| Super Swing Golf | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Ntreev Soft Tecmo |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Platform(s) | Wii |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Golf |
| Mode(s) | Single Player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | CERO: B ESRB: E10+ PEGI: 3+ |
| Media/distribution | Wii Optical Disc |
Super Swing Golf (PangYa! Golf With Style in Europe, and Swing Golf PangYa in Japan) is a Wii version of the online golf game, PangYa.
Contents |
While very similar to the online PangYa, Super Swing Golf is slightly different in the areas of control and content.
Both the single player and multiplayer game feature three different modes of play. In single player, these include a story mode, stroke play mode, and match mode, while in multiplayer, Balloon Pop mode replaces the story mode. In all modes, Pang (currency) can be earned and later spent on additional clothing or gear.
Unlike the original PC version, this game does not have online play. Prior to the game's release, Ryan Arbogast, Tecmo's product specialist, had stated in an interview that the story mode was expected to make up for the lack of online play. He also hinted at the possibility of pay-to-play downloadable content, such as costumes and characters.
A recent update to the Japanese version of PangYa stated, "You are now able to exchange exclusive items with the Wii Version". This is done offline by entering certain codes (from PangYa) into the Wii title.
Players use the Wii Remote to scroll and pan around the course, as well as to actually execute shots. To swing, players raise the controller behind them (as with a real golf club) until the on-screen power meter reaches the desired point. Once ready, players then hold down the "A" button and swing forward. The angle and speed of the forward swing is used to determine how close the actual shot comes to the desired shot. If the controller is rotated or twisted as the player swings forward, the resulting shot will hook or slice.
An alternative control system is to use just the buttons on the Wii Remote similar to how the game is played on the PC, including the same key combinations for power shots.
The Wii single-player story mode is named PangYa Festa. Complete with an anime-inspired storyline, the objective of this tournament is to defeat all opponents in match play. Players select a character and then a course, which determines the number of holes, typically 3, 6 or 9, and the opponent. As players successfully defeat opponents, they earn the right to play against more difficult opponents on different courses. Winning a given match also unlocks new characters, caddies, and items which can be purchased in the shop.
Before and after each match, the player is greeted with a brief cutscene where the player's character and opponent exchange equips with each other and their caddies.
The 11 courses in the game are Blue Lagoon, Blue Moon, Blue Water, Ice Cannon, White Wiz (North Wiz and White Wiz in the US online version), Sepia Wind, Shining Sand, Silvia Cannon, West Wiz, Wind Hill, and Wiz Wiz.
Keisuke Kikuchi, producer and co-creater of the survival horror game series Fatal Frame was the producer of Super Swing Golf, and the protagonists Mio and Mayu Amakura from Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly are featured in concept artwork for the game. Also, the outfit of the Fatal Frame (video game) protagonist, Miku Hinasaki, is an unlockable costume for the character Hannya.
Reviews have been above average. IGN gave it a 7.8/10, calling it a fair game with a lot of replay value, but ultimately the rest depended on preference. Yahoo Games awarded it a 4.5/5, saying it was a fun mix between silly swings and serious golf. X-Play gave it a 4 out of 5 for being fun but very difficult in some areas. GameRankings and Metacritic both gave it 72/100. A sequel, Super Swing Golf: Season 2 was released in January 2008.