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A better-than-average game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: November 30, 2000
Author: Amazon User

To be honest, I bought the game because I was getting tired of playing Tekken and all the other games I'm interested in are not being released until January. I was a big fan of Hot Shot golf and thought it might be nice to get a golf game for the PS2.

The game is fun - very fun, I think. It was extremely difficult getting used to at first; there is a very sharp learning curve initially because the documentation on simply "how to play" just isn't in the game - neither in the books nor during the "lessons". However, once you get the hang of the controls the game becomes quite enjoyable and mildly addicting. After about a week of recreational play (I typically play for about 45 mins until my wife tells me it's time to eat/clean/"do something constructive"), the learning curve completely disappears and it becomes almost overly easy. However, the 'Gran Turismo'-esque simulation mode is quite addictive...I would definitely recommend it.

Pros: Fun interface without being cute, lots of replay value, a LOT of different multi-player capabilities (typical stroke and match play, but also skins, sudden-death, long-drive, and betting capability), the course generator builds completely new courses ON THE FLY (adds TONS to replay value), and the weather pattern will actually change during course play (not just between holes, but between strokes on a hole...adds some new challenge). Scenery, weather, water...awesome!

Cons: The game does not explain itself well (I still don't know what "H/S" means on one of the 'rating' charts) at all and the in-game characters can get really annoying when you're not doing well. The caddies kinda stink (but the only game with caddies I liked was 'Hot Shots (1)') and the bgm music is vry limited (read as beat your head against the wall repetative).

All in all, a much better than average golf game for a console. Fun for friends and wives, and for people who aren't golf fanatics IRL (I'm not and many of my friends aren't, but the ones who are really enjoy the game as well). And even though the interface is clunky at first, it's quite enjoyable after you beat the learning curve out. IMHO, three things keep it from being a five-star: bgm music, ingame character attitude, and explanation of what-the-heck some of the stuff in the game means. I hope you enjoy, I did...well worth the [price].

fun, but could be WAY better...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

i loved hot shots golf for the original playstation. so when i bought swing away for the ps2, i was thinking that it could nothing but as much fun and more. i was wrong. the gameplay is way slower than hot shots. everything in the game seems to move in slow motion (swing icon, in-between holes, hitting the ball), making it hard for you too really get into a groove, to where you can have a good time. if that's not bad enough; the caddies are awful. they talk to you as though you're an idiot and they always have something to say...it gets old fast. the training mode is worse, it's very condenscending, making you want to figure the game out on your own. if you don't mind all of this the game is fun, well-designed holes, great landscapes, good camera options, and all the goofy character animations of the original hot shots. best bet: rent it and decide for yourself ....

Best golf game I've ever played

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: October 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is tremendous. I usually get the latest PGA / Tiger Woods EA game out for my PC. I will not be getting it this year. This game is wonderful. The story mode on it is a lot of fun. You get to play from month to month (you only get to play in one match per month) and earn new equipment and ratings and eventually you get to go from an amateur to pro golfer and start earning money to use to buy better equipment from the golf shop. I recommend this to anyone from someone who has the slightest interest in golf to a golf fanatic like myself. It's the best launch game of the 5 that I got.

Horribly slow loading actually a good thing...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 02, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I loved Hot Shots 1, Hot Shots 2 was not by the same company and the putting in it was rather awful... so now T&E Soft is back (after working on mario golf?) and here is what they have to offer.

First off, the loading time is horrible. The "slow motion of all the shots" and etc. can be abated by holding down X on the gamepad... it just makes me wonder why this isn't the default mode. The only other nauseating thing about the game is the timing of the swings. It is illogical that the speeds of the swings change depending on your club... the timing should all be rather similar as in the other games, this in my mind is not an improvement.

That being said: the horrible 30-45 min game you are forced to sit through when playing with a computer opponent is actually a good thing, it makes you pace your games. Each stroke is important, as you are making a time investment: approximately 1-2 minutes between your own hits if you are taking turns with the cpu. This, and, the replayability by sitting there, vegging out and playing forever is nil. You are forced to play the game over weeks and months... There are many stats (hooray!) as well as items to unlock like gloves, bags, etc.

As far as the sound issue, be real about it! There has never been any sports game with an announcer, coach, caddie, etc. that didn't get nauseating after a few plays... just turn the sound off or down if you don't like it.

The physics seem phony at times, too. The drives actually bounce and roll quite nicely, but short range chip shots are a pain...

Also, be aware that everything in the game *is* possible after getting the right gear by winning or purchasing.

