Studio - Sony
Age - E for Everybody
Genre - Sports

"That ball is your enemy."
One of the talkative caddies (Hot Shots Golf Fore)

Some people live for golf. It's in their blood.
Be it as professionals on tour, or as game playing (Golf Channel watchin') fanatics, the game is firmly imprinted into their DNA to the point that they live, breath, and can play Golf in their sleep.
They're the first people waiting for the local game store to open when a new golf game comes out, money in tight fist as they nervously wait for the doors to open so they can throw their moolah down to snap up the latest Tiger Woods golf franchise game, or some other golf game they're dying to play.

Yup. There are some people out there who live for this game.
I'm... not one of them. In fact my LAST experience with the game was not a good one.
It was during Dark Cloud 2 (PS2) when I was introduced to the game of "Spheda" (which is that world's version of Golf) and I learned to hate the game. No, sir, I didn't like it. Not one bit.

So, then, would it shock you to learn that I actually ASKED for this for Christmas?
Yes. Yes I did. I ASKED for a golf game! But not just any golf game. I asked for Hot Shots Golf 3!
Blockbuster had it, it was on sale, and I need to go back and snag Hot Shots Golf Fore when I can.
But why the sudden interest in a golf game when I don't seem to have a single inch of love for the game?
Once again we have a review from X-Play (G4/TechTV) and a Mr. Adam Sessler to thank.
He reviewed Hot Shots Golf Fore, and I was so intrigued by it I bought 3 to try it out.
(Makes me almost wonder if they know I sometime credit them for some of my reviews... eh... nah.)

As for Hot Shots Golf 3? The game is simple enough, yet it‘s addictive as well!
Take 15 of the wackiest golf players you can find, throw in seven talkative hyper caddies (who run fast as the Flash when chasing down your ball), put in a batch of course and playing modes and you have yourself one sweet deal of a golf game. And it doesn't hurt that the game

mechanics are dead on perfect golf mechanics that make the game that much sweeter as you play it.

With it's ensemble cast of characters (most of which you'll have to earn the right to use as you play) you'll find yourself charmed out of your pants (plaid or otherwise) by their charm, wit, and humor.
Earn? Oh, right. Play a certain mode of this game and you'll unlock new characters.
There's more to it than that, probably, but I haven't played long enough to see how you EXACTLY unlock new characters... yet.

But I don't need to play this game for every long to know that, without a doubt, this is most certainly not your usual golf game as this one is both fun AND realistic!
With a true to life "physics" system that makes the game play like real golf, and a wacky cast to make the "reality" of golf fun to play? You'll find yourself having a good old time with this one.

And with both single player and multi player modes you'll have lots to do!
In single player mode you can play the following...

Strokes
This is where your scored by the amount of strokes you need to put the ball into the hole.

Tournament Mode
This is where you play for items, trophies, and improving your player rank... though I managed to do that so far just from playing Stroke. Oh, and here you can unlock new courses to play.

Vs. Mode
If you want to unlock new characters to play with you must first best them in one-on-one mode.
Here is where you can unlock new players.

Training
Want to test your swing, and play each shot over and over again until you got it just right? Here is the place to do it.

National Tournament (closed)
Apparently an online tournament mode for the game, this played out during the year this game came out (March to September of 2002) and have since been closed.
Or was it online? The review of Hot Shots Golf Fore mentions that is the first one with online play... so what's with the National Tournament thing and why is it closed if it wasn't an online option?
I wish there was a greater explanation of this mode, and why they didn't either fix it so it could be used (just for the fun of it and not for any prizes) or changed it

to a different option (or removed it right out).
Having an option in this game I can't use? Not nice.

Oddly enough, as Hot Shots Golf Fore is now out, I wonder if that game has it's own National Tournament mode? Of course by the time I buy it for review it might be over with -- but we'll see.

There are two modes in Multi-Player.
Stroke Play - The player with the lowest score for the whole course wins.
Match Play - The winner is the player that wins the most holes, which is done by getting the lowest score for each hole.

Add to that a ton of extras? You can't go wrong here.
Of course since I said Hot Shots Golf Fore is the first for online play that means this game is not something you'd want if you're an online playing fanatic. But it's still good to get you warmed up and ready for Hot Shots Golf Fore (means no training for you in that game once you mastered this one)!

Did I learn something? Yeah. I learned that realistic golf that isn't stuffy or boring... if you can find 15 wacky characters and seven zany caddies to hit the links with you that is... otherwise it's dull.
If you ever had the slight inklings to try out golf, but thought all golf games were dreadfully boring (even the ever popular Mario Golf) then you might find the charm of Hot Shots Golf to be irresistible.
I found it irresistible, and here I am reviewing it to prove how irresistible it is... go figure.

Hot Shots Golf Breakdown, 3rd Hole
What's Hot? - Well I, for one, never thought I'd be waxing poetic over (of all things) a golf game!
But here I am praising a golf game! And this game deserves the praise, no doubt about it.
With solid golf mechanics, a cast of characters worth spending time with, and lots of stuff and extras to enjoy? This is just one solidly done little golf game that is well worth the time to buy.

I heard Hot Shots Golf Fore hasn't changed much, but then again why should it since this game wasn't "broken" to begin with! If they kept everything good about this game, and added a few new things in the next one? I'll be one happy golfer... I mean gamer!
Of course there's

the online stuff but since I haven't been doing that I won't be doing that when I review Hot Shots Golf Fore... maybe someone who does that can review that aspect of the game.

What's Not? - Just because I've become enthralled with this game, it doesn't mean I've actually improved my golf game! I need lots of work on that, but then again I don't see the problem with getting that practice as I play this game. Then again if I'm truly desperate I can always watch Golf Channel clips on Free On Demand to help improve my Hot Shots golf game... which should probably scare me that I even would mention such a thing but I better move on before I put more thought into that response.
Just in case that response does scare me.

Moments to Remember?
So far I've only played the blonde, but I can't wait to unlock more characters!
The game is just filled with memorable people. And the game's gameplay is memorable too.
It'll be even moreso (memorable) once I learn how to golf properly, but that's another story.

What to Ignore?
Does this mean I‘m becoming a golf fan? Should I be afraid now?
Certainly not as afraid as when Minako went about attempting to "nurse" her friends back to health in that one episode... except you didn't see what she did to Ami, though. You did see what she did to Makoto, Rei and Usagi though -- she even recruited Chibi-Usa in her "scheme" to cure Usagi, and how evil is that!

Back to Hot Shots Golf 3. I sense I should have some fear and loathing of this but yet the game is so compelling...drawing me to the dark side of golf... oh, right, ignore the fact that you‘ll most likely never ever run into anyone of this kind of wacky fun personality at a real golf course. Shame. I‘d really play the sport if it was as fun as this game! Really!

Overal1?
How can you go wrong?
It's got golf down pat, but it's not dreadfully boring and most certainly NOT your typical golf game!
You just can't go wrong with the zany antics of Hot Shots Golf, be it this previous version or the newer 2004 Hot Shots Golf Fore!
So, if you think you're curious enough? Go try it out. It should be a blast!