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Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 gets June US release date
It's been a long time coming, if you ask us. Hot Shots Golf is coming back to the PSP, sure, but until now we've never been able to pin down a date for the game. A three year hiatus between portable titles is enough! We have to alter our schedule to get a round of golf in, you know? Well, Open Tee 2 is coming to America on June 3rd, sporting some full-fledged online play and further character customization than its predecessor. We're glad to finally have a date and one so soon, too.
English language screenshots of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2
Golf is the kind of sport that transcends languages, right? Regardless, SCEA has just released new screenshots of the upcoming Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2. This PSP-exclusive follow-up to Open Tee features the classic Hot Shots gameplay we've all grown to love, but adds a key feature: Infrastructure multiplayer, so you can take your shots online. Check out our new gallery below: %Gallery-20551%
Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2: debut trailer
If the anime-inspired hijinks of the recently released Hot Shots Golf game on PS3 couldn't satiate your appetite for the sport, have no fear. SCEA is bringing over a new Hot Shots Golf game to the PSP, unsurprisingly named Open Tee 2. The franchise has been known for its easy, accessible gameplay, and we don't expect that to change in this iteration. It looks to retain all the wackiness the franchise is known for. Just look at that awesome penguin suit for proof!
PS3 Fanboy review: Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
The game of golf is all about precision, patience, and looking swank in plaid. Unquestionably, this checklist of golfing requirements was on the developers' minds when they started designing Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds. If we take those three terms and translate them into the context of videogames, it would sound something like this: precision comes in the form of an intuitive yet complex gameplay; patience describes the progressive difficulty and the game's longevity; and lastly, plaid symbolizes a stylish design. Well okay, plaid isn't that stylish, but you get the point right? As Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds introduces a new style of play, it still is more or less true to its roots. We've enjoyed the game immensely and we've got to clap our hands together for Clap Hanz. Nice shotto! %Gallery-11629%
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Hot Shots Golf Out of Bounds
Click for high-resolution image. With a little over a month left until Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds comes stateside, we decided to take a near-complete version of the game for a spin. We don't know if this'll be in the final retail version of the game, but we were annoyed to see that Hot Shots Golf, just like Devil May Cry 4, features a required installation at game launch. In fact, with about 5GB of data being installed onto the PS3 drive, it's just as lengthy as Capcom's action game. We were surprised by this -- we didn't have our sandwiches ready for the long-haul. Once in the game, we saw a few stray items left over from the Japanese build of the game. We can't wait to see if these features get localized. One option allowed players to access the Minna no Golf website from the game, while another option was a video tutorial on how to navigate the game. Certainly, that'll be helpful for the casual gamers that'll flock to this surprisingly deep offering. %Gallery-11629%
Sleazy dude headlines the US Hot Shots box
Click for high resolution image. Unfortunately, it looks like us US residents are stuck with a much less attractive box for the upcoming PS3 exclusive Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds than our Japanese friends get to enjoy. Instead of focusing on the totally cute characters of the Japanese release, we have this somewhat shady, somewhat sleazy looking man (it's the combination of the gelled back hair and sunglasses) gracing the cover of our game. Granted, the heart of the game is still going to be good. In fact, a recent PlayStation.blog entry elaborates on the new Advanced Shot swing mode of the game, for those of you that want a slightly less HUD-intensive approach to golf. Don't worry, though. The traditional three-click method is still intact for the traditionalists. %Gallery-11629%
Hot Shots Golf gets new subtitle for US release
For some reason, SCEA wanted to give Hot Shots Golf a new subtitle for its upcoming PS3 release. In Japan, it's simply titled Minna no Golf 5 (Everybody's Golf 5). But, SCEA wanted to get the number out and go for a different moniker. According to a new PlayStation.blog entry, it was a rough decision (we bet!). "Working on this title has been tough. Imagine my situation: it is sunny and warm here at SCEA Santa Monica. The sun is shining through the office window with a hint of Pacific blue off in the distance. A typical perfect day to be out hitting the links, but alas, there's work to be done – c'est la vie." We've been playing with a near-final complete version of the game, and hope to provide a preview for you shortly. %Gallery-11629%
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Hot Shots Golf 5
At a recent NYC media event, PS3 Fanboy was able to get our hands on a newly localized version of Hot Shots Golf 5. The newest iteration of Clap Hanz's casual golfing game keeps the franchise's highly accessible gameplay, but gains a new level of unprecedented detail and personality, made possible by the PS3. The visuals are impressive, but considering how old the Japanese original is, it no longer has the "wow" factor it had when we first saw the game. The build we played featured the same characters from the Japanese game and the same charming voice acting from the Japanese original. However, localization is not yet complete, and the Sony representative on hand was unable to comment whether or not both English and Japanese language tracks will remain in the game. We urged them to -- let's hope they take our advice. The traditional three-press model returns in Hot Shots Golf 5, which has you timing button presses to determine the strength of a shot. However, a new advanced mode of swinging has been introduced. In this mode, you must look at the character and the position of their club. As they lift their club, you will press X to command them to swing. Because it doesn't use a HUD, it's a very natural way of interpreting the sport, although it does take some time getting used to. Supposedly, you'll be able to add a bit more slice and spin to the ball in this mode. Solid graphics, solid gameplay and fantastic presentation make Hot Shots Golf 5 a worthwhile addition to the PS3 library. The beginning of the year is usually slow for games, but this will certainly make a splash when it releases in March, exclusively for the PS3. %Gallery-11629%
