December 17, 2011
Clap Hanz

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational

I would only recommend you to buy this game, if the other Vita launch games such as these, these and these - are not your types, and if you obviously love this franchise a lot. In case you do buy it, Yamato and Yuna will not let you down!

69%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

music, character development

87% User Score Based on 110 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is the tenth installment in the Everybody's Golf series, known as Hot Shots Golf in North America and the fourth in Europe. This comedy arcade game offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, boasting exceptional gameplay and delightful graphics. An entertaining and engaging experience, players can enjoy a lighthearted approach to golf with charming visuals and fun, accessible mechanics.

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Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews

graphics21 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and charming character designs, making it visually appealing on the PS Vita.
Gameplay is fun and accessible, with a classic three-button swing system that allows for deep and challenging golf mechanics.
The game offers a good amount of content with various unlockables, online play, and a practice mode to help players improve their skills.

The game has a limited number of courses and characters compared to previous installments, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially in later stages, which may deter casual players from enjoying the experience.
Some features, like the 'easy' mode, are poorly implemented and do not significantly reduce the challenge, leading to potential frustration.

graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
14%
11%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users noting that they are impressive for a handheld device, often likening the experience to that of a PS3. The charming, cartoon-esque visuals enhance the whimsical nature of the game, complemented by natural lighting and fun animations. Overall, players find the graphics to be a significant highlight, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience on the PS Vita.
- “The graphics are fantastic, and the audio is, for the most part, well done.”
- “Picked it up again in 2020 and what can I say, gorgeous graphics and gameplay make this a must buy for any Vita owner.”
- “The graphics look excellent by the franchise's standards (cartoon-esque) and this adds to the fun animations that the players express.”
- “This game isn't about wowing with graphics or realism.”
- “Hot Shots courts you initially with its whimsical charm, easy-breezy graphics, and pick up and play accessibility; however, once you slip the ring on, forget about it.”
- “Graphics are charming and fit the PS Vita perfectly, especially on the OLED screen.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The gameplay is praised for its depth and replayability, offering a mix of challenge and fun that keeps players engaged. While the controls are responsive and the graphics are visually appealing, some mechanics can be frustratingly difficult, and the game could benefit from more content and improved character design. Overall, it combines classic arcade-style play with a variety of shot mechanics, making it enjoyable for both golf enthusiasts and casual players alike.
- “Don't let initial impressions fool you, though - the underlying gameplay is deep and can be very challenging.”
- “Gameplay is simple and fun.”
- “Great graphics, great sound and just over fun gameplay that just makes you want to get better at the game the more you play.”
- “Better would have been to make some of the mechanics easier.”
- “Do you like mastering gameplay mechanics that are affected by variables outside of your control?”
- “I wouldn't say that any of the touch-screen or gyroscopic capabilities of the PS Vita add anything useful to the gameplay, but they don't detract from the game either.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
The music in the game is described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience without causing distractions during gameplay. However, some players express frustration over certain music selections being disabled, which detracts from the enjoyment of unlocking items. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it suitable for extended play sessions.
- “It is an entertaining and relaxing golf game that shows some promising features for 50+ hours of entertainment and enjoyment: relaxing background music and real surrounding feelings.”
- “The game begins with two characters, and you have to play through the game to earn points to unlock characters, equipment, CGs, and so on, with each character associated with its strong personality.”
- “And before you know it, you're buying pictures of people you don't even care about; music you can't listen to because it's been disabled, and time spent you'll never get back ... you'll never get any of this time back.”
- “Music is very calming so you don't get easily distracted while aiming.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game offers significant replayability due to its engaging gameplay mechanics, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
- “The gameplay included offers a significant amount of replayability.”
- “The gameplay included offers a significant amount of replayability.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is criticized for being stereotypical and lacking depth, with limited diversity in golfer and caddy options. While there are some appealing outfits and a variety of shot mechanics, the overall character design and voice acting do not meet expectations, leaving players wanting more engaging and relatable characters.
- “Character design is still so stereotypical that some might almost call it racist.”
- “The voice choice and acting is still mostly not as enjoyable as it has been in the past.”
- “Might only be one or two golfers/caddies and two or three courses that many players will really enjoy.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game lacks a compelling narrative, leaving players without a story to engage with or explore.
- “It doesn't offer a story for you to explore.”
- “The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth.”
- “Character development is minimal, making it hard to connect with the story.”