Real World Golf Review (Xbox)

Features and Modes

The actual game underneath the fancy peripheral isn’t too spectacular, but it doesn’t have to be. The whole point here is that you are taking real full swings and not how pretty the course looks. There are ten unlicensed courses based on real European courses and each one has a different feel. You’ll also find a driving range (complete with a parking lot full of cars to hit …), a putting green, and a chipping green so you can practice. I highly recommend using these practice modes as well as going through the tutorial at least once. It really will help you. You can play four-player multiplayer where each players has their own profile (and their own unique swing calibration) and you switch off when each player completes a hole. It is sort of a hassle to take the gloves on and off all of the time for multiplayer, but you get 4-5 swings in before you have to switch so it isn’t too bad.

All in all, the feature list is pretty decent, but it obviously can’t compare with the wealth of options in Tiger Woods. Not having real world golfers isn’t an issue since YOU are the real world golfer here, but I would have really liked to of seen some licensed US courses to play on. It would have made things just that much more fun.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Real World Golf really fails to impress, but it doesn’t really matter in the end. The textures for everything are bland and the player models are really basic. The animation is really good, however, and it is very cool to see your swing and movements perfectly translated onscreen.

The sound is similarly bland. The sounds of golf – the thwack of a driver and the rattling of a ball when it hits the cup – all sound just right, but the elevator music soundtrack and commentary leave quite a bit to be desired.

Bottom Line

Real World Golf is one of the best golf games for the Xbox. You get to hold a club in your hand and take full swings and play through a real round so how can that not be fun. It really is as close to real golf as you can get without actually going outside. Whether you are a novice or an experienced golfer, Real World Golf has something to offer by both teaching you how to play as well as letting you practice and hone your swing. It also has to be mentioned that playing a full round or two in RWG provides a surprisingly good workout. Taking 150-200+ swings is plenty for you to work up a sweat and make you a little sore the next day. Real World Golf is fun for anyone and everyone and it is an accurate golf simulator that can and will improve your game in real life. The only drawback is that the set costs $70 which puts it squarely in the realm of golf fanatics or wannabe golf fanatics only rather than casual gamers. If you do decide to drop the cash for it, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it.