Everybody's Golf Hot Shots

Despite nailing its basic mechanics and the feeling of returning to the series' origins, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is full of small problems that end up preventing the title from delivering something better to players.

It is a game that does one thing, and it isn’t reinventing the wheel. It’s just golf, and without those extra levels of unprecedented creativity, it isn’t going to be the most memorable title to come out this year. If you don’t like virtual golf, this isn’t going to change your mind. If you do enjoy golf and miss the days of having Wii Sports golf be relevant, then it’ll be a fun, if not mindblowing, experience.

Hot Shots reminds us what makes this franchise so timeless, with every release: it is a cheerful, colourful golf game, sometimes bizarre but also technically and athletically accurate in its transposition, not overly technical but not inconsistent either. It is a container of seemingly distant worlds brought together by a realisation that does justice to golf, while conveying all the Japanese flavour typical of the saga. Nothing new under the sun, or almost nothing if we consider the extravagant mode: Hot Shots remains competently on that path, careful to follow, at times with excessive caution and redundancy, that typical but probably somewhat tired stylistic approach, at least for those who have been following it for almost 30 years.

Hot Shots on PS5 takes the safest route, and it does so with dignity. Yet it also leaves the suspicion that the less safe path—the one of risk—was the only truly necessary one to restore the series to the freshness it deserves.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots maintains its accessible and fun spirit, with intuitive controls and a variety of modes that shine best in quick, social sessions. The game truly stands out in matches with friends or in online mode — which is likely the key highlight of the experience — but it falls short in content for those who prefer to play solo.

You may have waited 8 years since the last proper Everybody's Golf game, but Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots has landed to remind you to take up your clubs and get swinging again. If you've loved previous Everybody's Golf titles, Hot Shots is a pleasant entry that gives you plenty to unlock and plenty of golf to get stuck into. However, while it's great to be incentivized to unlock rewards in Hot Shots, the grind can be too much to contend with. On top of this, the visuals and general look of the game isn't appealing, and the characters and their dialogue are super-generic. None of these dings should be enough to stop you from wanting to play Hot Shots, but there is definite room for improvement. Hot Shots is ultimately worthy of your investment, but this isn't a Hole In One, an Eagle, an Albatross, a Birdie, and it's not even a Par-it's a Bogey......just not the disgusting type.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots brings classic arcade golf gameplay to modern platforms with smooth mechanics and plenty of modes, but stumbles with bland visuals, uninspired character design, and an overreliance on AI-generated assets that sap the series’ trademark charm

Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots lands in the rough. At first glance, it seems to capture the spirit of the originals, but closer inspection reveals what it’s missing. Dated visuals, inconsistent performance, and grating dialogue build frustration. While the game offers plenty of modes and chaotic multiplayer options, the lack of gameplay innovation makes these features feel stale. You might enjoy a quick round, but it doesn’t do enough to keep you hooked for the full 18.

While some fans of the franchise may enjoy this new offering, newcomers and others will be frustrated by a game that didn't receive enough attention during development or that remained too stuck in the past to be truly successful.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots returns with all its quirky charm, colorful characters, and anime-style antics. It offers a solid multiplayer focus but is held back by technical shortcomings, slow progression, and a rather simple visual presentation. It’s ideal for longtime fans of the series or players looking for a laid-back golf arcade experience—just don’t expect too much depth.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots seems like it should include everything we expect from the series, but it falls short of Clap Hanz’s work. Characters come across as annoying, rather than charming, and it’s a lot of work to unlock them and build them up. The general selection of modes available are fine. However, some technical issues and design choices keep it from running and looking like it should. It’s okay and might be better after a few patches, but past entries were more enjoyable.

Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots is a decent attempt to bring back the franchise PlayStation fans know and love, but there are a few rough edges that prevent it from being anything more. While the core gameplay remains fun and accessible most of the time, inconsistent technical performance interferes with some of the fundamentals, and a general lack of polish across physics and visuals get in the way. There's absolutely still fun to be had in this cheerful title, but it's a fair way from the series' best.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots offers an addictive gameplay loop with its simple three-button press system, which allows players of all skill levels to pick up and play. However, its lackluster graphics and course designs leave a lot to be desired.

If I’m being honest, reviewing Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots comes with its own pain points, but very little of that has to do with the game itself. Yes, there are certainly some shortcomings, some of which I hope can be addressed post-launch, but my misgivings come from whether or not I should recommend it to others. On the one hand, I’ve genuinely enjoyed my time with Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, and it’s likely that other fans of the franchise will as well. That being said, it’s difficult to recommend it to those who haven’t gravitated towards the genre in the past. And even for those who grew up playing these types of games, you should temper your expectations a bit. For every birdie or eagle that Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots lands, its head gets stuck in a sand trap just as often.

Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is a really disappointing swing and a miss. Poor performance that directly impacts your shot on a consistent basis totally kills the experience, and the gameplay in general is wildly and randomly imprecise. The presented modes feel bare bones, the lack of custom player creation is a bummer, and the stock characters are largely annoying. Fans of the franchise should stick to the classics, or 2017's Everybody's Golf, which is clearly superior in nearly every facet.