I've recently gotten hold of a copy of Black Eyed Peas' Monkey Business and the funky tune of 'Pump It' is rolling around in my head like some bizaare cat toy i can't leave alone. Which is not to say it's worse than having the theme song for Pangya rolling around in it's place.
I've grown up with the subtle pressure to take up golf as a hobby because of my dad. Although I've tried the driving range a few times to please him, I found it boring so my dad resigned himself to having no one to share his enthusiasm with.
Which is why I feel slightly guilty about being so hooked on an online golf game.
Albatross18 or 'Pangya' is a Korean-made online golf simumation game by
NTREEV that provides entertainment for the casual gamer in an uncomplicated, pretty package. The game is downloaded free, and the registration is relatively simple and trouble free. Windows users will find upon login that the game sports a familiar interface.
New users are offered a walkthrough for the game mechanics with the help of a 'caddy'. After the tutorial you can opt to try the game out solo before trying a game versus a real opponent.
Unlike the usual golf sim Albatross also offers functions similar to Instant Messenger, allowing the player to add buddies, and chat while playing which adds flavor and allows a certain amount of interaction and friendly heckling between players.
Vs mode enables players to create 'rooms' and set the course difficulties and number of players and holes.
The game environment itself is very appealing, with varied course features that include the usual bunkers and trees as well as water hazards and land features. Players choose from two types of anime-style player characters that allow players to 'dress up' their toons as a form of customization. There is a 'closet' where you can keep your outfits, and a shop where you can purchase items or clothing that enhance your game as well as Caddy Shop where you can purchase a new caddy. In order to do this however you must have one of two currencies: pang, which is what you earn by playing the game, and cookies, which your acquire through credit card purchase online. The downside is the way the game is strucutured, there are a few great items that you can only get through purchase with cookies and needless to say, most people would prefer to play to accumulate pang than shell out real cash.
Other than this, Albatross is on the whole an attractive, challenging game with tons of replay value even for casual gamers who may not even be interested in the game of golf itself in the first place.
