'Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2' a simple, straightforward go-to game
Fun: Finishing a course takes 10-15 minutes; intuitive interface and controls; variety of courses; solid visuals; 16-player multiplayer online, or 8-player local multiplayer.
Unfun: Unstructured tutorial; character progression a little unclear; pre-swing spin controls can be difficult.
Every gamer needs some go-to software when you're waiting at the dentist's office, clacking down the Metra or on a leisurely lunch break. Idle thumbs are boredom's playground, but seasoned gamers see these daily lulls as opportunities to drop some Tetris blocks or run more laps in Mario Kart. In the case of "Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2," it's chipping down virtual fairways. The PSP proved itself a great platform for portable links when the first "Hot Shots" game released in 2006, and Open Tee 2 improves upon that likable formula of simple gameplay and pick-up-and-play accessibility.
With big-headed cartoon golfers, players drive down 12 well-groomed fairways, dotted by hills and hazards that sculpt the linkscape. "Hot Shot"'s stylized avatars wouldn't be out of place in an anime, but the game's courses, controls, and mechanics are gimmick-free. This is satisfying, straightforward, arcade-style golf -- the closest thing you'll find to a novelty are the collectible clothing items that boost your swinger's stats.
Looking and playing pretty, then, means growing your wardrobe by winning events in the game's single-player challenge mode. Tournaments and one-on-one matches await here, and alternating between playing against yourself and squaring off with a computer opponent helps the game flow effortlessly. You'll earn the opportunity to compete in higher ranked events as you complete beginner and amateur stages. Outside from challenge mode, there's a hole-in-one minigame, unhelpful tutorial and basic open match play against an AI available.
The shallow selection of modes is more than made up by top-notch playability. "Hot Shots" melds simple controls with friendly physics, and this combination means each perfect putt, killer drive and unfavorable roll into the rough feels represented accurately, but not too judgmentally. After aiming at a patch of turf, timed button taps on a horizontal bar determine shot power and your club's impact quality. Asserting some spin is a matter of holding a set direction while you swing -- an after-touch control might've worked better here, but spin sits snugly into the other controls.
You'll need to club up or down depending on any wind, obstacles, and terrain elevation along your path; compensating for these is almost always a snap, with the exception of high-angle bunker shots that can be hard to dig out. Hole after hole, it's the sense of consistency and balance that makes "Hot Shots" such a relaxing and rewarding experience. Bagging a birdie demands careful plotting and execution, but you never feel like the holes are holding grudges. Likewise, the gameplay's load-free flow makes for a quick, dense pace even when you're working through a full 18.
Crisp audio is another asset. From untimely collisions against tree bark or sand to the metallic clang of the cup, game sounds and ambient effects are captured nicely, and a cartoon caddy provides praise and criticism along the way. The 3-D courses are rendered well, with natural textures mapping the environment. Menu overlays get a pass, too: flowing lines of the gridded greens indicate elevation, and icons pop in when you graze some shrubs or pull off a perfect swing.
"Hot Shots" is known as "Everybody's Golf" in Japan with good reason: the game emphasizes simple, fun playability, but tacks-on enough nuance to counter its youthful aesthetic. Stable online multiplayer (and locally), along with collectible items means a relatively deep experience, but it's the core mechanics that keeps Hot Shots fresh as you fill holes.
Platforms: PSP
Developer: Clap Hanz
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Genre: Sports
Rating: 3 / 4