Review: Pangya Golf With Style! (Wii)

Ever since Wii owners first played golf in Wii Sports, it was clear that a game dedicated to the sport would be inevitable. Golf games have made an appearance on almost every console, but the Wii's motion sensitive remote offers a level of control that goes beyond clicking a power bar, or moving D-pads. Whereas the golf offering on Wii Sports was problematic and frustrating, it did hint that if done properly, golf games on the Wii could define the genre. Pangya! Golf with Style is one of the first fully-fledged golf games for the console, and although not perfect, is one of the better representations of the sport.

Although Pangya! Golf with Style has been built from the ground up for the Wii, it is based on the online PC game, Albatross18. Developed by Korean development company Ntreev Soft, (with the assistance of Tecmo) the PC game has been faithfully recreated onto the Nintendo console, but taking advantage of the motion controls. From the moment the game starts, you will be plunged into the Pangya universe and its strange take on this historic pastime. You will not be playing golf, as such, but saving the inhabitants of Pangya Island from a terrible evil. In an attempt to justify the less-than-realistic approach to the game, Ntreev have created a fantastic story that revolves around a force field that’s draining nature’s energy from the island. The energy escapes from holes in the ground across the island, and the people of Pangya hatch a brilliant plan to neutralise the energy with balls of magical crystal. It is your goal to make sure these balls end up in the holes, and you will be rewarded for doing so in the least amount of strokes.

Underneath the cute exterior, however, lies a solid golf game, and you would be foolish to ignore this title simply because it chooses to concentrate on polar bear caddies rather than the PGA. The courses are excellently designed, with a perfect variety of difficulty and scenery to keep you returning to the game. The island boasts eleven different golf courses, and although some appear in the same region (and are therefore similar in look), each offers a different playing experience. From the bunker-heavy beaches of the Blue Lagoon, to playing on a battleship amongst helicopters and cannons, the courses Pangya has to offer will satisfy even the most hardcore golf fans. The colourful graphics and subtle attention to details make playing the game a pleasant experience, and although the characters may be a bit bland and do little to endear themselves to you, they do not hamper the enjoyment.

The most important aspect of this game is the control. Once you have lined up your shot, hitting the ball consists of two steps; setting the power, and then determining the accuracy. The power is established by slowly drawing the Wii Remote back, emulating a back swing. The power bar rises, and once you have reached the desired power, you "lock" the bar in place by pressing and holding the A button. You are then free to concentrate on the down stroke, which establishes the accuracy. The smoother and straighter the swing, the more true your ball will fly. You are told how accurate your shot is by an on-screen meter, and you can take practice swings to ensure that your swing is perfect. The instruction manual even gives advice on how to improve your swing, and once you have conquered this, you can concentrate on the strategy of the course itself. This two-stage method of swing works exceptionally well, and makes your shots more consistent. If the swing control isn’t to your liking, there is an option to switch to a more traditional method, which just involved button presses. This may take some of the fun out of the game, but it does mean that it can be played just as effectively if you don't feel like standing up and getting more involved.

Although there is some depth in Panya's approach to golf, hardened golfers will be disappointed with the lack of technical features. You can add spin to the ball, but that is as detailed it gets. You are unable to customise the clubs that you carry in your bag, or change your stance to alter your shot, for example. You are, however, rewarded for good shots in the form of Pang Points. During a round these build up, and once you have obtained a certain amount, you can activate a Power Shot which adds 10 yards to your shot. In addition you can choose to unleash two spectacular special shots, which make your ball stop dead when it lands, or be unaffected by the wind. The only condition for these shots to work, is that you must hit an extremely accurate, or "Pangya" shot.

Pang Points are also currency in Pangya Island, and can also be used when the round has finished. The amount of objects you can purchase from the club shop is astounding, from characters and caddies, to costumes and clubs. Each item you buy will affect your skill in some way, be it you power, accuracy, spin, curve, or control. You can even purchase special potions which, when taken on the golf course, will briefly improve one aspect of your game. The Miracle Sign potion, for example, will display the ball’s expected path during putting for a few seconds, making sinking that crucial putt a little easier. The levelling up aspect of Pangya, however, is one of the most confusing systems Gamestyle has encountered. There are penalties for going over certain values, which has some degree of logic (too much power means that accuracy and control will suffer), but the process of applying the upgrades is often confusing, and you can end up with worse statistics from when you started.

There are several modes to keep you entertained in Pangya! Golf with Style. Together with your standard selection of stroke tournaments and match play games, there is a story-mode for each character called Pangya Festa. Once you have chosen a character, you will be challenged by opponents of increasing skill over a variety of courses. Completing each character's Festa will unlock another character to purchase in the Club Shop. There is also a multiplayer option, where 2-4 people can play against each other with one Wii Remote. Stroke and match play are available, along with a balloon pop mini game, where the player who bursts the most number of floating balloons around the course wins. There is no online functionality, which seems strange for a title based on a completely online game. It’s a shame, as it’s certainly missed, but will hopefully be included in the recently-announced sequel.

If you’re a fan of golf, there is no reason not to get Pangya! Golf with Style. Once you come to terms with its fantastical approach, you will find a solid and extremely playable game. The control system is the best of any golf game on the Wii so far, and while not perfect, sets it above its rivals. There are problems with parts of the game, and while the areas affected are not the actual game mechanics, it may not be realistic enough representation of the sport for some. The absence of online play stops Pangya obtaining the score of a great game, but if you want an interactive golfing experience, it's hard to be beaten.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Chris Thornton