Swingerz Golf
- November 25, 2002 00:00 AM PST
They�re cute, they�re tough, and they have gigantic heads. Welcome to the world of Swingerz Golf.
One of the strangest and most compelling genres in sports is the �big-head golf� genre, and now the GameCube finally has a representative thanks to Fresh Games. While Swingerz Golf doesn�t add a whole lot to the genre in general, it�s certainly a welcome addition to the list.It�s painful to say it, but fans of big-head golf can go ahead and think of Hot Shots Golf 3 for PS2, and they�ll be well on their way to understanding Swingerz. You have the same look to the courses, the same types of gameplay (Tournaments, Stroke Play, Match Play, etc.), a similar system for unlocking new characters and items, and even almost identical characters. On the surface, Swingerz looks just like Hot Shots for GameCube, and it would be, if not for one simple change.
What makes Swingerz different is that developer Access has replaced Hot Shots� tap-tap-tap swing control with the type of analog control featured in more realistic or mature golf games like Tiger Woods and Outlaw Golf. Put simply, the analog swing mechanic simultaneously simulates both the skill required and the erosion of said skills in the face of golf�s constant frustration. Whereas Outlaw Golf simulated frustration with a composure meter, Swingerz lets you frustrate yourself, which leads to worse and worse shots as you get distracted. It requires a lot more skill and concentration than Hot Shots� gameplay, but it features a lot more risk and reward, too.
Swingerz has more attitude than Hot Shots�though not much�and less than Outlaw Golf. The game�s art style is childish and cartoony, and the music and voice samples simply annoy with both low quality and repetition, but thankfully everything aural or visual that has to do with actual golf is great. You�ll want to turn the golf sounds up and the music down, and play your own tunes on a nearby stereo.
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 feel of Outlaw Golf will be happy with Swingerz.
