Swingerz Golf is the latest game to make a bid at dominance in the competitive humorous golfing game category, which as of yet hasn't seen an entry on the GameCube. Originally released in Japan as Waku Waku Golf, it is being localized for English-reading audiences by Eidos' Fresh Games label, which has brought over such quirky titles as Mister Mosquito and Mad Maestro. Swingerz Golf's visual style is highly reminiscent of the popular Hot Shots series--it features similar-looking characters and a wide variety of gameplay modes with a focus on competition. What sets it apart, however, is the intuitive analog-based control scheme and four-player multiplayer support.

Swingerz Golf features a varied cast of characters...

The characters in Swingerz Golf are modeled in a very cartoonish manner with a deformed look. Each character fits into an easily recognizable stereotype and has been brought to life with exaggerative facial expressions and animations. The two default characters available when first booting up the game are Yoshiki and Miho, who nicely represent what can be expected from Swingerz Golf's style. Yoshiki is a pop star, well known for his career in a budding boy band. He works out regularly, so his power is respectable, although his control is suspect, so he doesn't play very well in the rough. Miho is a former college star athlete who has just turned pro. While she always puts in top effort, her lack of power can provide problems, although she compensates with excellent ball control.

Other characters are unlocked through play in the single-player tour mode, and their personal abilities allow for contrasting difficulty and play styles. Sonny is the tough biker type who cruises onto the green on his vintage motorcycle. His power is considerable, but his ratings make for some problems with approach and recovery. Carlos is a typecast inner city youth who plays with hand-me-down clubs given to him by his father. Carlos is as comfortable on an 18-hole course as he is while playing basketball or when out dancing during a long night on the town. Lorraine is a ladies' golf champion and is quite the sports idol, but she is prone to frustration on the green and can go through hot and cold streaks. Lisa is a former Air Force colonel who has taken up golf as a pastime after retirement. She plays intelligently and makes up for her lack of experience with intelligent shot selection. Kenneth is an older golfer with great power and recovery, although his age makes playing in the winter difficult due to his aching joints. Rosetta is the youngest of the playable characters and is a child prodigy à la Doogie Howser, MD. But her doctoral degrees are just the icing on the cake. She invented the caddy robot and uses her supreme intellect to design strange machines, which analyze conditions on the course.

...with some wackier than others.

The characters that make up the rest of the Swingerz Golf lineup are equally as diverse. Kanunu is an unlikely competitor--a former sumo wrestler whose scale-tipping frame belies his talent as a singer and dancer. Weather conditions affect Kanunu conversely to the way they affect Kenneth--Kanunu plays well in the rain but can't stand the hot summer. Parmella is a Jamaican rock star who has taken up golf as a hobby and whose sense of rhythm can help her when driving off the tee. Cody is a seasoned player who has been competing since childhood. His great experience combined with his balanced talents makes for surprising results in the power and spin categories. Cody thrives in the summer heat, when his game is in top form. Charles was born into an aristocratic English family and has inherited a relaxed personality. His great skill and natural ability are assets, although he doesn't play well in the rain. Perhaps the most experienced character on the roster is Sandy, a senior pro. She firmly believes that she can't be beaten by the younger players and backs this up with polished technique and a knowledge of the game that easily overcome any decline in her power over the years. Each character is accompanied on the green by his or her choice of a caddy, who relays advice during each match--although whether or not these words should be minded is up to you.