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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Addictively fun with awesome graphics, May 26, 2005
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
I'm normally not a big sports game fan. But Hot Shots is so much fun with its customizeable characters and challenge modes that our entire family is now addicted to the game.
First, the basics. You have a cartoon-style character that moves from hole to hole on a golf course, with the traditional line up, swing and putt golfing moves. When you win, you earn character customizations, new players, new courses, and more. You can then change your character's hairstyle, outfit, clubs, balls, and even accessories. Many items give you bonusses and penalties. As you develop a playing style, you might work on gaining items that give you control, for example, at the expense of power.
Maybe you've done this sort of game before on a console - but you haven't seen this on a handheld! The graphics are simply gorgeous. Each course has its own look and feel, from Japanese pagodas to misty mountains. The detail of the trees and surroundings is incredible.
You might worry that the fine movements are hard to master - but actually they do a really good job with this and it becomes quite intuitive to power the main drive and to gently tap the ball into the hole.
There are little quirks with the game. In most golf games, if you are too quick on hitting the ball, you "hook" (the ball curves left) and if you're too late, you "slice" (the ball curves right). But in this game, it seems that when you miss a perfect impact, it's sort of random exactly what the ball does.
There are a few graphic issues. If you hit your ball into a tree (by accident of course), you can see that the ball hits the tree. When you move in close to do your next shot, it appears that the tree has vanished. But when you swing, POOF the tree appears again to block you :)
Luckily for you, the computer opponents have the same issues. Sometimes a computer character will hit into a tree and feel stuck - so they hit back and forth in the woods until they give up (after 9 shots).
But these are really pretty minor issues that rarely come up. Like I said, we don't normally play a lot of sports games - but this one is really rather addictive. I wish you earned new courses more quickly, but the lure of getting them gets you to perfect the courses you have available and to build up your score. You're always earning more items, more bonusses, so even your small victories still give you a reward. The little cut-scenes are cute and add personality to the game.
Highly recommended!
4.5/5
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You got the whole world in your hands!, May 20, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
I will admit, I didn't have a PSP until I heard this was on the shelf. I'm a Hot Shots Golf freak! So knowing I could take this anywhere, the bathroom, my car, the kitchen, my bed and even in church (just kidding) I bought myself a PSP and picked up Hot Shots Golf Open Tee! I'm not a big expert on this system, but I was not expecting a little handheld to compare to the likes of Hot Shots Golf 3 or ""fore"" on the PS2, but to my surprise, this game is like having the actual big games in the palm of your hand, and in some respects, it's better. The big plus with this game is the ease and quickness of play. There are virtually no load times between holes and the gameplay is fast and responsive and looks pretty to boot. I can't believe how bright the game is.
The game plays terrific and I have to say "If it's not broke, why fix it" came into play with Hot Shots Golf Open Tee as the control scheme is identical to Hot Shots Golf 3 and Fore.
So if you have played 3 or Fore, you'll be right at home. The differences are in the courses and the new characters. You only have 6 courses to choose (in total) from this time, (which is pretty good for a handheld...) The characters are all new. I think there are at least 15 golfers and some secret ones too. The problem is that you only start out with 2 golfers and 1 course. Kind of the bare minimum especially if you don't want to take the time to earn the new ones, but you'll have to. That said, the game is substantially longer and grueling, but I like this aspect, because people with handhelds can kill some serious time. It takes about 5-7 matches to earn a new character. Most are only 9 holes in the beginning, but it still takes an eternity to earn new characters. Some might like this aspect, some may not. Along the way you earn new threads (wardrobes) hats, shirts, jewelery, shoes, etc. It took me about an hour to just earn the first secret character and a new course to play on!
The courses are all new and gives new freshness to the series. No more "Sakura" from past games which was one of my favorite courses, but these are very good too, and challenging to boot, Don't let the cheesy graphics fool you. Speaking of graphics...
The game is extremely fast pace and control for your swin is right on. You only press the X button in multiple sessions in Hot Shots Golf 3. It may still seem like old school control and maybe they should have given us more options, but even without the analog stick to control your swing, I still feel right at home with Hot Shots and you will too. For people that simply cannot line up your "impact meter" they offer an automatic swing too for people who can't do it so you could hand this over to your uncle John to play! Although this easier, they do punish people who use it by taking away power from your swing.
Wow, I never knew the PSP could look this good. Hot Shots Golf Open Tee looks amazing. Sure the zany characters are still annoying at times, but the overall look of Open Tee is a lot sharper and the backgrounds are very picturesque to boot! There are some magnificent use of photo backdrops that mesh with the golfing environments perfectly. After you play a game, "while not important to the gameplay, you get doused with some full motion video of moving clouds and ocean tides running up along a beach, wow! As you progress through a round of golf, you'll notice little added touches like day turning into dusk and dusk turning into day. Clouds move through the sky and rain starts to pour. The water holes, ponds, lakes etc...looks pretty darn real and it might want to make you want to take a swim.
So how is the sound? Well. They totally redid the music and it's all new stuff, and I have to say it meshes with the action perfectly and your headphones are a must! Cheesy comments from characters after crazy shots and good enviromental effects, but a bit skimpier than it's PS2 cousin. I need more birds "a chirpin". Your caddies, while included, they never seem to make an appearance in the actual game, so I'm not sure why they are even a choice in the game? They don't even help you? Hmmm..
I don't know much about the technical aspects of the game, I have not tried to play it over a "network" as you are offered the option to play with 8 other golfers over a network "LAN" line. The game is "NOT ONLINE" which will be a disappointment to many, but never threat, as a single player experience and the massive "challenge mode" you will be happy as this is one of the best PSP games and a must own for golfing fans.
**Final Call** A must have PSP game.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hit the links again!, May 5, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
If you have a PSP, you already know what the graphics can do. Now watch it get better with Hot Shots Golf Open Tee! This is an amazing game, and a worthy addition to the franchise. Every part of this game is great. The sound effects are amazing (kill the music in the options first though). Even when you play it through the PSP's speakers instead of the headphones, you get a surround-sound sense of it all. Birds, voices in the distance, wind blowing around you...all this and more await you on the links! The character animation is good, though the faces don't do much. I miss seeing the caddy go skidding across the grass after the ball, but that's just a small thing.
The courses are different from the PS2 version too. Some are harder than others, and the weather always plays a factor in your shots. Still, the controls are easy to use (almost exactly like the PS2 version), and easy to adapt to.
Play the challenge mode to win clothing and clubs, and to unlock characters and courses. Not quite like buying in the shop like the console versions, but at least you unlock something.
All in all, fans of the franchise shouldn't be disappointed.
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