Virtual golf does not strike most people as something that is that terribly exciting. In fact, I think that your average gamer would most likely skim over a golf game in favor of the Grand Theft Autos and the Halos. You can't really blame them, though; golf is a fairly slow-paced sport reserved for rich old guys with plaid pants and funny hats, right? How could a game based on such a boring sport actually be enjoyable? Well, I ask that you throw that logic out the window for a short while and at least hear me out
Hot Shots Golf 3 is the third installment of the Hot Shots Golf franchise (known in Japan as "Minna no Golf" or "Everyone's Golf") that started out back in the days of the original Sony Playstation. Rather than going for realism and the usual seriousness that typically accompanies a golf game, the developers opted for a more light-hearted "cartoony" look, and that has been this game's main selling point: All the fun of golf, without all the plaid. I can tell you right now that this formula works like a charm. This was one of the first games I bought when I got my PS2. I have no recollection of what exactly compelled me to buy a golf game, just that I did, and to this day, it is the only reason I still keep my PS2 hooked up in the living room ready to rock. (Well, maybe not the ONLY reason; can you say Gran Turismo 4?)
Hot Shots Golf 3 plays pretty much exactly as you would expect from an old-school golfing game. When outside the green, you choose your club, line up your shot, and then begin the swing process. When swinging your clubs, it's all about the timing. Press the X button to set the swing meter in motion, press the X button again to determine how hard you want to hit the ball, and finally, you have to press X one last time to hit the "sweet" spot. If you wish to put a little bit of backspin on the ball, you press and hold the d-pad in the desired spin direction after you set the meter in motion. Holding down puts backspin on it, holding up gives you topspin and so on. For the most part, it all works very well; however, I find that putting spin on the ball can be very hit-or-miss. It feels as though you have no control over the outcome of putting spin on the ball. Sometimes you may need a lot of backspin when you overshoot the pin and get nothing, or you will fall short and get way too much backspin. It tends to be very frustrating, but that really is my only gripe as far as gameplay is concerned.
Obviously, weather will also play a large role your golf strategy: Taking wind speed and direction into consideration is just as important to your drives as the clubs you choose, and rain is always going to slow your ball down, especially when on the green. Often times, whether or not you remember to compensate for the wind will be the deciding factor in whether you make par or not on a given hole, and failure to make par on even one hole in a tournament can often spell defeat. The weather definitely plays a much more vital role than the wind in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, which, despite the indicators saying there is a lot of wind, never seemed to make a difference. This was one of the things that turned me off about Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, and ultimately led to me digging out Hot Shots Golf 3 instead.
The putting is absolutely genius in this game. When you make your way to the green, you will be presented with a grid over the top of the green that consists of vertical and horizontal lines with small dots moving along each line. In order to determine the layout of the green, you must carefully examine the lines: The dots roll down the lines depending on which way the green slopes and their speed determines just how steep the slope is. If you are trying to make a thirty foot putt, and the dots are coming straight at you, you know that you are putting uphill, and you will need to put a little extra oomph into your shot to make it to the hole. It works great because, while it is difficult to putt in this game, it is a concept that can be easily grasped, and eventually mastering it is a very satisfying experience. There have been a lot of golf games that have been released since Hot Shots Golf 3 that have imitated this formula, but none have done it nearly as well.
All of the standard modes that you would expect are here in full force. You will win tournaments, challenge other golfers to unlock them as playable characters, play a handful of multiplayer games with up to four players by passing the controllers around, and even visit the shop to buy new items. Playing this game with friends is an absolute blast. My wife loves to play this game, and it's always a plus if you can find a game that you can share with your significant other. All in all, there are endless hours of fun to be had here; the replay value is ridiculously high.
The presentation of this game is very light-hearted and charming. While the music does get on your nerves if you have been playing the game for three years like I have, it does fit the mood and you only have to deal with it in the menus. I find the caddies' comments to be a bit trying at times as well, but everything else is just fine. The ambient noises that you hear while out on the links set the mood very nicely and make for a very believable atmosphere. Thankfully, there is no music while you are actually golfing, which is the way it should be. The courses are beautiful for an older PS2 game, and everything looks just as a golf game should. The characters are as wacky and out there as you would expect without being downright stupid (cough *Outlaw Golf* cough). Really, what more can be said about the presentation of a golf game? Everything is as it should be here and I wouldn't have it any other way.
In conclusion, I have to point out that it is a rare thing indeed for a game to grab me the way Hot Shots Golf 3 did and hold onto me for three entire YEARS, especially considering the fact that it is a golf game. Every year I drag it out like clockwork and play for at least a couple weeks straight, sometimes more. The game can be played by absolutely anyone, making it a great game to spend some time with a significant other or other virtual golf enthusiasts. This game was well worth the $40 price I paid for it back when it first came out, so it is certainly worth the $20 you would pay for it today. With a solid control interface, intuitive putting mechanics, and scads of unlockables, you can't go wrong with this game. If you found Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour to be a little bit on the easy side, and you find EA's Tiger Woods games to be a bit TOO in-depth, then this is THE golf game for you because it lies very comfortably in between the two. I whole-heartedly suggest that you give this game a shot. I DARE you to not have a good time with Hot Shots Golf 3.
