Hot Shots Golf Fore! may not be the most modern feeling golf game out there, but its slightly off-beat, arcade presentation makes it fun to play and well worth a look by anyone seeking a game that several people of different gaming skill levels can play together – either in the same room on a sofa at a party or online.

This is the first of the Hot Shots Golf games that I have played. Therefore I can’t compare it to the one previous outing on the PS2 or the two that started the series on the PS1. You’re getting a first-timers impressions of this game only. If you bought Hot Shots Golf 3 and hope to find out how much it has been changed – sorry, ain’t happenin’ here.

The first thing that strikes the virgin Hot Shots Golf player is the character design. All have cartoony, over-sized heads with small bodies. The cartoon-like feel also extends to the characters interaction with the more realistic looking course. For instance, when a ball is hit through the trees and strikes branches, a little cartoon balloon appears at the point of impact with the word “swoosh” in it. A particularly well made shot is accompanied by a balloon with a musical note in it to indicate you’ve hit the sweet spot and made the ball fly straighter. Graphically the game works well: real enough to convey the feel of playing golf but enough like a cartoon not to be taken too seriously.

Where HSGF differs in play from its more authentic-golf counterparts, like Links or Tiger Woods, is in the swing control. The games that try to accurately simulate golf have adopted an analog-swing mechanic that utilizes the analog stick to swing the club, HSGF has stuck with the more traditional button pressing. Specifically, one press to start the swing, a second to set the power level and a third to hit the ball. This requires rather precise timing to do well, but also makes it easier for novices to feel like they are doing okay and encourages them to keep practicing to do better. Just what you need if you’re playing with a group at a party.

HSGF offer a good selection of single and multiplayer modes. In single-player mode the player may take on CPU-controlled opponents in Tournaments of 30 players or VS one-on-one with one other player. In addition to the large courses, for a quick game, HSGF offers the player a 9-hole, par 3 course or a nice game of mini golf that is great for honing the putting skills. Multiplayer mode offers four human players the VS, par 3 and mini golf options. HSGF also offers players the chance to go online and play with friends in a nice, little, friendly game or they may enter real-time tournaments with up to 50 players.

As the gamer plays he’ll unlock new characters (34 in all) and courses (13 total) as well as earn points that can be spent in the pro shop to upgrade equipment. It may not keep everyone playing, but it is a nice incentive as the characters can be pretty far out.

The only place that HSGF falls down badly is in the audio department. The sound effects are good, but in the push to make to make the characters cute with uttered comments and catch phrases, the developers only succeeded in making them annoying. Some characters are perhaps bordering on sexual and racial stereotypes.

In my opinion, Hot Shots Golf Fore! accomplishes what it sets out to do – offer the player a nice, pick-up-and-play golf game that will have novices and experienced players golfing side-by-side. For the golf aficionado, the play mechanics are going to feel a little dated and the experience is probably going to be less than satisfying. So, for PS2 owners that have had a case of Mario Golf envy, this is the game for you.



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