‘ULTIMATE SWING GOLF’ Tees Up the Definitive VR Golfing Experience for Gamers of All Skill Levels, Out Now on Quest

It’s tee time for a great VR golfing adventure with ULTIMATE SWING GOLF, out now on the Quest platform. No matter your golfing preference there is a mode for you in ULTIMATE SWING GOLF. From the more casual Free Play and Training modes, to the objective-driven Challenge mode, the competitive Online Match mode to take on players around the world, and even the groundbreaking MR Play mode which transforms your actual room into a full-on golf venue, there are tons of ways to hit the links.

Clap Hanz is the talented team behind many of the greatest arcade-style golf video games of all-time dating back to the days of the original PlayStation with the classic Hot Shots series, as well as Everybody’s GOLF and Easy Come Easy Golf most recently. Now, they’re back again to reinvent the classic sport for a brand-new audience with all-new features.

We took some time to speak with producer and director, Masashi Muramori, and co-lead game designer, Shunsuke Takashima, from Clap Hanz to learn more about the game’s development and what intrepid VR golfers can expect when they dive in for themselves.

Masashi Muramori and Shunsuke Takashima: We have been developing golf games for decades and ULTIMATE SWING GOLF is our latest and best golf game. It’s the ultimate VR golf game, authentic yet easy to play for everyone. One of the important highlights is the swing mechanics. Not only is the feel very close to real golf, but it's also simple enough that anyone can feel refreshed and exhilarated. All you have to do is swing the controller as if you are swinging a real golf club, and the game does the rest to reproduce the realistic ball trajectory by calculating the power and direction of the swing or the curve of the ball as it flies.

MM and ST: Since we had previously developed a VR golf game, we were able to take full advantage of that experience in developing this game, while also making some improvements and expanding the gameplay. In terms of hardware, because VR games have to render two screens simultaneously to account for both eyes, we sometimes had to deal with high rendering loads. Unstable frame rates are a common cause of motion sickness, so we have addressed this issue under strict guidelines to ensure a comfortable user experience. On the other hand, thanks to the Quest’s accurate sensors in the controllers and cameras, we were able to make the swinging controls feel very responsive and accurate. In addition, Meta Quest's lightweight and wireless design makes gameplay more comfortable and immersive.

MM and ST: No, it’s not a simulation style golf game. ULTIMATE SWING GOLF has been developed with the same “fun” style that we have been using for a long time and are good at; the style that is not only for those who have experience in real golf, but also for everyone regardless of experience.

MM and ST: There are 5 courses based on different locations and levels of difficulty, and each course has 18 holes. Here are brief descriptions of each course:

• Course 1 - Forest Course: This woodland course is surrounded by lush greenery. With its short yardage, wide fairways, and gentle slopes, this course is perfect for beginners to learn the basics.
• Course 2 - Beach Course: This seaside course is accented with vivid flowers. Its short yardage and wide fairways are good for beginners, but its sandy beach serves as a bunker which is best avoided.
• Course 3- Urban Resort Course: Towering skyscrapers line this concrete jungle course. Intermediate players are best suited for this course's length and rolling fairways. Its man-made structures can easily lead to unplayable shots, so playing with caution is recommended.
• Course 4 - Maple Course: Autumn's vivid hues paint this picturesque course. Narrow, undulating fairways make this course best suited for intermediate golfers, who will need to take care to avoid the rough and elevated greens of this challenging course.
• Course 5 - Canyon Course: Rocky walls rise to encompass this rugged course. This untamed course is for advanced golfers who can brave its long yardage, steep undulations, and heavy elevation changes. Accuracy is vital for avoiding its cliffs and the OB risks they pose.

MM and ST: Yes, there will be a lot of features that can be unlocked as players progress through the Challenge mode, which is the main game mode of the game. We hope that players will enjoy challenging themselves to complete all of the unlockables.

MM and ST: Yes, that is exactly what we are thinking. It's kind of like when automatic cars came out as a new option when there were only manual cars. At that time, many people probably felt that they could drive an automatic car, even if they were not very good at driving a manual car. We hope that ULTIMATE SWING GOLF can be an option like the "casual drive" today compared to playing real golf on the real golf course.

MM and ST: Since the Quest 3 has full-color pass-through, we discussed internally what we could do with it. In the end, we think we were able to make a game mode with a good balance between the real world and the VR world. We offer two modes in MR Play: Drive Battle and Putt Golf. Since you can play these modes in the space where you spend your daily life, it’s a fresh experience for every player to have the VR world and real world mixed together.

MM and ST: Our favorite course is the Maple Course. Today, many overseas tourists visit traditional sights in Japan. As this course is designed to represent a feeling of “good old Japan,” we hope players will enjoy their rounds on the course in the beautiful environment. As for the game modes, our recommendation is the Online Match. Once you feel you have enough skills, please do not hesitate to jump into the online world. You can either play with random players from around the world or create a private match to play with your friends. The major highlights of gameplay itself include the swing mechanics that feel extremely close to real golf but can be refreshing to anyone, a multiplayer mode where you can play with anyone on vast golf courses regardless of the weather in the real world, and a camera system that limits camera movement as much as possible to prevent motion sickness.

MM and ST: There are 2 tips that will help you improve your skills in general. One is to learn from your experience, such as how much power you should bring to your shots or putts and adjusting your swing based on those results each time. The other tip is to stabilize the club face angle when your club hits the ball. As these should be the same in real golf, we hope you will improve your skills both at the game and in real life by playing ULTIMATE SWING GOLF.

MM and ST: Players can find more information about the game on the official ULTIMATE SWING GOLF website, on the Meta Quest store page where you can buy the game, and on our official YouTube channel.

ULTIMATE SWING GOLF is out now on the Quest platform and you can dive in for yourself to see how the seasoned team at Clap Hanz has adapted their tried-and-tested format for VR.