Everybody’s Golf is a long-running golf simulation series closely tied to the PlayStation brand. It has appeared on nearly every major PlayStation console, even making its way to the short-lived PlayStation Vita. That is why, after years of dormancy, fans were surprised to see the franchise return—this time published by a third party and released across multiple platforms rather than staying exclusive to PlayStation hardware.
This is also the first entry in the series to debut on PC. Unfortunately, the port leaves much to be desired. The game suffers from numerous technical issues that drag down the experience, even on the PlayStation 5. That said, the gameplay itself still manages to satisfy long-time fans of the series. For me, this was my first real introduction to the franchise, and as a golf game, it hits most of the right notes. There is a good amount of depth and customization when it comes to taking shots, which makes it feel solid on the gameplay front, even if the technical side is underwhelming.
The first thing that stands out is that the presentation feels underwhelming. The menus, UI, and other elements of the game lack polish and come across as clunky. They work well enough to get the job done, but they are not particularly impressive. On the bright side, the game offers a variety of modes for both single-player and multiplayer. For someone like me who has not spent much time with past entries, the tutorial mode helped me learn the basics of golfing and the mechanics on offer. It explains things decently, though it can feel a bit repetitive at times.
One of the more common complaints I have seen online is about the gradient grid system. I cannot really judge it in comparison to older entries since I have not played them in depth, but personally, it seemed fine to me. For long-time fans, however, it may feel like a downgrade. The other major issue I noticed was the camera system. At first, I thought it was broken because I could not get a clear view of my shot before swinging. Eventually, I realized the system is simply not well implemented. There are multiple camera angles available, but most fail to give a proper view of the course. This meant I often had to rely on workarounds just to figure out the best way to line up my shots.
The animation system feels overused to the point of becoming repetitive. Do we really need to see the same character sing and dance every time we land a perfect shot? I wish there were an option to tone it down. The visuals themselves are decent, but they do not exactly match current-generation standards. It honestly feels like a game developed on a smaller budget, which is fine since the core gameplay remains solid and enjoyable.
On PC, the game ran fine for me personally, but I have seen plenty of complaints about performance issues, particularly stuttering. On PS5, performance was generally acceptable, though I was surprised to see a graphics menu included. This seems tied to a 120 Hz mode and VRR, both of which can be toggled if your display supports them. Enabling these features improves responsiveness and helps performance overall, which is especially important when timing your shots perfectly.
This new entry was not developed by Clap Hanz, the studio long associated with the series and known for handling several sports-centric franchises for the Nintendo ecosystem. That absence shows, as this release lacks the same polish and care found in previous entries. The gameplay itself checks the right boxes, though. Factors like wind, positioning, and spin all play an important role, adding a sense of immersion to each shot. There are plenty of single-player modes to spend time with, but the multiplayer side feels fairly barebones in comparison. To mix things up, the game even includes a fun mode where traditional rules are tossed aside and modifiers change the way the matches play out.
Given the budget price, it is hard to be overly critical of the game for feeling a bit shallow overall. If you are a fan of Everybody’s Golf, this might scratch that itch, though it may not fully satisfy. The developers still have room to refine the experience, patch technical issues, and improve certain systems. As it stands, however, this is simply an okay entry in the franchise and a decent, if unremarkable, golf game.
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Developer: HYDE
- Platform: PC, PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
