Games for Lunch: Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
In a nutshell: Super Cute Happy Golf Fun Time
4/23/2008 3:27 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Developer: Clap Hanz
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: March 18, 2008
System: PS3
ESRB Rating: E
0:00 I've never played this popular series, but I have put a lot of time into
Mario Golf, which I hear is similar . If they're at all alike, I should have no trouble liking this.
0:01 This minute spent watching a mandatory install screen crawl from 0 to 7 percent.
0:02 16 percent.
0:03 26 percent. Y'know, why don't I just meet back up with you when it's done.
0:12 12 long minutes of Web surfing and waiting and we're installed. I can't say this is an inspiring start.
0:13 Introductory cutscene time. Beautiful helicopter shots of some bright, beautiful courses. A ball flies through the air with a streak of white behind it. Super-deformed, short and squat players tee off. They fall over, emote over missed shots, and set off fireworks of light when they sink putts. I love how expressive the characters are.
0:14 "Don't you just love golf in the morning?" asks the bubbly, bouncing menu screen attendant. That remains to be seen.
0:15 Challenge mode is where you unlock stuff, so it's where I go now. My menu model wishes me "Good Luck" in a chirpy, fake-enthusiastic voice.
0:16 The "Hole Shuffle Newbie Match" sounds about my speed. That's right, I can admit that I'm a newbie.
0:17 There are only two initial characters to choose from: cowboy-hat-wearing Nick and visor-wearing Jasmine. I guess they want you to have incentive to keep playing, eh? I choose Jasmine and the "Advanced" shot mode, because it adds 15 yards to my drive and because I'm a cocky son-of-a-gun. "Let's do it," says Jasmine. That's what she said! Really, it is.
0:19 A slideshow explains that the "Advanced" shots are simply a matter of watching the backswing for the power, then watching a contracting circle close over the ball for accuracy. I like how they seem to have done away with the gaudy power meters and such that clog up most golf game screens.
0:20 The assembled crowd applauds my entrance, complete with comic-book-style "clapping" sound effects that appear over their hands. Cute!
0:22 My first shot is nearly perfect. The backswing and accuracy circle are slow enough to make things easy. My caddy runs off after the ball as soon as I hit it and arrives next to it as soon as it lands, panting. I'm rolling on the floor here. It's just too precious for words.
0:24 My caddy calls out and endearing "Fore" for the second shot, which bounces off a walkway and stops just short of a bunker. When the camera zooms in on the ball's lie, I can see a ladybug fluttering on top. Awww.
0:25 I try to go less than full-power on a chip shot and it dribbles way short of the green. The lack of a marked power meter does seem to make these things harder to gauge.
0:26 Putting time. My caddy cries, "It's downhill. It goes left," with some wholly unconvincing voice acting.
0:28 I like how the game shows a phantom ball rolling down the green to help me determine what kind of putt power I need. Despite the slick system, I end up three-putting for a double bogey. Janice looks inconsolable. The sun was in my eyes! I swear!
