Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee

"Hot Shots Golf - golfing game or hit the button right game?"

Having read other reviews of this game, I guess I can see why people like a simple golfing game. Normally, I would agree. But to me, this game is not so much a golfing game as it is simply "hit the right button at the right time" game. The game automatically assigns you the right club, thereby taking away any chance that you may pick the wrong club and get a bad shot (although you have the option of changing clubs, but it's kind of pointless since the best club is already chosen for you). The game automatically points you towards the green/hole, so there is no chance you are going to hit the ball in the wrong direction. About the only thing the game doesn't do is hit the ball for you (which it just about does if you have the "auto" function enabled). All you are doing is hitting the button when the power meter is where you want it at and then once more to hit the ball - that's it. To me, that doesn't make a golf game. The graphics and sounds are excellent and I like the anime type characters, but the only challenge in this game is basically putting the ball right when you get to the hole (which you will pretty much do within 2-3 shots).

The courses are well laid out and the graphics are nicely done. It looks like they basically just digitized in some backgrounds, but the effect is very nice. The camera pans nicely to follow the ball on some shots and you can sort of look around the world in a quasi "free look" mode (this doesn't affect your shot). The characters are nicely animated and definitely have that "anime" look/feel about them. One thing I didn't like was that the courses are more or less flat and there is no real sense of "altitude" or anything in this game in my opinion. Even when you go to putt, all you see in front of you to give any indication that the surface you are on may be sloped is a grid overlayed on the green with little "dots" that flow one direction or the other. The dots indicate the "slope" you are on, as does a little line meter on the bottom of the screen. I would've liked to have seen some actual hills rendered and what not.

The sounds are nicely done, as are the voices. You can hear dogs barking in the background and farmers (or whatever they are) making calls in the background when you are in the Alps.

This wasn't what I was expecting when I heard all of the hoopla about this game and for me, this game is way too simplistic. My score is more for the graphics and sound and not so much for the gameplay - or lack thereof in my opinion. My two cents for what it's worth.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 01/18/06