Hot Shots Golf : Remastered

The Hot Shots Golf dynasty has always been a favorite to me. When the release of Hot Shots Golf Fore was announced, I was so glad and I rushed to the store to buy the game. I got the game so quickly not just because of my liking of the other Hot Shots Golf’s but from what I heard, a brand new, amazingly re-engineered game with tons of new add-ons.

The first thing that came to my attention was the amazing graphics. Although the graphics in HSG3 were really good, the graphics just improved even more as the series continued. Also, during each hole you play, there is music playing in the background. Personally, I find it soothing... but back to the review. The combination of elite graphics and music during game play are just one of the amazing things in Hot Shots Golf Fore.

Another thing that I enjoyed was the introduction of many new characters and courses. In the character department, there are many many more characters than the previous games, yet some of your favorites from HSG3 return. While in VS. Mode, you can play other characters to gain them in your game. You can play them again to unlock a new outfit and again to unlock another outfit, most of which are goofy. Also some of your favorite caddies from HSG3 return, as well as new caddies such as a dog that barks instead of talking. You may be saying “well obviously a dog barks”, but according to the nature of the HSG series, anything can happen. In the course department, all the courses from HSG3 return and many more courses are added. Not only can you play on different tees on different courses. There is also the mirror option that a player must unlock. What the mirror option basically does is make everything reversed. For example: If the green was on the right hand side of a tree, the mirror option would make it on the left side of the tree. All the signs on the courses would look like they are being looked at through a mirror.

Along with many new courses comes the return of MINI GOLF!! After being put to rest after HSG1, mini golf made its awakening in HSG4 and has improved. There are two mini golf courses. Each course has a plethora of obstacles and slopes to make getting the ball in the hole very tricky. When you putt the ball, you start gaining points and the points keep on adding up until the ball goes in the hole, if the ball doesn’t make it in the hole, you have to put from where it stopped and the points start up from 0. If you miss the second shot, you forfeit the hole. In order to play the second course, you have to unlock it by getting a good score on the first course. Obviously the second course is going to be harder.

There are many new clubs and balls available to you including the “Everybody’s Club”. This club is designed for newbies to HSG. All you have to do is set the distance level and you hit the ball that distance perfectly. Yet, this club is too good to be true because the ball will not go as far as if you were using any other club, and the wanted spin with not spin as much. One new club that I personally prefer is the 100 Ton Club. It is a giant hammer that hits the ball tremendously far.

The tournament mode is set up differently than in HSG3. Instead of having a couple tournaments at each experience level, in Hot Shots Golf 4, you play courses and gain experience points. When you reach 100% you play a stage trial which is just a regular course yet you have to get a certain score or there are special rules (Hitting a tree gets +2 strokes). As you move up in your ranking, the tournaments and stage trials get increasingly harder.

The last great thing about this game is the online mode. In Online mode, up to 50 people can play. Here is how it works: All the players play one hole simultaneously and then you can text between players about how everyone did on that hole. Then, you move on to the next hole and do the same. It gets very exciting especially when you are up against someone you know or someone that is just as skilled as you are.

Overall, Hot Shots Golf Fore is an excellent game for those who like golf and also like the lighter side of golf. One thing I didn’t like was how similar it was to HSG3 but besides that, it is an amazing game and I recommend it to anyone that wants to have fun.