I don’t play many sports games aside from MLB The Show and a specific golf game I’ve loved since the early PS1 days, Hot Shots Golf. Despite the original name of it being Everybody’s Golf in Japan, Hot Shots Golf was a franchise I loved. The absurd golfing antics and characters, the easy gameplay that rewarded learning the systems within, and the ability to play with friends and my dad—who plays the latest one with me quite often—made it unlike most sports games.

Since 2017, the series has been pretty quiet and I thought it might be the end of the series. That was until developer Hyde with publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed a new entry in the series acting as a reboot to the franchise, Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots—a play on both English and Japanese names for the series. After investing more than 200 hours in Everybody’s Golf, I was excited for a new game to play in the series. I pre-ordered for my PS5, downloaded it, and launched with excitement in my eyes. That all ended when I began the game and started my first session. Let’s not beat around the bush readers: Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is bad and if you keep reading my review you’ll understand why. Here’s my full review of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots for the PS5!

Gameplay

Similar to the past entries, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a very simple version of a golf sports game. Players take their golfer and tee off in various courses. I’d be remiss to say this is a pure arcade sports game because there is some depth to it—such as which irons to use for distance, wind factors, and various golfing techniques like backspins—but more or less, it’s simple, and that works.

Unlike many of the past games, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots tries to go for an almost anime-like theme. Players will engage in character stories and various tournaments which in turn unlocks more courses and characters. I will give the game some credit that it offers quite a bit in terms of variety this time around and the stories are lengthy and silly. However, this is where my praise will end as Hot Shots begins to fall apart as the game gets going.

When you enter the golfing game itself, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots feels like a step backward. So many gameplay fixes and tweaks found in the 2017 entry felt almost removed. Gone is the weight of the ball and the precision that game had. Now every shot feels almost lifeless, and very rarely did I enjoy longer courses as they dragged on far too long. Making matters worse, the animations performed by characters can ruin every shot. Mizuki, for example, loves to swing his club around like a sword or block your view, distracting you mid-shot. This isn’t just him—every character has these silly antics that disrupt gameplay. For a game that requires timing and patience, this is incredibly frustrating.

Aside from that, hitting and altering the ball’s course still works well but even these elements feel reduced compared to the 2017 game. It’s like parts that worked well were stripped out. I even missed hearing the little ball noise when it landed in the hole on my PS5 controller—like why was this removed?

Graphics

Probably one of the few parts that works in Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is the visuals. As a fan of anime, I enjoyed the aesthetics and the characters are well-diverse and individualized. The courses themselves are also solid with a lot of moving parts and strong visuals. The game does feel a bit dated overall, which is strange, but it’s not a major issue. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots still looks decent, even if it doesn’t wow.

Sound

You ever hear a joke told multiple times? The first time, it’s hilarious. The hundredth time, it’s grating. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots’ sound can be summed up like that. The voice acting and personalities are fine, but hearing the same lines thousands of times gets old fast. Mizuki yelling “I am calm!” or spouting chuunibyou nonsense every other swing made me mute the game more than once. It’s funny at first, but it wears thin fast.

Story

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots doesn’t have a central story, but each of the 25 characters has their own backstory and reason for playing. Most are lighthearted, silly, and simple, though a few are more engaging. Don’t expect JRPG-level storytelling here, but it’s at least a nice touch to give the cast some personality.

Overall Impression

As someone who loves this franchise, I wanted to love this game and counted the days to play it. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots had so much potential, but none of it is fully realized. Yes, the visuals are anime-styled and there’s a large roster of characters, but that isn’t what makes a great golf game. I wanted a solid golfing title that plays well and is fun—and Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots simply isn’t that. It’s playable, sure, but for fans like me, it’s a big letdown.

Conclusion

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots should have been the eagle of the series, bringing the franchise back to glory. Instead, it’s a bogey-filled misstep. The anime visuals and character variety can’t save it from poor gameplay, grating sound design, and baffling design choices. Unless major updates fix its biggest issues, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots will go down as one of the weakest entries in the series. Honestly, I’d rather boot up my old PS1 and play the original Hot Shots Golf than endure another round of this.

ーAaron