Review: Lets Golf 3D on Nintendo 3DS

I scooped up Lets Golfs 3D for $7.99 on the Nintendo eShop.I have played this game previously on my HTC Droid Incredible. While it's a passable game on the phone, I have some reservations for it on the 3DS.

The game is a standard golf game. It's based on timing and strategy. Motion controls are not used in the game. Basically if you have played Golf on the NES you have played this game. Don't take that as an insult, I LOVED golf on the NES.

The game play modes are limited. There is no online play, which was an option in the phone version. Boo. You have a career mode where you and unlock different courses, accessories, and equipment. Not much going on past that however. Basically you just keep playing until you unlock everything. The only multi-player option is turn based, hand your 3ds to a friend, pass n play. This isn't a deal breaker, but the online really could have pushed this game over the edge. The computer just isn't a good enough competition.

The 3d is beautiful. A golf game having that extra perspective really makes it worth looking at. But that's also where the game falls apart. It's essentially a port of the phone game, without any improvements. Some of the complaints I had about the phone version I overlooked when it was on a smaller touch based device. Those become really annoying.

For example, what is this flag floating in air for? Are there two holes?

This big block is supposed to help you see the hole, works in some angles, but makes for putts with a curve difficult to gain perspective when it covers up the hole and surrounding area.

Overall: This game feels like a rushed copy of the already old phone version. Wait for the next release which should have no reason to not have online play. I presume we're going to get a copy of the amazing Mario Golf on the GBC or an updated 3d copy of the N64 classic sometime soon. Whether or not it's worth waiting is your call. Right now there isn't a lot happening on the eShop and this does stand out as a very polished, fun game.

7 out of 10.

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IGN: http://ds.ign.com/articles/118/1184868p1.html