Game review: Let's Golf 2 - iPhone / iPod Touch

Appearances can be deceiving though.

From looking at it you may think Let’s Golf 2 from Gameloft - the excellent sequel to last year’s App Store hit – is just a childish and shallow golf game, but it isn’t.

While its style may differ wildly from EA’s Tiger Woods title for iPhone and iPod Touch, the gameplay is surprisingly similar.

It doesn’t feature real players and courses and it doesn’t take itself as seriously as the Tiger game but Let’s Golf 2 still provides a deep and satisfying game of golf.

Its bright and cutesy visuals are warm and welcoming to casual players but it contains enough simulation elements to appeal to the more serious golf fans.

Light-hearted it is, but lightweight it isn’t. Aside from a special ability for each of the characters, such as a power boost, there aren’t really any crazy over-the-top arcade-style features in Let’s Golf 2 which detract from the core aim – and achievement – of providing a very solid and enjoyable golf video game.

Let’s Golf 2 builds on the success of its predecessor. Most things in the game are the same but better.

There are 108 holes in the game, which equals six courses, with themes such as Mount Olympus, Kenyan safari and English countryside. There is even a Greenland setting for a winter wonderland course.

Aside from the colour and great lighting effects, what’s outstanding about the courses is the amount of detail that’s gone into them. They look absolutely gorgeous with lots of nice little touches, such as animals wandering across the greens and butterflies fluttering about.

Playing a shot in Let’s Golf 2 starts with setting a target area for where the ball will land. You can go with the computer’s recommendation or set your own if you think you know better.

The same applies to club selection – the club chosen by the computer is spot-on most of the time but you can pick one for yourself using a slightly annoying rotating wheel device.

After this it’s a simple three-click system to actually make the shot – first click to start the power bar in motion, second one to set power and the third to set accuracy. Spin can be set with flicking gestures once the ball is in flight.

The controls are very simple and work very well. Everyone should be able to get the hang of them and start hitting some great shots after a bit of practice.

Bar one or two blips, the ball physics are generally reliable.

The game runs smoothly, except for occasionally stuttering graphics.

Let’s Golf 2 offers a range of single-player modes which includes single rounds, career and various challenges.

There are also multiplayer options for online, WiFi and Bluetooth play.

Golfers can be customised with new gear and clothes which can improve their skills but also make play more challenging.

As is widely known, many of Gameloft’s releases are heavily influenced by other games previously seen on consoles.

In the case of the Let’s Golf games, they bear many striking similarities to the Everybody’s Golf series on Sony’s PlayStation platforms.

This might seem slightly dubious but there’s no denying the quality of the job Gameloft does when replicating console games.

The company’s shrunk-down versions of well-known games are always very good, as was the case with the first Let’s Golf game. An even better job has been done with the sequel.

Let’s Golf 2 raises the bar for golf games on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

It’s a really fun and easily playable game with lots of features that make it a great package overall.

Verdict: 8.5 out of 10 – Let’s Golf 2 tees up a game which is great to look at and a lot of fun to play.

Watch a trailer for Let's Golf 2: