Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee

"Hot Shots Golf on the go..."

Having purchased Vampire Chronicle and Ridge Racers for my PSP, I wasn't too excited about Hot Shots Golf and actually regretted purchasing it. That was until I got the game in the mail. Now I can't put it down. I now see why this game was the most successful launch title with the PSP system as it's easily one of the most enjoyable games I've played portable or otherwise in a long time. But is it worth the import purchase?

**Since I'm reviewing the import version of the game, I want to address a few things. First of all Hot Shots Golf has a LOT of Japanese text and menus in the game, which does make it a little difficult to navigate until you learn what menus are what. It takes a little trial and error. As for the load times so many have complained about, the game does take about 25 seconds to load up initially, however, after that the game speeds along perfectly. There is little to no load time once you hit the golf courses.**

GRAPHICS: (9/10) Considering the fact that this is a launch title for a brand new system, it looks fantastic. Fans of previous Hot Shots Golf titles will immediately notice that the game has a much more colorful look to it. All the golf courses have nice textures and the water is beautiful in motion. The characters in the game don't feature as many textures as they do in the PS2 versions of the game, but still look crisp and animate smoothly. One note to those who appreciate a nice touch is that if you use the analog nub to scroll around the golf courses you can pull back on the nub and look directly into the sky and take a glimpse of a stunning lense flare effect. I know it's not much but it's worth noting for those who look for that kind of thing and shows the attention to graphical detail that was used in this game despite it being a rushed launch title. Also, the widescreen on the PSP really lends itself well to this type of game, allowing the player to view a larger portion of the golf course than would normally be possible on a standard-width display. Menus are colorful and display well on the PSP screen even with the brightness on the lowest setting. All in all Hot Shots Golf is a welcome addition to the PSP and one of its best looking as well.

SOUND/MUSIC: (6/10) I wish that as much attention was paid to the music and sound effects in this game as was the graphics. The background music is just about as bland as you can get. For those who've played previous Hot Shots Golf games you will know what to expect here. I was originally going to complain about how low the background music is set in comparison to the sound effects but after an hour or two of listening to the music you'll probably be glad it's not very loud. The sound effects are just sorely lacking in this game. When you start the hitting bar it doesn't even make a sound. Only after you complete the hitting routine do you hear a sound and even that sounds more like a "clink" than anything. Even hitting the sweet spot doesn't produce a nice sounding effect as you would expect it to do. For those thinking of importing, all the voices in the game are Japanese, which I pesonally like, although I don't understand a word they're saying. I just wish more attention would have been paid to the sound and music in this game because it really is a great game otherwise.

GAMEPLAY: (9/10) This is where Hot Shots Golf really shines. It's not going to revolutionize the golfing video game but it's simple and that is what has always made Hot Shots Golf so much fun. You can switch between golf clubs using the L and R shoulder buttons. You move the directional pointer around using the D-pad, and you can also scroll around the golf course using the analog nub as well. Hitting the ball is a lot like Mario Golf Toadstool Tour. You start the bar running on the hit meter, then press the button again to set the desired hitting strength, then as the bar comes back you hit the button again to try to hit the sweet spot on the golf club. The one thing I really like about Hot Shots Golf over the Mario Golf games is the fact that putting is much more challenging on Hot Shots Golf. Trust me you'll spend a lot of time and energy practicing your putting before you get any good at it. Bottom line, Hot Shots Golf offers a wide range of challenging gameplay and the button layout fits the PSP perfectly. Best gameplay of any Hot Shots Golf game to date.

FUN: (10/10) Hot Shots Golf has a lot to offer in the fun deparment. The game features 6 different 18-hole golf courses to play as well as unlocking hidden characters. You can also customize your golfer with different outfits and accessories. With several different types of competitions as well as the ability to play via the Wi-Fi connection on the PSP you really can't go wrong with this game as it's loads of fun to play alone or with other players. Simple enough for anyone to pick up and play but challenging enough to give even the best golf video game players a run for their money.

To be perfectly honest, I haven't been able to stop playing Hot Shots Golf since it came in the mail yesterday. It's addictive because the more you play, the better you get at it. Plenty of tricky courses to play through, loads of optional things to do, and a simple yet effective gameplay system all add up to make one of the most enjoyable games I've played in some time and the perfect companion to take out on the road with your PSP. Don't let my rant about the sound and music steer you away from this game because even with the average sound and music Hot Shots Golf is still my favorite PSP launch title and one that I'll be playing for some time to come.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/20/04