Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Review

The Hot Shots Golf series came too America in 1997 and has shot 6 installments since then. Each game has a realistic approach too golf with also been unrealistic in some ways. Design is also cartoonish but it is fun for golfers and non-golfs alike.

Gameplay overivew: HSG:WI gives different modes for gameplay.

• Challenge: Start at the lowest ranking and work your way up too the top, playing with different courses and rules. Playing either 9 holes (inward or outward) or all 18 holes. Completing them gets a star, meeting certain conditions awards a crown. Get 5 crowns you unlock secrets. Get 5 stars and you face a another character. Beat them and you unlock them and able use them (after you buy them). There is also an "easy mode." Lower scores of all other players and make it easier too win.
• Stroke: Play 18 holes with any character unlocked, any equipment unlock and get the lowest score possible and earn points too use in the shop.
• Training: Play any course, with any character and practice as much as you want and can adjust anything from wind too equipment and weather (rain or snow).
• Slot mode: Much like playing a game of slots in Las Vegas. It is luck of the draw be it good, bad or indifferent. What you get is what you get and have too deal with it.
• Multiplayer: You can either play by yourself or with 3 others. Scores are not recorded and stats are not either.
• Match Play: 1 on 1 with another player (human or CPU) and fight too win.

There is another gameplay mode called "Daily International Tournaments." This lets you play against other HSGers from around world in a tournament over 6 days with different courses and rules used too determine individual day winners and overall tournament winners.

Other Modes:

• Customize: Lets you change unlocked characters clothes and change your online character parts too make it as serious or as funny (or lame) as you want.
• Shop: In here you can unlock characters, buy character outfits, clubs, balls, course memberships, lobby character parts and other miscellaneous stuff.
• Data: In here you can view your stats, view character profiles, watch your awesome shots in the "video" area or enter the "library" and check all the stuff your have spend your hard earned points on and any other thing you have got in the game

Character overview: There are 15 characters in HSG:WI. (All characters will have standard stats with recommended equipment afterword)

