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PS3 | Sports | Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds

Boxart for Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds 12 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.50
  • SOUND: 4.50
  • CONTROL: 4.00
  • FUN FACTOR 4.50
  • AVG USER SCORE n/a
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.5
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Preview: Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds

Preview by Chris Morell | 02/08/2008 | 12:03:14 PM PST

The best golf game of 2008? We hit the link in Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds to find out.

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is the new name for the fifth iteration of the goofy-themed, yet addictively fun golf series from Sony. Simply called Hot Shots Golf 5 in Japan (where it was released last year), the rest of the world has to get in on the premiere Hot Shots game for the PlayStation 3. But the tee time is drawing near.

OK, I admit to being a golf gaming geek, so with that out in the open, I can assuredly admit that Hot Shots has been my favorite golf franchise for quite some time. While Tiger is usually the best place to go for a bit more of a realistic experience, I still prefer Hot Shots for its funny anime-style characters and caddies, and versatile golf engine that lets you do some pretty awesome stuff.

You can't go wrong with 50-player tournaments, no sir.

You can't go wrong with 50-player tournaments, no sir.

If you've been playing along, you know that Hot Shots is known for its three-click swing system, and for Out of Bounds, it's still there. But the first Hot Shots game on the PS3 also introduces a new swing mechanic that produces a more visual, lifelike swing representation. This "new" swing is still inherently three-click, but the backswing takes place in real-time, making it more realistic. And the new putting scheme is now more like the Tiger Woods series, forcing you to judge distance by looking at the distance of your backswing.

So, with some practice in the bank thanks to a recent trip to Japan (yeah, I snagged the Japanese retail version), I jumped into a little tournament organized by Sony in San Francisco to get a taste of the online mode.

A new swing mechanic means even more ways to manipulate a shot.

A new swing mechanic means even more ways to manipulate a shot.



Jumping Online

The first thing to note is that the online lobby system is interactive. You can set tee times, schedule tournaments, or join open games, not to mention chat or run around like an idiot causing mayhem in this virtual waiting room. When you do hit the links, there are a few options that change how matches are played. If you have a large group, you can opt to play against everyone in real time, meaning you'll see everyone crashing toward a hole at the same time. Setting a time limit per hole can also drastically shift the style of play so that actually "thinking" out each shot is virtually impossible.

I was holding a strong second-place out of eight players, but I blew it on the time limit and was booted on the fourth hole of the first tournament. What's pretty amazing though, is that Out of Bounds supports up to 50-player tournaments, which is awesome if you can hold your own against the rest of the pack. If not, getting beat by 49 other players could be a crushing blow to your golf ego. Better start practicing up come March 18.


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