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Worst Hot Shots Game in years!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: July 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I wish I could get my money back easily on this. I've played all the Hot Shots titles for years now, from PS1, PS2, and now PS3. They had slowly gotten better over the years but this is a HUGE step backwards. They're tried to add too many cheesy graphics and gimics. The new 'Advanced Shot' mechanism is awful. The game screen is cluttered with ugly markers. The graphics are literally no better than the last PS2 version. The online play is utterly confusing and unusable. This one is a total bust.

Save your money, or buy Hot Shots "Fore" instead for the PS2

Another "Next Gen Update"

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I haven't played a Hot Shots game since part 2 on the PS2. That game got more play than just about anything I owned. However, I was hesitant to purchase Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds becuase so many of the reviews said it was simply an update of previous games. That is absolutley the case - hence 2 stars overall. However, even an update of a game this good still is super fun - hence 5 stars for fun.

First the good. It uses the X to start, X for power and X for accuracy to play. This is a great pick up and play golf game - easy to play, difficult to master. The graphics are okay - not great, but serviceable. I've never been a fan of super-deformed characters, but I don't really notice that when I'm playing becuase the gameplay is so involving. The absolute best part of the game is the online play. The game offers only six courses, and after you finish unlocking everything (which can be done in a weekend if you're a veteran player), there wouldn't be much left to do - but online tournaments are a blast and will keep you playing as long as you want.

To the bad - and the 2 stars portion of the review. There are only six courses. With the amount of space on a Blu Ray disc, there could be 30. I understand that may not be feasable, but these aren't levels in an action game or platformer. This is the classic "buy our downloadable content later" strategy - and that just sucks. The graphics are mediocre. I don't see a huge difference between this and what was possible on last generations consoles, especially with the small number of characters (15), no store to purhcase things (they just get unlocked semi-randomly), and only six courses.

I also have to mention the new advanced shot mode. It's terrible. You still will be timimg your swings with button presses, but it adds a lot more guess work. I'd rather see a analog stick swing if they are going to try something differnt. As it stands I only used it when there were tournaments with special rules mandating advanced shots.

As it stands, if you've never played it is a blast. For veterans, the Playstation store download of Hot Shots Golf 2 is just as good - and a heck of a lot cheaper.

Huge let down.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 15
Date: March 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It's the same old same old here. If you've played Hot Shots Fore, you have pretty much played this game already. Only Fore was better. only it still suffers from all the same problems that I had with Hot Shots Fore.

Lets start with the wind. The game won't give you the wind speed until after you take your first shot. Why bother telling me at all? Tell me before I send my first shot into the weeds because the wind was alot stronger then my best guess. And as always predicting what the wind will do to your ball is anybody's guess anyway. One time a 4.5 mile an hour wind will blow you all over the place, the next it won't barely move the ball.

And if your used to playing Tiger Woods, this game is going to frustrate you to no end. Things like the balls lie, don't affect the shot the way it does in Tiger. Not that it don't affect the shot, just not as much as you think it will. Unless of course you don't think it will, then of course it's going to alot.

And the button mashing shot system. Let's face reality. Tiger's shot system is far far superior. If your timing is even slightly off, look out for the weeds. The little bar moving thru the power meter, goes just a little too fast sometimes. Which makes nailing a perfect shot or even just a decent one, horribly frustrating.

and the voice overs in the crowd...Could they be any more repetive with the little things they say. I wanted to reach in the TV a strangle the guy who keeps saying "Spot of bother here" in his thick Scotish accent. You'll here it at least twice on every hole. It makes me miss the lame annouce team in Tiger. At least I could tune those guys out.

I don't mind the cartoonish appearance, in fact I kida like it. Always have. Not everything needs to be a real life sim. But when you go from shooting a -14 regularly in Tiger to barely breaking even in Hot shots, it's a little much. And after playing this game I remember why I started playing Tiger.

And as far as graphics go, there are no signifgant improvments here. In fact I think that Hot Shot's fore on the PS2 was better. The PS3 version almost looks dark and grainy. There is a lack of smooth to it at all. Not next gen in any way shape or form. It's just last gen,dressed up for the PS3. And not even very well.

Bottom line, it's not worth full price. Buy it used rent it first, whatever just don't pay full price for it.

3.5 Stars...Fun overall, but no real improvements

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: April 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you are new to the Hot Shots series, this title will be very enjoyable to you. But, if you are a HSG veteran such as myself, who has played every single release, this one may disappoint you.

The developers stuck with the formula of gameplay, advancements/unlocks, goofy characters, but did not take any risks or make any major improvements. The new "Advanced Shot" system, while interesting at first, does not add much to the "fun" factor. The courses are generally forgettable and nothing spectacular; some of these may even have been "borrowed" from old releases.

