Every match you play earns you a certain amount of Pang, the game’s currency, based-on how well you perform. The extreme level of customization and item unlocking included in the game is one of the biggest incentives to stick with it for an extended period of time.

The golfing itself is pretty and the story gets more interesting as it develops, but the drive to earn cash for shopping is insidiously addictive. Each character has tons of outfits and items to unlock. You can mix and match their costumes in four categories: tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. More functional accessories like clubs, special balls, rings, potions, and Papels (adorable bag-like companions that accompany you throughout the game and hold your items) can be purchased and equipped separately. All told, there are more than 1,300 goodies for you to uncover and use.

While you’ll frequent a handful of more common golf courses, Fantasy Golf also has you playing in wintery landscapes and a few other different locations. The game’s anime-heavy visuals are pleasantly varied and vibrantly designed. Character interactions in-between matches play out in static portraits and text, which is fine. However, their animations during the gameplay itself aren’t quite as crisp.

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An obsession-inducing item collecting and character customization element mixed with a moderately entertaining fantasy story gives Fantasy Golf some solid legs to stand on. At its heart, the game offers some decent, no-nonsense golfing that’s not particularly better or worse than similar titles. It’s the extra effort that went into producing sound fantasy trappings and ample features that make this portable golfing excursion worth your time.

By Nathan Meunier
CCC Staff Contributor