of the shot depends on how straight the stick was moved. If it is nearly or exactly straight, the word "Excellent" will show and the player's character will regain a bit of stamina. Ratings of "Great" and "Good" mean the ball will fly more or less straight, but the player will lose stamina. A rating of "Bad" or "Poor" means that the character will miss the ball, hit it short, or hit it well off the mark. By holding the D-pad in any direction during the swing, the player may add spin to the ball to give it a certain flight pattern or behavior upon landing. On the green, controls are similar, but there are some added visual cues. Once the player has reached or is close enough to see the green, a grid appears, showing the player how a ball will react on any given part of the green. Pressing left and right on the D-pad will make the lines thicker and more bold, making it easier to see on televisions that have a lower display resolutions.
Modes of Play
The primary mode of single-player gameplay in Swingerz Golf is the Tour Mode. In this mode, the player is given a series of tournaments and duels to play through in order to unlock new characters as well as specialty clubs and balls.
In addition to the Tour Mode, Swingerz Golf has an exhibition mode for both match play and stroke play, a practice mode, a survival mode, and a mission mode. In exhibition mode, players may play a game without any consequence to his current game status. Survival mode pits the player against successively harder computer opponents until he loses a one-hole skin match. Mission mode gives the player several levels of challenging scenarios to complete. Challenges include hitting the ball within a certain distance of the cup, hitting a given number of "Excellent" rated shots in a row, and holing out under par, among others.
Multiplayer
Although Swingerz Golf does not support online play, it does support multiplayer gaming over one console. Up to four players or computer-controller players can play a match together, even if 4 controllers are not available. There are three modes of multiplayer play. These are stroke play, skins, and near-pin. In stroke play, two to four players compete against each other over 18 holes of any chosen course. The winner is the player who has the lowest score at the end of the 18th hole. In match play, 2 players play through 18 holes, competing for the lowest score on each hole. For each hole, the player who achieves the lowest score earns a point. The player with the most points at the end of the last hole wins. In near-pin mode, each player gets one shot per hole. The player that lands on the green closest to the pin wins that particular hole. Scoring and winning are the same as that of match play.
Reception
Reception| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 72 out of 100 |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |    |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7 out of 10 |
| Eurogamer | 7 out of 10 |
| Famitsu | 33 out of 40 |
| Game Informer | 7.75 out of 10 |
| GameSpot | 6.5 out of 10 |
| GameSpy | |
| GameZone | 6.9 out of 10 |
| IGN | 6.9 out of 10 |
| Nintendo Power | 3.5 out of 5 |
| X-Play | |
The game received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40. GamePro said, "While Swingerz doesn't add anything new to the big-head golf genre, the things it does, it does well enough. GameCube owners looking for mascot golf but who don't want the 2Xtreme sportz [sic] feel of Outlaw Golf will be happy with Swingerz."
Notes
- From the Operations Guide (8. Shot Mode / Impact Zone)
- From the Operations Guide (14. Spin!)
- From the Operations Guide (15. Putting Tips)
- From the Operations Guide (16. Game Modes)
- From the Operations Guide (3. Basic Controls)
- From the Operations Guide (18. Mini Games)
- Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7.5/10, 6.5/10, and 7/10.
- GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.
References
- "Wai Wai Golf". Play-Asia. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (December 6, 2002). "Ace Golf vs Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003". Archived from the original on January 12, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Swingerz Golf - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- Passafiume, Andrew. "New Game+: Eidos and the bizarre Fresh Games label". Snackbar Games. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- "Swingerz Golf - Controls". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- Paprocki, Matt (June 25, 2006). "Swingerz Golf". Digital Press. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Telenet Japan. Swingerz Golf (GameCube). Eidos Interactive.
- ^ "Swingerz Golf". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- Tsao, Jennifer; Boyer, Crispin; Sewart, Greg (February 2003). "Swingerz Golf" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 163. Ziff Davis. p. 144. Archived from the original on January 23, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "ニンテンドーゲームキューブ - わいわいゴルフ". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 101.
- Brogger, Kristian (January 2003). "Swingerz Golf". Game Informer. No. 117. p. 102. Archived from the original on August 27, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- Davis, Ryan (November 6, 2002). "Swingerz Golf Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- Satterfield, Shane (November 21, 2002). "GameSpy: Swingerz Golf". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 6, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- Lafferty, Michael (November 7, 2002). "Swingerz Golf Review - GameCube". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- Casamassina, Matt (November 5, 2002). "Swingerz Golf". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- "Swingerz Golf". Nintendo Power. Vol. 163. Nintendo of America. December 2002. p. 214.
- Hudak, Chris (December 11, 2002). "'Swingerz Golf' (GCN) Review". Extended Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on April 11, 2003. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- The D-Pad Destroyer (March 2003). "Swingerz Golf". GamePro. No. 174. IDG. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2015.