There’s nothing more tranquil than hitting the links for a quick round of golf. The sound of sand, water, and cheerful music fill the air, that’s if you’re not too busy digging your tiny golf ball out of those hazards, Everybody’s Golf provides that same tranquillity from the comfort of your own home, come rain or shine you can now play golf whatever the weather. Everybody’s Golf is what most people know as “Hot Shots Golf”. Developer Clap Hanz has unified the name for good reason. Now with online functionality and daily challenges Everybody’s Golf for PS4 is the complete package for well, everybody.
The Golfing
It may not come as a shock to many that Everybody’s Golf is in fact a virtual golfing game, but it is also so much more than that. Thankfully it’s the same great quality we can expect from an Everybody’s Golf game. Golfing is handled with a 3-click system and it works very well. You’ll be rewarded with perfect shots that have extra distance and accuracy. Hitting well timed and placed shots will also level up your clubs. Something a little different this time around, is that progress is tied to clubs. Hit a huge drive and that will add power to your 1-wood, get a perfect backspin with your sand wedge and your spin will increase. Each club’s power, control, spin, and “back door” attributes can be increase each time they are used. The better you play, the more these stats will increase. I’ve yet to max out any of these attributes except the “back door” stat. The “back door” stat will increase your ability to nail those long putts and chip-ins, it was easy for me to max it out with my putter, but the same can’t be said for any other club
There are also small bonuses for completing online courses. Once a “course of the day” is completed you’ll unlock a reward, which is sent to your inbox the next day. It’s a little odd, but I get that they are trying to get players to log on and complete the daily course.
The other online mode is turf war. Up to ten players on each side will compete against each other to “claim” holes. Perform well on a hole and the points will rack up. The goal is to capture more holes than the opposing team. It’s a fun hectic game that has you “speed golfing”. I threw caution to the wind and just tried to get through holes as quick as possible to give my team an advantage.
The Verdict
Everybody’s Golf is the golf game I’ve been waiting for. It’s the perfect game to de-stress to after a long day at work. There are no high stakes or gunshots, just a tiny ball to whack around. You can even pass a controller around for some local play if friends want to get in on the occasion. It doesn’t offer a large amount of modes, but the small distractions add enough diversity to keep the game feeling fresh.
The freedom given to the player is a welcome change and the open online courses feel like a weird social experiment. I loved being able to magically pop into a golf cart and drive like a mad man through a peaceful country club. There are a lot of weird disconnects that give Everybody’s Golf a ton of charm resulting in the best entry in the series to date.
Review Summary
Everybody’s Golf for PS4 takes the long standing franchise to new heights. Challenging and satisfying it carves out a great space for when shooting things gets tiresome. The online is wacky and the character creator matches the zany, but charming cast of characters. Everybody’s Golf truly live up to its name and there is something here for everyone.
