Everybodys Golf World Tour
Playstation 3, 1-4 players
(2-50 online), $99.95
******
By Séamus Byrne
Possibly the best golfing game putting around today
Nothing like an HD rendered fairway to soothe the soul of a closet golf nut, and Everybody's Golf: World Tour brings more than virtual fresh air to your PS3. Since time immemorial, the control system on golf games has stuck to power meter click or flick systems. But here there is something familiar yet strikingly new - a system that makes you watch your character to perfect your shot. Suddenly the game feels more genuine, less statistical. The art style is cartoonish fun and the game easy to sink into, but the deeper you go the more seriously you find you can take things with a complete arsenal of shot adjustments on offer.
You can find plenty of variety in the game modes too, none of which will on its own tie you up for hours. Odds are good you will still while away the hours here, playing round after round, challenge after challenge. The sore point is the limited range of course, but there is a promise of downloadable courses in future. Even without any more, the gorgeous environments and challenging courses offer plenty for the amateur or the pro. Add in some solid online offerings, including major tournaments, and you find possibly the best golf game available today.