There are still the problems with goofy putting physics and par 5 holes which are just eagle fodder even at the lowest gear/skill rating, but this is simply the best golfing game in terms of stats, options, skills, and "story" that there is.

Enough Already!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Enough already! Yes, the caddies are annoying, but only if you ...! Seriously, there's an awful lot of chatter and the load times (especially when generating a course) seem slow for all of the vaunted speed of the PS2. Those things aside (and they truly are minor given the overall quality of the game) This is a great golf game! Lot's of depth of play, so many different types of tournaments and contests to play in story mode that it's fun for one person to develop their own character or invite over some buddies, drink some beer and PLAY GOLF! If you've played a video golf game in the last 10 years you'll be able to pick up on the swing system inside of 18 holes, not to mention some great tutorials that allow not-so-experienced players to get up to speed quickly. A great addition to your PS2 library. FORE!

Good graphics, but too easy

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

The game is pretty fun. I really like the story mode, and the opportunity to advance through the different stages, to finally becoming a pro. I too found the training pretty lame, but a few rounds on the course solved that. Also, I was initially concerned about the sweet spot, but that problem was solved after a few rounds. All in all I find the game a little too easy for a good computer golfer. It's fun to play, and is simple for the beginner to understand and play somewhat well. It's the kind of game that is fun to play while you drink beers with your buddies. Conclusion: A purchase for someone that likes computer golf and doesn't need Links 2001 type graphics or difficulty.

Awsome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 28, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I would actually give this game four and a half stars. It loses half a star because the caddies are annoying and it does load a little slow. Overall it is an awsome game. I think is one of the top 5 titles out for the PS2 as of 5/2001. The play is very realistic. You can intentially hook or slice the ball to get around trees and bunkers. You can hit the ball fat or thin to pop it up higher or keep it low and make it bite or run. As the game goes on you can acquire lots of new equipment as well. The main things I see people complaining about are the load speed and the play characteristics. The load speed is a little slow, but the game has never froze on me, and as for the play characteristics, the people writing some of these reviews obviously don't play real golf. If you hit the ball into a 20 mile an hour wind, of course it's not going to go as far it will in dead calm conditions. You have to take into account wind speed and direction and make compensations when choosing clubs and aiming. The game is very accurate in terms of play and does require some skill and a true understanding of golf. The graphics, sound and story line are great as well. It loses half a star for speed, but even that's not real bad. I would definitely recommend buying this game, it is a must have.

Hours of entertainment

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

What a fun game! Once you start, you'll probably have a hard time stopping. You get to choose different characters and caddies who have their own strong personalities. The sound in a little distorted but otherwise, the entire game is great. Every time you win a game, you get points to add to your character to improve their game. Or if you win money, you get to buy new equipment. This game provides hours of fun for everyone!

Frustrating and condescending

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: November 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I played Hot Shots and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to this game.

I started with the practice mode. It let me try shots three times (each time telling me how poorly I had done) before it informed me it was going to move on to the next lesson because I am having trouble with the building blocks. There was a lot of text one needed to skip through to go through practice so I though I would try my luck on the links instead of pressing 'X' many times for another three attempts at practice.

The computer player would yawn when I was trying to line up my shot. It constantly told me about how its breakfast was contributing to its good play. It would rarely complement my good shots but often criticize by bad ones.

The commentator/coach never has anything useful to say. It lets you know when your ball is short of the hole that you could have hit it harder and it never fails to let you know you are not playing as well as you could be, do you have a cold?

The graphics are fine, but they do not make up for the lack of sportsmanship in the computer players. The attitude drove me away from the game.

annoying. Loses much in the translation

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 08, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I am in full agreement with another reviewer, who said this game was annoying and condesceding. I too, loved HotShots Golf and had high hopes for this one. I don't care if the graphics are better. I don't care if the courses are well designed. I was immediately turned off by the training which was frustrating and patronizing. I don't need this! Why do we play these games anyways? I have a sneaking suspicion that this game became a casualty of innapropriate translation from Japanese to English. Any text which is spoken in this game, by any character, will make make you angry. The gameplay pales in comparison to Hotshots. The swinging mechanism is poorly designed. I know swinging cages are popular on the golf channel, but they are infuriating and unneccesary as the basis for a video-game swing. Real consistency is difficult to calculate, and the alleged "sweet spot" (where you need to make contact with the ball) is not explained by either the instruction manual or the aggravating trainer, who would rather frustrate you than help you.

If you can be turned off a game by subtle things like "attitude", as another reviewer mentioned, think twice before buying this game.

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