I respect the publisher's decision to stay with what works, but after 5 or so releases, it's time to evolve the series, or at bare minimum, come up with more unique courses. Perhaps there will be downloadable content at reasonable prices, but this should have been included.

In summary, this is a worthy rental if you are a Hot Shots fan.

Fun, pretty, but lacking in content

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I am a long time fan of this series, and this game keeps the same solid gameplay and adds some very pretty graphics. Also, they have added a new shot system, which took a few minutes to get used to but I now prefer. Keep in mind that if your'e used to these games the old system is exactly the same and is always an option (except for a few tournaments that require the new). Also, the online mode is great. You can enter scheduled tournaments, which have a time limit per hole but you dont see any other players, or more normal 8 player games with friends or random people. This adds alot of depth to the game, but people online are really good, so be warned that you will not do well at first.

However, there are only 6 courses and 15 golfers. They just started selling new golfers on the playstation network, and I am sure extra purchased content is the name of the game in this title's future. Its fun, but I am only giving it 3 stars because of the lack of content and having to buy more future content to get the same number of courses as previous titles, even on the psp!

Hours of fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

You'll have hours of fun with this game. It is pretty long and the Adv shot which is new to Golf games has quite a learning curve, specifically on the green. Overall great game to kill some hours after playing some FPS

Nice relaxing..never thought i'd buy a golf game but I did!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've seen this series over the years and wondered what the deal was but after IGN.com gave it a decent grade I tried out the demo on playsation 3's network and I really liked it. Well done...nice to play a relaxing game after playing some uptempo blast run and gun game. Hard day at work? Play a few holes and try to unlock more goodies. Also you can download extra's currently on the PSN network!

This game is great for parties or familes - kid safe and can be played by any user level. I wish they had the option to use the Japanese voices instead becase you can tell the animations sometimes do not match.

Basically good golf game, great mechanics/graphics/fun level. There's not many like this on the ps3 so I highly suggest this one. :)

It's Hotshots Golf for the PS3

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you played this on the PS1, PS2, PSP, whatever you thought there, you'll think the same thing here with one notable exception.

You get a new choice on how to shoot. I forget the mode they call it, but I tend to like it better. I find I am more accurate with it.

New Hot Shots just as good as it was when I first played

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing Hot Shots Golf since the first time it came out on Playstation and it never loses its fun. This new game, first version for the PS3, is just as fun as the orignal, plus with updated graphics. The controls are tight, the sounds are great, I have not been able to stop playing until my girlfriend wrestled the controller away from me.

Another good installment in the Hot Shot golf series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: March 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

After playing all the Hot Shot Golf games on the Playstation 2 and being very pleased with all of them, I am again impressed with the new Out of Bounds version for the Playstation 3. Beginning with a look at graphics, I don't know if I would label them true 'next generation' in appearance but they are very nice to look at. Whether it is reflections off of water or vegetation or clothes on the players and caddies, it is well done in my opinion. As far as seamless game play, you're going to get that here. There is no lag or stutter in any animations and the load times are virtually non-existent in almost every case. Movement from hole to hole is quick and a round of golf can be too. I can play a round of 9 holes in about 12 to 15 minutes (I'm still on the 9 hole challenges at this point in the game).

When it comes to the controls used in playing the game, they are easy to learn and not hard to master, with one exception. This new version introduces a new type of advanced shot method where you watch the backswing of your player and look for flashing lights at certain points to gauge how hard to swing. Upon making your downswing, a circular meter below the golfer has a ring around it that collapses toward a ball icon and when the circle shrinks to encompass the ball, you hit the X button on the controller at just the right time to get a perfect hit. It sounds complicated but it isn't really. It is all a matter of timing and a little patience required. I personally still use the traditional shot method as seen in previous Hot Shot games which is the power bar at the bottom which gives you more precision in setting power and showing just where to hit a solid impact on the ball. I've found the advanced shot type a bit awkward personally and even though the manual says that the new method offers better range and impact zone, I haven't noticed any significant differences between the two shot methods and this is after playing many rounds with many different types of clubs using both shot types.

So far I've only played on two courses in the challenge mode (you open up new courses after beating a computer opponent in each challenge session) and what I've seen so far is good stuff. There is options to play regular games (stroke, match play, etc.) aside from the challenges and you can do practice rounds also where you can set course conditions to help you make shots in certain types of situations. There are 5 main characters that you can choose to start out with and each one has their own individual strengths, animations, and funny ways of talking. There is also several different caddies that add a good dose of humor now and again during the rounds.

I haven't played online yet and I don't know If I will do that but the instruction manual is very detailed on how to do this and the manual is excellent regarding all other facets of the game also. Something to look forward to, according to the game makers, is the fact that later on you can go online to download new content for the game including new courses, new gear, and other goodies. If you're a past fan of Hot Shots Golf, I would definitely recommend picking up Out of Bounds because it's a great game in my opinion and should bring many hours of fun to those that like golf.

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