After playing through a few rounds of Hot Shots Golf FORE!, I wanted to share a few observations:
For starters, this game is as addictive as its predecessors. Trying to beat your own records while trying to earn a ton of points to buy all of the pretty cool unlockables is only part of the charm. The single-player mode now presents different challenges, or trials, in addition to standard Tournament play. For example, one trial requires players to finish at no worse than +4. Others may have specific rules, such as penalizing extra strokes for hitting trees.
The presentation is a bit different in this game, as more dynamic camera angles are used to follow the golf ball while in flight. Some angles are really cool. Others involve a "swooping" camera motion and could make some ill. The player and caddy models are as... erm... unique as ever, and their voice clips are terribly annoying and are heard way too frequently. I don't think that there's a single stereotype that Clap Hanz didn't use for their voice work. You'll hear a redneck scream, "Do it for America!" You'll hear an Irishman from the gallery whine about his "lucky charms." One of the unlockable players-- a British Bulldog-- sounds a bit like Sir Paul McCartney. Ugh.
In terms of gameplay, there's not a lot of difference between HSGF! and HSG3. Clap Hanz still utilizes the three-click golf swing, although there is a beginner mode that, while sacrificing some power, eliminates the accuracy aspect by dropping the need for a third button press. Players will need to learn how differing elevations will affect golf shots in order to be successful, and they will need to be patient with the putter. Putting is still a bone of contention here, as it's still very easy to misread a green's breaks and dips-- which leads to many extra putts.
Hot Shots Golf FORE! is a worthy sequel that again does a lot right and appeals to players who might not normally be interested in hitting the links.
Posts: 2 | Location: Ware, MA | Registered: 19 August 2004