1. Yuna "National Golf Idol" 17 years old: Yuna does not hit the ball very far, has average control, great impact size (or margin for error), spin is bad but curves the ball on average with an strength in "approach." Yuna is great character for first timers and great for experienced players. Yuna hits the ball straight and inside 60 yards she is excellent. And she is a adorable piece of ass whos skirt flutters in the breeze and shows more then it should character with a wonderful attitude. This blogger has used her most often in the game. Recommended equipment for her is "Big Air" ball and club. These reduce her control and impact but it is worth it. She needs the added distance.
2. Yamato "Dauntless Worker" 21 years old: He does not hit the ball very far, poor control, great impact with average spin and poor side spin with a strength in approach. Yamato is about on par with Yuna but hits a fade shot. Like Yuna is great inside 60 yards however do too him hitting a fade i do not use him very much, if at all. Recommended equipment is "big air" club and "turbo spin" ball. This will increase his distance and spin all areas but loses impact and minimal control.
3. Isabelle "Old-School Dame" 25 years old: Does not hit it very far, good control, great impact, poor spin and side spin with weaknesses in rough and rain. Isabelle is a ok character too use along as you keep her in the fairway (or if you miss put it in a bunker) Her rough weaknesses can be taken care of but not rain. You have too deal with that. At least she hits the ball straight. Recommended equipment for her is "Grass Cutter" clubs and "Big Air" ball. The clubs will eliminate her rough weakness and the ball will give her much needed distance.
4. Chang "Asia's Networking King" 29 years old: Hits the ball farther than any other beginner character, terrible control, great impact with average spin and side spin. Chang is strong in bunkers, so when you find yourself in one (can happen) you'll get out easier. Hits a draw. Since he is a "power" character, he gets more power shots then anyone else in beginner class. Recommended equipment is "Pin Hole" clubs and "Big Air ball. The clubs will increase his control and the ball will increase his distance more.
5. Lani "South Seas Wunderkind" 12 years old: Lani doesn't hit the ball very far, terrible control, good impact, good spin and great side spin. Great at Approach. Lani is an intermediate character with great spin. Giving her "Big Air" clubs and "Pin Hole" ball will help her distance and help her control go up. I find it weird that she hits the ball farther then Yuna but is 5 years younger then she is.
6. Pancho "Latino Tyrant" 35 years old: Hits the ball a decent distance, terrible control, good impact, poor spin but good side spin with strength in bunkers. Hits a draw. Pancho is a good character whos distance gives him a edge over the other listed characters. His impact will help lessen mistakes. Giving him the "Big Air" Clubs and "Pin Hole" ball will help improve his control and help him hit the ball over 270 yards which is useful on longer golf courses. But on shorter course it can be a bit difficult.
7. Grace "Thoroughbred Golfer" 23 years: Hits the ball a decent distance, poor control, good impact, average spin and poor side spin. Strength is getting out of rough and hits a fade. Grace is pretty well rounded with no real strengths or weakness. Give her the "Pin Hole" clubs and "Turbo Spin" ball and will help her control and improve her spin on all fronts. Making her even more well rounded. 
8. Stuart "Melody Master" 24 years old: Hits the ball a decent distance, good control, good impact, terrible spin and average side spin. Weakness is hitting out of the rough. Stuart is a control character. His lack of distance is a give away. Giving Stuart the "Big Air" club and "Turbo Spin" ball helps his distances and spin. You can give him the "Grass Cutter" club for him too do get out of the rough.
9. Amy "Knockout Receptionist" 26 years old: Decent distance, average control, good impact, poor spin and side spin. Hits it straight. Amy doesn't have any glaring faults (unless you can say her spin is) and with a strength in approach makes her good inside 60 years. Recommended equipment is "Turbo Spin" clubs and "Big Air" ball. The clubs will increase her spin (not so much side spin) and the ball increase her distance.
10. Erika "Bittersweet Princess" 17 years old: Decent distance, average control, average impact, good spin and non existent side spin. Hits it straight. Erika is well rounded and a character too use if you do not like hitting the ball with the fade or draw. Strength inside 60 yards is held back by a weakness in the rain. Recommended equipment is "Big Air" Clubs and "Beginner" ball. The clubs increase her distance and ball brings back the impact the clubs take away. I would consider Erika a "wind" player. Meaning let the wind pull her ball where ever you want it too. She is a bit of a turn off for her attitude.
11. Xiao Ling: "Make or Breaker" Unknown age: Average distance, good control, average impact, poor spin and good side spin. Hits it straight. Xiao Ling is the first "Expert" character you can choose too play with. She does most things well except hitting out of bunkers. Recommended equipment is the "Sand Viper" clubs help her get out of bunkers and help her distance. The "Beginner Ball" help raise her impact area but lose some distance. And she is quite a looker too.
12. Max "Powerhouse" 42 years old: Good power, almost non-existent control, poor impact, good spin and poor side spin. Hits a draw. Max hits the ball the country mile but if you get it wrong. There is no telling where it will go. Max is able too get out of rough easily, which can be a common place. Recommended equipment is "Pin Hole" clubs and "Beginner" ball. The clubs will help his control be better and the ball will help his impact but nerf his distance. Some online players use Max with nothing but equipment that increases distance. 
13. Pandora "Mysterious Queen" Unknown age: Good distance, great control, poor impact, average spin and terrible side spin. Hits is straight. Pandora is a great character too use. With her great control and strength in approach. It is easy too get it inside 9 feet. However she is weak in the rain and can not curve the ball very well. Recommended equipment is "Beginner" Clubs and "Big Air" ball. The clubs will increase her impact and the ball will give back some distance that clubs take away. Nothing can be done for her weakness in the rain. And she has a fantastic ass.
14. Izzak "The Perfect Player" 54 years old: Good distance, average control, poor impact, great spin and average side spin. Hits a high fade. Izzak is a very technical player. High shot angle makes it more effected by the wind but his spin make the ball dance on the greens. However has a weakness when in the rough. Recommended equipment for him is the "Grass Cutter" clubs and "Beginner" ball. The clubs will help him get out of rough and the balls will increase his impact.
15. Gloria "Bombshell super lady" 24 years old: Good distance, good control, average control, average spin and poor side spin. Hits it straight. Gloria is a good all-round character. Only knocks against her is her weakness in bunkers and side spin. But is great inside 60 yards. Recommended equipment for her is "Sand Viper" clubs and "Beginner" ball. The clubs her bunker weakness and gives her a little more distance. And the ball increases her impact. Another character this blogger uses quite often.

