I have never played a round of golf in my life. The sport has never interested me in any way, shape or form. However, after trying out one of the earlier versions of Hot Shots, I was immediately hooked. This franchise has consistently kept its charm throughout the years by allowing anyone out there in the golf community or even the golf playa haters, to simply pick up the game and enjoy it for hours at a time.
Visually, Open Tee holds its own with the other games out for PSP. If you can get past the childlike anime characters, you will find lush environments and beautifully detailed courses. Hot Shots sticks with the traditional three button mash mechanics to control distance and impact on the shots. Though many complain that the series is in dire need of a complete overhaul, I prefer the current system. A large part of the nostalgia I have for Hot Shots is the relaxing nature of the game. Similar to reading a book at night, Hot Shots puts me in a relaxed state. Is it because of the easy going controls? I don?t know. But there is definitely something there that they have locked onto, and I am happy with it.
Another attribute for HSGOT is how fast you can turn the game on and get into a course. You will face minor loading while picking your character and preparing to hit the links, but once you are on the course the game plays seamlessly. This happens to be a big advantage over its competitor, Tiger Woods Golf.
The PSP version has several different modes of play, including a putting only course, a single course round mode, and the regular single player mode which lets you play for new characters, customizable accessories including clothing, hats, watches, hair-styles, to a frying pan golf club. You can also join up to 8 players in close proximity to go head to head with your friends.
Though extremely fun to play, Hot Shots did the worst possible thing by not allowing a two player pass and play mode. This just seems like a no-brainer with a golf game. Also, it is extremely disappointing to learn that Sony did not take this game online as competitive as this game is.
Another problem with Hot Shots is the lack of courses and the massive amount of time you must put into the game to open up new characters and courses. I have about 30 outfits, but only a few characters currently. This will keep most people active on the game for a long period of time, but it will quickly become a grind if you want more out of this game than a few accessories.
Hot Shots was on the top of the list for buying a PSP. It has always been my favorite golf game, and it?s a great game to load up and play at a party. Unfortunately, the PSP version is sorely lacking that attitude the console versions have. The game itself is still great, and guaranteed to give any Hot Shots fan a great time, but for those new to the series, the lack of an adequate multiplayer feature might be a good enough reason to go for Tiger Woods instead.
The Hot Shot series is all about a detailed game is easy to play. It doesn?t matter if you won a green jacket, or if you never picked up a club, anyone can enjoy this game. It is easy to play but hard to master. This is one game that is worthy of a purchase thanks to its replay value alone. Plus, the multiplayer link mode is a great way to compete with your friends! Once you hit that first chip in eagle, you will be hooked, and you might even forget all about the lack of online play.
