There are two main contenders so early on in the PSP's lifespan battling it out for best golf title, Sony's home grown effort and renowned genre leader Tiger Woods. You might be surprised to learn that Everybody's Golf is the better of the two. Honestly, I'm not kidding, and yes I'm as surprised as you are!

The main reason for Everybody's Golf beating the giant that is Tiger Woods, lies in the game's control method. Tiger opted for using the analogue control that made it such a hit on the major consoles, but unfortunately the PSP's analogue pad just isn't precise enough for the shots to turn out right. However, by going back to basics, Everybody's Golf has delivered a solid, fun and vast game.

The controls are simple; you can zoom in and out, pan across or get an overhead view of the course, you select your club and then with a couple of well timed button presses your ball is launched into the air and plops down where you would expect (providing you hit it right). It's simple, straightforward and it works. In addition, by using different combinations of buttons and directional presses, you can get extra lift, power or spin. It all works beautifully and the ball physics are surprisingly good.

If the ball hits a bump it'll veer off, so you have to take elevation and ground level into account. What looks on the surface like Japanese anime nonsense that will only entertain kids, is actually a little gem of a game. So don't be put off by the cover (or by the fact that the PS2 version is so far shaping up to be awful. Have you played the demo? Oh my God!)

The game is split up into single round, challenge mode and multiplayer. In single player you simply play through an unlocked course with a chosen character. It's challenge mode where the meat lies. In this mode you are entered into competitions and facing off against opponents to unlock new characters, outfits, accessories, clubs and courses.

When taking part in a tournament you are awarded points for good shots. This is a great system; not only does it mean there's little chance of a draw even if you all come in the same under par, it also makes you think twice about the shot. Do I risk pelting the ball over the mountain and potentially hitting the rough to get one hundred yards closer to the flag, or take the safe fairway option and have the ten points? It adds a nice element of strategy and tactics into the game. In the face offs you up against a CPU character over nine (and eventually eighteen) holes. This works similarly to the world tour mode in the console Tiger Woods title; being under or over par doesn't make a difference, you just simply need to beat your opponent.

As you progress and win various accessories, you can customise your character. Some of these options are purely cosmetic, while clubs, balls and even some clothing can make a drastic difference to your character's abilities. You are also rewarded with loyalty points for sticking to one character, giving the game a little more replay appeal as you try to max out each character.

The whole thing is presented really nicely; it's not going to wow you or break any records, but it all looks nice. The character animations are detailed and smooth, while each of the courses has its own unique look and feel. Zooming, panning and switching view is smooth, accurate and without a hint of glitching. The design of some of the courses is pretty smart too, allowing you to use mountains and concrete pathways to get a few extra yards out of your shot. Or maybe you could try bouncing the ball off the top of the golf house roof on a Par 4 and going for the green in one!

Aurally the game again is adequate rather than excellent, as there's little in the way of sound needed in a golf game. The music is jolly enough and each of the characters and caddies has their own unique quirks and sayings. When you've got the headphones plugged in, the wind and ambient effects sound great.

Having sung this game's praises enough, it's now time to gripe. Putting is tough and there are no caddy tips; you need to read the green and putt accordingly - a bit like real golf, I suppose. Over time and by watching your CPU opponents this becomes more logical and a lot simpler, but initially it can be off putting (Get it? Putting! Sorry.) [A pun worthy of me! Ed] My major complaint though and this is with a capitol M-A-J-O-R, is the fact that you can only play a multiplayer game if you've got somebody else with a PSP nearby. Why? It's golf! You take it in turns! It seems ludicrous that there's no option to take on a group of people by passing the PSP around and this option would have really added to the appeal and lifespan of the game.

Everybody's Golf is my favourite PSP game so far and I've played Wipeout Pure, Lumines, Ridge Racer, Burnout Legends, Virtua Tennis, World Snooker Challenge 2005 and Tiger Woods, so that's a pretty high recommendation. There's loads to go at and the challenge mode is put together in perfectly small, bite-sized chunks, making it ideal for a handheld machine. What are you still reading this for? Go buy it already!

Reviewed by Mark Hayhurst for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).