Review: Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (PSP)

Gaming on the move has so far not really got into its stride with the new handhelds, due to the DS's reliance on scribbling, blowing and shouting (which many are a bit reluctant to do in public), and the PSP's reluctance to be taken outside a vacuum-sealed room (lest it be scratched). The sublime GBA SP has yet to be beaten in this regard, but for those in possession of said newer handhelds, there are a few portable games that fit the bill. Although the very thought of playing a handheld version of the Everybody's Golf series may not be the pinnacle of many gamer's wildest dreams (surely a full round is going to take up more time than a half an hour bus journey?), these games have always appeared to be more than willing to sell themselves as the less complicated golfing game.

For those unfamiliar with the Playstation series, the Everybody's Golf titles stick to the tried and tested 'three click' formula that the genre has clung to for such a long time; and with some far from realistic graphics, you'd be forgiven for believing that this isn't a title that's going to be crammed with any kind of longevity - the cutesy appearance making more than a little hint as to the game's suspected short lived fun levels.

But of course, you'd be very much mistaken. For starters, the sheer number of shots, spins, and swerves you can inflict upon the ball during a course of a shot means that unless you're confining yourself, you'll be hard-pressed to make use of the same kind of shot and approach time and time again. While a heavy screw back may be the perfect way to get yourself on the green on hole 7, try the same on hole 16 and you're only going to find yourself in the bunker. You even have the ability to give yourself an extra boost on that opening tee-shot, but with the knowledge that if you miss the bar on the final of those three presses of the button needed to make a swing, you'll slice or hook that ball way into the rough. It's all a question of weighing up the pros and cons of each and every shot. Whether the risky or conservative approach is truly for you will only be known once you've played a few rounds; everyone will have their own particular style.

It'd be quite easy to end up with the perception that the depth in Hot Shots Golf is merely down to the wealth of shot options; but there's just so much more crammed in. Show 'loyalty' to a particular golfer and their love for you will be shown by increased stats, giving you the opportunity to strike the ball further, set more spin on the ball, and basically have more tools to utilise. Even winning short rounds of golf or beating a character in a match play tournament will give you the opportunity to gain more characters/items. To reach a point where any character's stats are close to maxing out, and you've found yourself playing every course, will require quite a hefty chunk of game time.

But this supreme amount of depth hasn't meant that the graphical side of things have taken a turn for the worst. With the PSP famed for its sleek presentation, Hot Shots Golf certainly does not let the side down. With aesthetics that wouldn't look too out of place on the PS2, this is a graphical hit right here. All the way from the smooth animation of each golfer, to the beauty of each of the game's courses, everything looks stunning, especially as it's running on a piece of kit that fits right in your hands.

But all the dazzling gameplay and stunning aesthetics can't hide the fact that Hot Shots Golf simply isn't truly designed for handheld play. This could quite easily have been passed off as a PS2 title, and no-one would have seen through it. If you're looking to play a title for a fairly lengthy time, be it on a long journey, or just sat at home then there's very little better than Hot Shots Golf, but if you're looking for a true mobile gaming experience, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Alex Carroll