| Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Clap Hanz / SCE Japan Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Series | Everybody's Golf |
| First Release | July 26, 2007 (JP) March 18, 2008 (NA) March 27, 2008 (AUS) March 28, 2008 (EU) August 10, 2007 (KR EG) April 25, 2008 (KR HSG) |
| Genre | Sports |
| Platform | PlayStation 3 |
| Previous Entry | Hot Shots Golf Fore! |
| Next Entry | Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational |
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds, released in Japan as Everybody's Golf 5 (みんなのGOLF5 Minna no Golf 5) and in Europe as Everybody's Golf: World Tour is the fifth installment in the main Everybody's Golf series. It was first released on July 2007 in Japan, and then on March 2008 in North American and Europe. It is the first installment for the PlayStation 3.
Characters[]
Golfers:[]
Novice:
| Jasmine | Nick | Sophie | Bjorn |
| Suzuki | Toro Inoue* | Sackboy* |
Intermediate:
| Sasha | Felipe | Sonia | |
| Bloom | Fernando | Alex* |
Expert:
| L.J. | Kate | Dino | Anya |
| Shigeki Maruyama | Gloria* | Kratos* |
Ones marked with * are DLC.
Caddies:[]
| Hannah | Bonnie | Trent | Rina |
| Eva | Clark | Maru-Chan |
Courses[]
| Flag | Country | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Highland Country Club | |
| Okinawa Island, Japan | Okinawa Golf Resort | |
| Germany | Euro Classic Golf Club | |
| Kenya | Great Safari Country Club | |
| Sweden | Silver Peaks Golf Club | |
| United States | The Crown Links | |
| Australia | Oceania Resort Course* | |
| Unknown | Golfasaurus-Rex B.C.C.* |
Ones marked with * are DLC.
Gameplay[]
In this installment, a new shot taking system is implemented (Advanced shots mode), taking fundamentals from the traditional "3 tap shot" system . When using Advanced shots mode, the power gauge bar at the bottom of the screen is taken out of the equation, but the elevation/distance indicator line is still in play. This way, the player is using the character's physical upswing and downswing to determine the power and accuracy of the shot. There are 2 color glimmers to indicate 50% power (Yellow) and 100% power (Red) on the upswing. Whether teeing off, on the fairway, or putting, this is visible indication for the player to gauge their power. Once the windup is complete, accuracy is determined by the timing of the player, to precisely hit the ball when the golf ball impact bullseye meets the ball, inside of the impact margins. Sway and slice is determined similarly, but by how early or late you set the impact bullseye outside of the impact margins. The game also has a traditional shot option which functions exactly like in previous entries, although traditional shots come at the cost of the player's drive being reduced by 15 yards.
Modes[]
Single Player[]
In the Single-Play Mode, there is Challenge Mode, Stroke Mode, and Training Mode.
- Challenge Mode is the game's main single player mode, in which you enter tournaments, face off against other characters and ultimately work your way up to the highest rank. The tournaments are set on specific courses with the goal being to get the highest score out of all of the players, much like the tournament mode in earlier games. Some challenges have specific requirements, restrictions or conditions, such as limiting the player to certain characters. Winning a tournament grants the player a chance to win
and win caddies, gear and other items. Courses are naturally unlocked through Challenge Mode and at the end of each rank is a VS. Match against another character. Winning the VS. Match will unlock the character and move the player onto the next rank.
- Stroke Play is the standard free play mode, allowing you to play any unlocked and purchased courses in the game. Stroke Play can be played in 18h, 9h(out), 9h(in), and Mirrored Course rounds.
- Training Mode is the standard practice mode. The player can select any unlocked hole, alter the wind and weather to their liking and retry shots as many times as desired like in all other entries in the series. Training Mode has an exclusive practice course which allows the player to practice their swings and putts.
Multiplayer[]
In the Multi-Play Mode, there is Stroke Mode and Match Play Mode.
- Stroke Play mostly functions like in single player although there are numerous additions. While in Multi-Play Stroke Mode, up to 4 local players or CPU players can participate in golf rounds in increments of 18h, 9h(out), 9h(in), 6h, 3h(Random). Mirrored Courses can also be set in play. Before heading off to the course, you can select a type of wind variation, set special rules, penalties, handicaps, and even enlarge the golf cup size to a "Big Cup".
- Match Play is the standard 1V1 VS. match which can be player with either up to 2 local players or CPUs. First Player to reach 3UP over the other wins the match. If two players remained tied until the 9th hole, they reach a point that is called "Dormie Hole", where regardless of points, whoever scores higher for that hole breaks the tie and wins the match. This continues until the tie is broken.
Online Mode[]
- Online Mode allowed players from the US, EU, and JP in their own respective regions to gather in small lobbies of up to about 8 people to mingle and show off their Chibi-style Lobby characters, as well as avatar pets. It also hosted many live tournament events for players to participate in to win capsule prizes and more designated prizes like accessories for their avatars or pets. Players could also host their own game room sessions for others to join, up to 4 people per session. The online servers were shut down on March 31st, 2013, a few months after the PlayStation 3 release of Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational in Japan.
Reception[]
Critical reaction to the game has been mostly positive, with the game holding a rating of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic. Chris Roper of IGN gave the game a score of 8.9 out of ten, writing: "Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is a tremendously fun golf game, one that should appease either casual or hardcore golf fans. It's an arcadey approach to the sport, for sure, but there's still a good deal of depth in the game that'll give veteran players plenty to work with. There could have been more courses, and the lack of voice support online is somewhat disappointing, but the overall package is a ton of fun and definitely worth picking up."
Aaron Thomas of GameSpot gave a score of 7.5 out of ten, writing: "The Hot Shots Golf series has changed very little during the past 10 years, but there's no question that while still good, this is a franchise in need of a shot in the arm -- or at the very least, more courses. But that said, the new swing and robust online play freshen things up just enough to make it worth getting a tee time with Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds." Reviewing the Japanese version, Everybody's Golf 5, Dave McCarthy of Eurogamer gave the game a score of 8.0 out of 10, writing: "In spite of the fact that all you're doing is pressing a button three times, over and over again, it never gets boring. It would probably be too controversial to call it the best golf game, or the best PS3 game. But on both counts it's a remarkably close call."