Coming Attractions: Sports
Football, golf, tennis, curling...
Everybody's Golf 5
Our friend Dave reviewed the Japanese version of Everybody's Golf 5 back in August last year. As Sony told us last month, it's a PS3 exclusive and scheduled for a European release in March.
The biggest change is the introduction of a new shot system which does away with the power meter. The focus is on your swing instead. There's still a meter option for Luddites, though.
You can compete in 50-player tournaments online, or create matches where you see all the action for up to eight players. Downloadable content is promised along with a wide range of options for tracking and comparing statistics.
The game is "unabashedly old school" in design and "exudes charm", according to Dave. "It would probably be too controversial to call it the best golf game, or the best PS3 game," he wrote. "But on both counts it's a remarkably close call."
Hole in one: As Mark Twain said, a game of golf is like a good wank spoiled. We may be paraphrasing.
SEGA Superstars Tennis
In which you get to play as all your favourite SEGA characters, whacking little yellow balls around areas like the Green Hill Zone and Carnival Park. Sonic will of course make an appearance along with AiAi the Super Monkey Ball monkey, Amigo out of Samba De and Space Channel 5's Ulala.
You can collect trophies in Tournament mode or show off in Exhibition, and the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will offer online play.
SEGA Superstars Tennis is being developed by Sumo Digital. They did Virtua Tennis 3, which is encouraging as it was marvellous. We were going to say "ace" there but no one wants to be fired after less than one week in a new job.
SEGA Superstars Tennis is out on PS2, PS3, DS, Wii and Xbox 360 on March 28th.
On the Net: See more of SST over on the gamepage, or better still on UK: Resistance.
Beijing 2008
You can say what you like about China's human rights record, unless you live in China, but they certainly seem to know how to run an Olympics. And SEGA certainly knows how to make a best-selling Olympics game judging by Sonic and Mario At The, so it's no surprise they've picked up the licence for the official tie-in.
It'll feature more than 35 events including swimming, archery, boxing, gymnastics, Judo, rowing and table tennis. Not to mention weightlifting and wrestling, sailing and shooting, triathlon and Taekwondo. Probably not bull riding.
Brand new control systems are promised along with the ability to compete against other virtual athletes online. You'll battle it out in many of the official venues including the Beijing National Stadium and the National Aquatics Centre.
Beijing 2008 is in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and is out this summer.
Let's Take a Torch to Catford: Eurogamer is still a staunch supporter of South East London's Olympic bid, even though it failed.
Deca Sports
If you like your sports a bit more obscure, you might enjoy this Wii exclusive from Hudson. Deca Sports features ten sports including curling, figure skating, kart racing and beach volleyball, plus snowboard cross, badminton, beach volleyball, supercross, basketball, archery and "soccer".
"With Deca Sports we wanted to offer a sports package that is unrivaled in terms of sheer number of available sports," said Hudson boss John Greiner, who clearly hasn't seen the Beijing 2008 press release. "The game is easy to play, but offers layers of depth that even hardcore sports enthusiasts will love to play."
You'll use the Wii remote to play each sport - swinging it, for example, to hit and spike in beach vollyeball. Twisting your wrist will guide your snowboard, waggling it will pass the ball in soccer and so on. Both single and multiplayer modes are promised along with a training feature.
Deca Sports is out this summer.
Can curling ever be sexy?: The Canadian Government pays people to make things like this.
We Love Golf!
If you like golf, you'll love We Love Golf. For the Wii. Capcom says it "transforms the Wii remote into a virtual set of golf clubs". It's being developed by Camelot, who also did Everybody's Golf and Mario Golf. They certainly love golf and no mistake. Golf.
You'll use the remote to select clubs, line-up shots and swing. You can also flick it to add a "touch fade" or "draw" if you have any idea what they are. Up to four players can compete against each other and modes include Tournament, Stroke Play and special mini-games. Oh, good.
We asked Close Personal Friend the Capcom PR Man why he loves We Love Golf. He muttered something about it being accessible and fun for all the family before stating, "You can dress up as Street Fighter characters. While that's not why you should be checking out the most fun and accessible golf game on the Wii, it's definitely the most incredible thing in a golf game since the gold teeth accessory in Tiger Woods."
We Love Golf is out later this year.
Cinderella story: Gunga galunga.