Golf: Tee it Up! (Xbox Live Arcade) Review
Posted by Chris Vicari on 08.05.2008
Time to pull out the golf clubs and hit the courses!
A simple game for the golfing amateur or for those looking for some stress-free fun
Another sports game for the grinder, but this game is different from typical sports games out there and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’ll admit I’m not much of a golf enthusiast, I can barely hit 50 yards at the driving range and I don’t usually enjoy playing any sports games on the consoles either, aside from NHL Hitz of course, but I must say that I found Golf: Tee It Up pretty enjoyable. It was easy to get into, didn’t take a whole lot of thought to play and it was at times pretty challenging. A good combination.
For the measly price of $10 off of the Xbox Live Marketplace, or 800 Microsoft Points, you too can enjoy this casual golfing game that provides solid entertainment which can actually be played with the whole family. No risk of controller throwing here. That’s a win/win in my book.
Gameplay
Tee It Up is a pretty simple and straightforward game. You have the choice of two courses, yea only two, and you can play all 18 holes on either course or choose to do the front or back nine instead. The only semblance of singleplayer, as there is no storyline here, is the opportunity to play the courses in a tournament-style game against the computer. There are no stats, no opportunities to “skill up” or buy extras and equipment. It’s pretty streamlined and what you see is all you really get. It would have been nice to play on more than two courses, but the ones you get are nicely detailed and unique ranging from par threes, fours and fives to even par sixes. Sometimes you have to hit your ball over lakes, forests and even some large gaps.
Tee It Up uses the tried and true three-click swing method where your reaction time alters how powerful or accurate your swing will be. If you don’t like where you clicked, all you have to do is wait a few seconds for it to reset so you can try again. At every hole you're also given four seconds of focus time. This gives you the power to steer the ball on the ground or in mid-air, slow it down if you overshot, figure out how much force you need to putt or to simply perform power shots. Power shots give you a little extra oomph to help you get out of tough spots or if you want a little extra distance on your shot. Focus power dries up after consistent use, but you get four seconds for every hole and they rollover when you don’t use them. You can also adjust the point of contact with the ball to add a bit of backspin. Figuring out how to hit and control the ball is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Sometimes it can save you a few extra strokes, but if used foolishly it can cost you.
The multiplayer aspect is the game’s strongest point and playing against three other people over Xbox Live is a ton of fun. Thankfully the games go pretty quickly because everyone hits their ball at the same time so you don’t have to wait around. Sadly there’s nothing new in the customization department as you get the same options you did while playing singeplayer. Again, only being able to play on two courses is a detriment and they get old pretty quickly.
Other than that the gameplay is pretty simple yet solid. I only ran into a few bugs while playing, but none of them caused a serious hamper on my enjoyment. Ball physics sometimes go out of whack and move in directions they shouldn’t and the game’s club recommendations are at times pretty laughable. One time it recommended a putter to get out of a sandtrap! Being the golf newbie that I am, I listened to the game’s questionable advice only to go one yard and still remain in the sandpit.
Graphics
The graphics for this game are nice and very crisp. The courses themselves are beautifully detailed with mountains, clear lakes, birds and swaying trees making it all a very nice backdrop to the game. Character models are well-detailed in a cartoonish fashion and it’s amusing to watch them jig about when they make a birdie or eagle. I have no complaints about the graphics as they fit the tone of the game very well.
Sound
The sounds themselves are pretty simple as it’s just wind, birds, your ball and your club doing all the noise, but they sound very realistic and you feel like you’re really there. The music is upbeat and fits the tone of the game and it doesn’t get annoying much at all.
Fun Factor
The game is pretty fun to play and the challenges of each individual hole keeps things interesting. Trying to steer the ball and getting it into the hole is also challenging and is an interesting take on golf. The game gets even better when you’re up competing with other people and playing it on Live is totally seamless. The game can get old once you start memorizing the courses, but it’s not really a big deal and the achievements help keep it interesting.
Lasting Appeal
Since the game only has two courses it kinda lacks in the replayability department. I beat both of them in the span of an hour and a half, but I made last place on each of them. It was all the wind’s fault. I’m not sure if more courses will be added in the future and I couldn’t find any information to suggest this. Shame really. Also, the lack of character customization, extras or an ingame store doesn’t help give the player any incentive to continue playing. Just hit the ball in the hole until you’re done then rinse and repeat. Multiplayer helps out a lot though, if you actually have three other friends who enjoy golf, but again two courses becomes a detriment. Like anything else, it gets old pretty fast if played repeatedly.
The 411
Tee It Up is a fun and easy game, but I wouldn’t recommend it to the Tiger Woods fanatics or golf enthusiasts. The game is far too streamlined to warrant the kind of deep gameplay golfing vets will be looking for. Despite this, the game is a lot of fun to play and only suffers from a few minor drawbacks. The game could have been better if there were more things to do, but that might be coming later so that option may be available in the future. For only a miniscule $10 fee, it’s worth a shot and I recommend it. Sure you won’t be playing it for all eternity, but it serves as a serviceable time waster.
Graphics
9.0
Graphics make for some lush and realistic environemts and they really fit the tone of the game.
Gameplay
8.5
Gameplay is streamlined and simple to get into. Don't expect anything complex here but overall it was enjoyable.
Sound
8.5
Sounds are simple but of good quality, makes you feel like you're there.
Lasting Appeal
6.0
Two courses and no extra content doesn't give this game a very long lifespan. Multiplayer helps though.
Fun Factor
8.0
It's a fun, stress free game. Easy to play and easy to get into.
