Becoming A Golf Hot Shot

If I’m at the doctor’s office waiting to go into the exam room, waiting for a table to open up at a restaurant, or just hanging out at Starbucks, I’ll play my Sony PSP. Although I own many PSP games, the one I enjoy the most for those situations is Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee. It’s so easy to play, and since I’m not a great golfer in real life, I can at least pretend to be a digital Michelle Wie.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee was released in May, and I bought it the day it came out on store shelves. I haven’t been able to put it down since! It’s very addictive while giving you the freedom to scratch your golf itch anytime. It also helps the time pass by quickly on a long airplane flight.

Hot Shots features three game modes. The single-player game offers you the chance to unlock characters and items by competing in tournaments. The training mode lets you practice your skills on various courses with no pressure to lose. The wireless multiplayer mode allows up to eight players to hit the links together in various head-to-head matches, real-time tournaments or putting challenge. My personal favorite is the single-player mode so I can collect everything possible to build my golfers up and unlock new characters. I haven’t played the wireless multiplayer mode yet since I haven’t found any available wireless opponents out there.

As you build-up your golfers’ skills and abilities, customize them from head-to-toe with over 250 hairstyles, hats, outfits and accessories obtained from winning tournaments. You can also win upgraded golf clubs and balls for longer shots, control and accuracy. Everything you win is available to all your golfers, including new ones with no experience. In addition, tournament wins can up your skill level and raise your rank.

Once you get really good at Hot Shots, learn how to optimize the ball’s trajectory by mastering all the different spins. You will also learn how to hit the ball farther on your drives. Hot Shots features realistic-looking golf courses and caricatured bobble-headed characters that are influenced by Japanese anime. The golf course scenes are relaxing to look at and enhanced by the PSP’s already excellent graphics. The playful visual style of Hot Shots will most likely appeal more to the non-serious golfers, such as myself.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee is rated E for Everyone and is available for $39.99 at Toys n’ Joys, or your nearest CompUSA or GameStop.