Those are the 15 original characters. There are 4 available via DLC: Toro, Kuro, Kat and Pac-man.

Equipment overview: All characters come with "Standard" clubs and balls. Nothing is gained or lost with these equipment. Lets the characters natural strengths and weaknesses show. But there is 9 clubs and and 6 ball that can be added each character too increase their natural stats but may almost decrease a stat/s.

Clubs:

• Beginner:  -power; +impact
• Big Air: -impact; +power
• Pin Hole: -impact; +control
• Turbo Spin: -impact; +spin and side spin
• Infinity: -impact and side spin; +power, control and spin (gives weakness when it rains)
• Sand Viper: -control; +power (either removes bunker weakness or gives bunker strength)
• Grass Cutter: -side spin; +control (either removes rough weakness or gives rough strength)
• Big Magnum: -control, impact and spin; +power
• Training Club: -power; +impact (basically if you miss, it does it for you)

Balls:

• Beginner: -power; +impact
• Big Air: -control; +power
• Pin Hole: -side spin; +control
• Turbo Spin: -control; spin and side spin
• Infinity: -side spin; +power, control and spin (gives weakness when it rains)
• Straight ball: -side spin, spin and power; +control (lowers shot trajectory)

Graphics and gameplay: The graphics are solid. Courses look great, characters look great and polished. It has a bit of cartoonish quality but it works. Very few glitches. Gameplay wise when you play you have 5 swing styles too choose from:

1. Gauge shot: A curved gauge lets you set power and impact. Basically a "3-click" system. First click starts, second click sets power and third click sets impact.
2. Circle shot: A curved gauge sets power and a circle too set impact.
3. Arrow shot: A curved gauge sets power and a arrow too set impact.
4. Avanced Shots: Watch your character swing too determine power and impact. (the most difficult one)
5. Traditional Shots: The original Hot Shots Golf way of determining power and impact. Set power and impact and watch your character hit the ball.

Another 2 deal with the Playstation move controller. This gives the game a more realistic experience. Gives too types: Slow for those swing slow and Fast for those who have a fast swing.
When putting on the green you have a grid with little pips on it. The faster the pips move but more sever the slope. Either up, down, right or left. However it is not perfect. It can not see little bumps in the green. And the further away you are the harder it is too read the green. Putters comes in 30, 60 and 90 foot ranges. After 90 feet you will have too use a power shot. And it is a "2-click" system for putting. One too start the gauge and the second too set the power of the putt. Also as a special note, all courses are at Par 72. There is also a "Loyalty" system. The more you use a character the more perks you'll get. Like more power shots or ability too use special shots like adding more spin or side spin.

Music: The games music is good and helps set the mood. Basically a re-mix of the games theme but it works overall. Each course has its own music playing while you play.

Overall Opinion: Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is a great golf game. Golfers and non-golfers alike will enjoy this game. It isn't too hard too understand and can be addicting too play. After many hours of play it does not get old and after many hours of play. Some may set scoring records in the -20s or higher. Even getting past the magical golf of number of "59" is attainable. I gave the game overall grade of A+. Highly recommend anyone play this game.