Everybody’s Golf unless you are on Xbox…
The original PlayStation spawned so many classic franchises. Most of which are now dormant as Sony doesn’t seem to care much about their back catalog of IPs. That being said, they have allowed other teams to resurrect them in some form or fashion, and the latest to get this treatment is Hot Shots Golf, also known as Everybody’s Golf. Bandai Namco has opted to go back to the series’ roots with this latest entry, which ironically enough is a combination of the names of the game in all regions, not unlike the seventh entry in the Resident Evil franchise. We have come full circle, but the question is, did they sink the putt or not?
The series has had its ups and downs over the years. The original games on the PS1 were some of my favorite titles back in the day. This series really popularized the arcade golf game, and developers of some of the older games even went on to work on Mario Golf. Bandai Namco has opted to take the series back to its roots as opposed to the move to live service-oriented versions of the recent games.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Switch (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
One of the best things about this series was the three-button shot mechanic, which returns here. The concept is simple to use and has enough depth that it takes some time to master. For this new entry they have added a spin mechanic, which doesn’t break its simplicity and adds a nice layer of depth to the game. There are three shot types to use depending on the situation. There is a normal shot, a power shot, and a specialty shot, which includes things like a homing shot. Players can also adjust the position of their character before each shot to avoid obstacles and adjust for weather.
Speaking of weather, the new dynamic system really adds to the strategy. Some of the time it can be extremely windy and raining, which affects the shot’s trajectory. This changes up the dynamics of the courses, making them unique each time. There are ten courses to master and feature some really cool design and layouts. I loved unlocking new ones to check out.
At the outset of the game, it feels like it is lacking content. There is only one character and two caddies to choose from, but there are plenty more to unlock. This game seems to understand that unlocking things makes progressions feel good. Sadly, there is a ton and after a while it starts to feel grindy. There are over 25 characters to unlock, and it takes a while to get them all. I do wish there was a bit more available at the outset as it feels extremely barren in the beginning.
Much like previous games there is plenty of customization. Players can switch up their clubs and balls as well as stats as they progress. There is also a character loyalty system. The more you play with specific caddies, the better the relationship becomes. This can unlock new perks and stats for your character. It is a neat system that does a good job of forcing players to switch caddies to unlock new perks.
One thing not lacking is the modes. We have several options right from the start. There is a World Tour mode which serves as the story mode. Then we have the challenge mode, which is self-explanatory and actually quite challenging as it goes on. Traditional stroke/solo mode to get my practice in, and of course multiplayer for local and online, though I had an issue finding people to play with online. It supports up to four players, but I was lucky to find two at the best of times. Finally, we have wacky golf that is pure chaos. In this mode there are obstacles and modifiers that make the golf chaos at times.
There are some drawbacks to the experience though. The first and foremost is that the caddies simply will not shut up. It was a novelty in the original games that they would add commentary, but here it is excessive. It drove me bananas before the end of the first series. There is also something off about the swing mechanic. The timing just feels off. I had to check several times if game mode was turned off as the lag felt like it was just too much. The latest patch made it feel better, but it still feels off. As mentioned earlier, progression is also extremely slow. I would love it if it was sped up just a bit, as the grind starts to wear thin after a while.
Visually the game looks great with bright, vibrant colors and character models that match the series’ style. On Switch the frame rate was rough at launch. It has seen some improvements, especially on Switch 2. It mostly stays at 60fps now, with some drops during heavy weather, but on Switch 1, it still struggles to stay above 30fps at times. The audio is fine with some catchy tunes I will never remember, but the voices need to be toned down. Seriously, this is a huge detriment when playing.
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a great return to form for the series. There are some quirks to clean up, but the base is great. It is sad that the online is basically barren at this time, and I am disappointed there is not an Xbox version, but I loved my time here. I wish Sony cared more about their classic IPs. These games are what made me love the platform.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
