Housemarque have been making quite a name for themselves over the past year - this group out of Finland, previously known for some classic games for the Amiga Computer, had come back in a big way on the PlayStation Network with the release of Super Stardust HD - a dual-stick shooter with fantastic visuals and the PSN answer to Geometry Wars - some would say it surpasses it.
So who would have thought their next title would be an XBLA exclusive golf game?
Golf: Tee It Up is the latest sports game to make its way to the Xbox Live Arcade - a genre which is particularly hasn't been seeing a lot of action. Golf: TIU plans to change that, and is also pushing some of the best graphics seen for the service.
The game features 36 holes over 2 courses - the bright Caribbean Beachside and the overcast Parklands. Both courses are lush with fauna, trees and everything you expect on a golf course. The game has a very simple style to it - almost cel-shaded in design. This is unlike the PlayStation 3's Hot Shots series, which uses cartoony characters in a more realistic setting. This makes the course much easier to see from a distance and still pleasing to the eye.
Unlike games like Hot Shots Golf on the PlayStation 3, the user creates their own character for Tee It Up. The player chooses their and from there you can choose from a variety of hairstyles, clothing and accessories. Despite the face staying the same - they barely look alike, creating your own personal character.
Tee It Up uses the classic 3-click golf interface, matching up the amount of power and accuracy you want - getting this right can push you just that little bit further to the fairway, or completely destroy your chances of par.
A new feature which makes Tee It Up differ to its competitors is the "focus feature" - or more accurately, an "after touch" mode similar to that of Burnout games. Each round you're given a limited amount of movement time for your ball while it's in the air, allowing you to just slightly alter the golf ball's trajectory so you can get that absurd shot you just took to land safely on the fairway, or nudge the ball into the hole. It's not realistic, but it gives the game that little bit of extra excitement.
It's easy to understand and get into. The game features many helpful camera angles of the course to help you avoid sand traps and rough terrain. The power meter also displays the height and kind of terrain that you will face, making it an easier task for the balls' flight.
Tee It Up will also feature 4 player Cooperative or Multiplayer locally and online in a stroke play match or tournament, as well as 2 player match play. With online play you won't have to wait for the other players to finish their turn - each player can play at the same time, and the terms for an online game is really open - 3 players can play on one console while searching for a 4th participant online.
Housemarque have also set up Tee It Up for Downloadable Content after the game is completed. They've already announced that they're in the early steps of an entirely new course being available close after release, based in the Desert, as well as brand new clothing for players to buy and use on their characters.
Golf: Tee It Up is slated for later this year, until then we'll keep you posted with the latest news and screens for the game when they're available.
For more images of Golf: Tee it up, click here.
Ilari Kuittinen - CEO of Housemarque: "It is hard to really fully comment on the issue of removing games from the XBLA service as we don't know how many games are really fulfilling the criteria. Are there really many games that are under the threat of being delisted from the service?
