Right now, on the PSP, there are only two choices for golf lovers out there. On the one hand, you have Everybody's Golf and then you have Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Now, I'll admit right now that I have not played Everybody's Golf for the PSP, but I have played the PS2 incarnations. Both games are good in their own right, but they might appeal to different audiences. Everybody's Golf is known for its anime style characters, while the Tiger Woods series has always strived for realism.

Part of the realism of the Tiger Woods series has been what EA calls "Total Precision Swing" technology. This involves using the analog stick to realistically control both the back swing (by pushing down on the stick) and down swing (by pushing up on the stick) of the golfer. This works extremely well on the consoles but with the PSP's analog joystick (nub), there are times when you may accidentally slice the ball and find yourself in big trouble. This isn't always the case, but it does happen enough to make a note of it. Of course, there are other controls, as well. Tapping R before you hit the ball adds a boost of power to give your shot the extra "umph" it may need. If you tap R after the ball has been hit, then it (along with moving the analog stick in a certain direction) puts some spin on your ball so it rolls further. The square button changes the type of shot you wish to perform. The game defaults to a full shot, but you can also perform other shots like the pros - pitch, flop, punch and chip. These should be fairly familiar to most golf fans and the game reminds you of which shot to use and when, during loading sequences. For the most part, Tiger Woods controls almost exactly like its console counterpart. However, due to the analog 'nub', the "Total Precision Swing" isn't as precise as it probably should be.

An area where the game really shines is in its deep customisation. Using "Game Face" technology, EA has made it possible to create-your-own-golfer almost in your exact likeness. While not as deep as its console siblings, being able to customise your character with as much depth as Tiger Woods is an amazing feat for a portable game. The game also includes literally over 1000 customisable clothes, items and clubs (all licensed, by the way). As you win matches, you accumulate money and new items become unlocked and available for purchase. And I'll admit, while it is fun to play as Tiger and the rest of the bunch, it's much more fun to beat Tiger playing as yourself!

This brings us to the Legend Tour mode. Similar to the career mode found in other sports games, Legend Tour takes you from a no-name, no-skill Rookie to a million dollar Pro. The tour situates you in different types of matches, from one-on-one to two-day tournaments and everything in between. The Legend Tour is extremely gratifying; however the first couple of matches may have you cursing in frustration, as the difficulty of early opponents seems a little high. After you get going, however, you should have no problem winning your matches and the Legend Tour will provide you with several months of quality golf gaming.

If single player gaming isn't your thing, you'll be happy to know that the PSP incarnation of Tiger Woods also has wireless ad-hoc play. You and your buddy can go head to head in matches such as Stroke, Match, Skins, Long Drive Shootout and the all-new Bingo Bango Bongo. BBB basically has you racing to complete a certain amount of objectives. It can get pretty hectic, because, while the number of strokes you take doesn't necessarily matter, you still should be focusing on shooting accurately. You are awarded a "Bingo" for the longest drive, a "Bango" if you're the first to the green and a "Bongo" for completing the hole first. Each objective is awarded cash and bragging rights.

Tiger and the rest of the game look great. Despite an occasional hiccup here and there, the game maintains its frame rate when it matters. The courses themselves look beautiful and a total of twelve have been lifted from previous Tiger games. All the player models are very detailed, plus all of this lovely eye candy is accompanied by a ton of excellent commentary, which, unlike some other games, doesn't tend to get too repetitive. There are some great ambient sounds in the background too, such as birds singing, the sounds of the crowd and the wind.

All of these features, graphics and sounds should add up to a excellent golfing experience on the PSP. And it does, for the most part, with the exception of loading times. Now, I understand that a first-gen PSP game might have a couple optimisation issues, but loading times on Tiger Woods seem to be incredibly long. For instance, a hole might take as little as two to three minutes from tee-off to sinking the putt, while loading takes anywhere from thirty seconds to one minute; almost a third of the time! As addictive as Tiger Woods is, loading times can take away from any game and PGA Tour suffers in this regards.

With two different choices for golf on the PSP, some may be left wondering, "Which game should I get?" While both games offer some pretty deep customisations, EA wins the battle with its Game Face technology and officially licensed products. Those looking for a more realistic experience should check out Tiger Woods PGA Tour. There are a couple of bumps along the way, but the gameplay is solid and the longevity of the Legend Tour will keep you playing for months. I would definitely recommend Tiger Woods for the PSP; just be wary of some long load times if you're not the most patient of people.

Reviewed by Phillip Tang for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).