Simple and fun, with more than a few problems.

User Rating: 7.7 | Minna no Golf 3 (Mega Hits!) PS2
By Sven55 | Review Date:
Gameplay: Noticeably old-fashioned but still relatively tight. HSG3 uses a three-click swing system, a staple of golfing games since... well, since the beginning of golf games. You can manipulate the ball flight with the D-pad if you want to hit a draw, fade, low or high shot. The physics engine is passable, although it seems like I catch the ball cleanly out of the rough and bunker with a little too much frequency. There are some "super" shots which a very skilled player will be able to execute - it was a good attempt at adding a little more depth to the gameplay for good games, but the game is easy enough that you won't ever have to use them.

Graphics: Characters are goofy looking, which is fine for the theme of the game, but they could be a lot more detailed - the caddies in particular look like giant baloons when you zoom in on them. The courses aren't gorgeous but they still look pretty realistic.

Sound: By far the weakest element of HSG3. Characters and caddies have a very limited supply of cutesy phrases that they repeat constantly. Spectators at tournaments will say obvious things to you before every shot. Insects will sometimes buzz very loudly and for a very long period of time while you try to putt, which is not as distracting as it is just plain annoying. The music ranges from being very good on some courses to being very irritating on others.

Value: Pretty deep game, actually. There are a good number of tournaments to play. The VS mode will unlock characters the first time through, and then new outfits the second. The second time through the VS mode the competition gets very tough; it will take a talented and motivated player to work their way through. You earn points for good performances that you can spend in the shop. The game's easy controls and lighthearted feel also make HSG3 a pretty good game to play with friends, especially those who aren't big into golf games.

Tilt: Every platform needs an accessible golf game that doesn't take itself too seriously, while still offering a professional level of gameplay and realism. While HSG3 doesn't fill that void as nicely as Mario Golf does for the GameCube, it's a decent alternative on the PS2. If you aren't big into golf games but still need a fix once in a while, HSG3 offers strong enough gameplay and a deep enough single-player mode to warrant a purchase at it's current bargain price.

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