Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational

A superb golf game that's extremely easy to pick up yet as deep and complex as any 'serious' game, Everybody's Golf is the must-have Vita launch title.

It might very well be the best Hot Shots Golf game to date.

World Invitational continues that tradition of a really nice blend of arcade-ish accessibility and sim seriousness. If you want to kick back and relax, fine -- but you can also dig in, get deep with strategy and complex swing tricks, and feel rewarded when you master them all. With its massive array of play options, courses, unlockables, and online challenges, not to mention its portability and always-on 3G connectivity, this is easily the biggest and best Hot Shots Golf game yet.

Out of all the launch games for PS Vita, Everybody's Golf is the title we've found the most difficult to put down. Courses are well mapped-out, gameplay is totally addictive, and even the most mature of gamers will soon find themselves dressing up Isabelle in cute outfits and spending their hard-earned points in the shop.

There's a staggering amount of content here, between the amount of various courses and bonus content.

It trumps the last version on PS3 by merit of opening up more player options – generally it's the same game, but the method of taking a shot can use any one of five different mechanisms. Other than that it's business as usual – madly compulsive, quick to pick up and difficult to master, questionable representation of young girls.

Further proving that it's unnecessary to fix something that never broke, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational keeps true to its series roots while offering a ton of content and good times. A treat for anyone who enjoys golf or fun.

Everybody's Golf looks good in portable consoles. This version is designed for short periods of play, and that makes it very appropiate for fast trips. It has a lot of content to unlock and the game is easy to play but hard to dominate, and multiplayer is great. One of the best golf games of any platform, although with few new features in comparison with previous entries.

I think a little more could've been done; a little more in the way of innovation and freshness. Because even a die-hard follower like me felt a touch a ho-hum going through the events.

An entertaining fantasy golf with quite realistic ball physics. [Apr 2012]

I guarantee that many of you will be surprised at how many hours of enjoyment you'll get out of this game - and this is from someone who thinks golf is just a great way to get struck by lightning.

Another fine entry in a dependably bankable series. Plays it safe, but that's no bad thing. [March 2012, p.73]

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is a very enjoyable game. One of the best launch titles for Sony's portable device.

I am addicted to Hot Shots Golf World Invitational. It still has a lot of collectibles, a good challenge and, overall, a fun experience. The only things that irked me are minor problems that can be overlooked, but also can be frustrating to deal with at the same time.

Hot Shots Vita remains a nobrainer for Sony consoles. This tru sim-game wrapped in its cute graphics is easy to pickup, but hard to master. With its online play, loads of stuff to unlock, and precise gameplay, its as good as ever, even though we'd have hoped for more new features and better visuals.

This sucker devours bus and train trips. [March 2012, p64]

Everybody's Golf makes its appearance on the Vita and not much has changed from the previous games. It may have some minor flaws, but it's a great launch game for the Vita.

Everybody's Golf is another addictive installment in the lucky franchise and one of the best launch games for PlayStation Vita. It packs a lot of content in single and multiplayer modes; however it doesn't fully support most of Vita's hardware features and it shows a somewhat lack of creativity with its recycled playfields and visuals.

Delivers a quality experience on par with, if not better than previous iterations. [Issue#119, p.98]

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise-Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational will satisfy every fan of the golf genre and as polished as its console counterpart. The criticism that it's not as simple as its cheerful graphics is misguided, as anyone with good timing and planning can shoot up the scoreboard with ease. With a robust multiplayer, plenty of unlockable, and many hours of replay value, World Invitational is a clean, well-centered shot for the PlayStation Vita.

World Invitational may not possess the sheer system-selling appeal of an Uncharted: Golden Abyss, but it's still a solid, packed launch game that old hands as well as rookies should consider grabbing alongside their Vitas.

The game does what the series has excelled at since day one, provide an accessible golfing experience that anyone can enjoy. Unlike some of the other titles in the Sony platform's library, this one doesn't rely on gimmicks. Its focus is solid gameplay, depth and charm, and it has these things down to a tee.

And again we find ourselves playing a Vita game without a necessary online component, in this case the option for one on one duels. Other than that, a lack of proper innovation is the only drawback. You won't regret buying this addictive, accessible and very content-packed handheld title.

Everybody's Golf doesn't do anything particularly new or revolutionary, but it does what it does very well indeed.

Even if Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational doesn't necessarily feel completely new – this is a big fistful of uncomplicated yet highly engrossing golfing fun that is hard not to recommend. It's not as much of a showcase title as other games in the Vita's Launch-Line-Up but that is due to the fact that it focuses on long found strengths rather than trying desperately trying to come up with new ones for this particular new piece of hardware.

The best aspect of Everybody's Golf for the PS Vita is that you can pick up the console and play the game anytime and anywhere without too much thought. The gameplay is pretty much flawless and some of the PS Vita controls are actually quite fun. It's also quite an addictive title that makes this such a hard game to put down as you're always striving for that perfect score. Add in online multiplayer and you'll be playing Everybody's Golf on the PS Vita for a considerable amount of time.

Look past certain design flaws - and certain mechanical issues – however, and you'll find a highly enjoyable, highly addictive golf game that's accessible to all types of player, from the kid in the back seat during a car ride to the most dedicated gamer.

If you enjoy a game with simple pick-up-and-go golfing mechanics, don't mind a hefty challenge from time to time, and love to customize your characters from head to toe, then Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is worth picking up for your PlayStation Vita.

Developer Clap Hanz has produced a thoroughly enjoyable and addictive game, filled with a simplicity that makes it accessible for players of all abilities.

Being predictably solid is both a blessing and curse for the Hot Shots series, and at the end of the day I try to not overthink the fact that World Invitational is simply a fun experience. I approach it a lot like my real-life golf game, where I just try to enjoy being out in the sunshine and not get too wound up at the numbers on the score card.

Everybody's golf for PS Vita is exactly how we expected it to be: another increbily funny iteration in the saga.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational proves that more of the same can still be really fun.