I am not a sports fan. Period. Start talking about the Stealers, Bills, Otters or whatever sports team you like, and my eyes start to glaze over. No, I am not talking about the yummy glazed donuts that you can find at your favorite bakery. I am talking about complete and utter disinterest. If I wanted to play football or soccer, I would be playing it, not watching it. This is why I get a kick out of power walking: It is something I can do, the scenery changes and I have earned a few medals over this past year from races. Thus, with great anxiety, I encountered Pangya: Fantasy Golf for the PSP. It is one of the better alternative sports game, but at the same time, it has one of the highest learning curves.

Pangya: Fantasy Golf follows several characters who are attending the Pangya Festival. It is essentially a decently sized island in an alternate dimension. Anyway, the reason the denizens of Pangya are having a festival is because it was during that time that a great hero defeated a great evil. It isn’t really important to know as it is nothing more than a backdrop. The real meat comes from the different (and sometimes humorous) scenarios. As such, each character has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

This leads us to gameplay. The point of the game is simple: Get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of shots. Each hole has a maximum number of shots to clear it. So if it is “Par 5,” you need to get the ball in the hole by or before the fifth shot. The earlier the shot, the greater the pang (the game’s currency). Victory is obtained by using the proper club (all I could tell is that it influences distance and height of the ball‘s trajectory) and checking the map to see where the ball could and should go. The wind will also influence the direction of the ball. And did I mention you have to hold your mouth the right position as you gear to strike the ball? At least it occasionally felt that way to me.

First things first, the manual is paper thin. It just gives the basic overview of how to play the game and a bit of info on the characters. Beyond that, there is very little to help you. Top spin, back spin and curveballs are all mentioned. What are they and why would I need to use them? The manual never explains this. I want this information now, not when the game decides to give it to me.

There are several characters to choose from after you unlock them. Each character has her or his own weaknesses and strengths. So choosing a strong character able to hit the ball far and hard. However, accuracy may suffer and the ball may go where you do not want it. Or you may have a need for a curve shot but not the power to pull it off.

This can be “corrected” by getting equipment at the golf store. Different types of balls, clubs and even medications can soothe the wind or hit the ball even harder than usual. This can help make things a bit more balanced; however, your caddy can only hold so many items at a time. There are a few problems though. First, the issue with the balls is simple: One ball is used for each course. So if you have bought five balls, one ball will be used in each course. If you’re playing in story mode, it isn’t too obvious; if you just bought one ball, it will not downgrade into the regular ball until the challenge ends. The amount is noticeable when you start the next game and three balls are missing. Furthermore, money is difficult to come by since it is earned by playing well, such as overshooting and getting the ball before the required par. Included in this mix are the high costs of items. A new set of golf clubs cost 5,000 pang! Balls are 30 pang each and only last one round.

Pangya: Fantasy Golf is hard. The AI is incredibly tough. The opponents constantly and almost consistently hit farther than the player. (This is unfair! I should not be fighting for my life during the first challenge.) Then it will start to act completely stupid when they get close to the hole, typically with them overshooting or undershooting the ball. I found this to be a much-needed opening to beat the opponent. However, if you royally mess up, you’re doomed regardless because shooting balls out of bounds rapidly increases the number of shots. I played the first episode of Scout’s story for about 20 minutes, trying to defeat what should be the easiest opponent in the game. I tried to improve my game, but no matter how hard I tried, the results were the same: a loss and two draws. I do not know why or how I finally succeeded. I think luck smiled on me. But it is so frustrating to play most of the time!

Graphically, Pangya is bright, cheerful and downright charming. The scenery is easy on the eyes, and the traditional power meter is clearly laid out. Characters have their own pregame habits, and they all hit the ball with a nice clean hit. The map function also works perfectly well, showing the various environmental hazards. It is a little trickier when it comes to putting, as hills and valleys are not seen. Instead, the game sets itself on a grid with a dot on it. The position of the dot tells you where the dips are. The odd thing is that it works because it lets you see everything ahead of your character. Personally, I would much rather see the hills and valleys.

The sound is fitting in Pangya: Fantasy Golf. The music is pure ambiance and perfect for focusing on the green. You hear the balls whacked, smacked, flying and plopping on the grass. You’ll hear them drop down the hole and, depending on the outcome, a nice positive sound or the sound of defeat. Also, other than a female voice saying “pangya!” (it‘s a annoying), there is no voice acting. I look at it as a blessing as there is nothing awkward to be heard. Plus, it would mess up the voices I hear when I read the story.

Overall, Pangya: Fantasy Golf is a very solid alternative sports game. The cheerful graphics, the solid play mechanics and minimal sound combine to create a fun title. There is a lot to do in the game: story mode, license and tournament modes, ad hoc multiplayer, and free play. If you’re a golf enthusiast, you are probably going to have a blast with this game. However, and this is a big one, it is difficult game to play. The AI really needs to be changed in order to lure non-sports gamers (such as myself) into its world. Plus, the manual and tutorial need to be overhauled to better explain how to play the game. Ultimately, if you are interested in Pangya: Fantasy Golf, rent it. See if you can succeed where I have failed numerous times. I, on the other hand, will be sinking like a cannonball.