E3 2009 Preview
For PSP owners, fun golf games are
few and far between. Of course, there’s the Hot Shots Golf series offering fun
and easy to grasp gameplay with a lighthearted aesthetic, but with no Hot Shots
title scheduled for the PSP this year, TOMY is looking to fill the void with
Pangya Fantasy Golf.
Pangya Fantasy Golf takes the
lighthearted gameplay and aesthetic of games like Hot Shots Golf and combines
them with fun character customization features, allowing you to take your golfer
and add new costumes and items to improve their look and performance on the golf
course.
Pangya will not only offer up a
solid golf game, but will give you a Story Mode that allows you to follow the
course of a certain golfer and even unlock new ones as you go. The game will
feature 18 different characters total, including a varied mix of protagonists
and villains.
Aside from the Story mode, there is
a Tour mode that allows players to compete for new items, like clothing and
special items. As you collect new items for your character, you’ll get special
stat increases that will allow you to play on advanced courses without much
trouble. You’ll also be able to earn new bags with more slots that will allow
you to add more special items to your character.
The game’s actual golf gameplay is
done quite well. You’ll simply have to use the meter on the bottom of the screen
to control your ball’s accuracy and distance. Additionally, you’ll be able to
select where on the ball you want to hit it, adding a spin to its in-air course.
If you hit the ball well enough times, you’ll gain a powershot that will let you
hit the ball quite far and accurately. The game also employs the use of terrain
effects that will determine how well you can hit your ball, with a variety of
different terrain types (like volcanic terrain, snow, and sand) having distinct
effects on your hitting.
Pangya Fantasy Golf is turning out
to be a solid and engaging golf title, offering great customization features as
well as a good game of golf.
