Seven years ago, I stumbled upon Clap Hanz’s delightful Everybody’s Golf series, picking up the 2017 edition at a bargain price. My interest in sports games is minimal, and golf has never been my forte. Yet, perhaps it was the allure of vibrant anime characters reminiscent of early 2000s rhythm games or simply a bout of summer ennui that led me to this unexpected gem. The experience was nothing short of exhilarating. The open courses allowed me to traverse the landscape in a customized golf cart, and the golfing mechanics were surprisingly engaging, boasting tight physics and an approachable learning curve.
Excitement for the PC Debut
With the announcement of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots making its debut on PC, my excitement reached new heights. The franchise has been a PlayStation exclusive since its inception in 1997, with only a single mobile iteration released in Japan. However, the transition to PC has not come without its quirks. The dialogue within the game feels relentless, as if the characters are determined to fill every moment with chatter.
As I embarked on my journey in Challenge Mode, I was introduced to two golfers, Alie and Mizuki, accompanied by caddy Hannah. I opted for Alie as my starting character, and soon found myself inundated with a barrage of enthusiastic encouragement:
- “I’m rooting for you, go get ’em Alie!”
- “You can totally count on me!”
- “Yay!”
- “You got this, girly!”
- “Go ball!”
- “Deep breaths, girly!”
This constant stream of encouragement quickly became overwhelming. The situation intensified when I unlocked German caddy Hugh, whose accent raised some eyebrows. Each time I heard “to the right, ja?” I felt a growing sense of exasperation. Do golfers on real courses engage in such incessant chatter? How do they manage to focus on their game amidst such vocal enthusiasm? The limited voice lines available for each character only compounded the issue, leading to repetitive phrases during even the briefest of outings.
While this may seem like a minor grievance, it has notably affected my enjoyment of Hot Shots during my initial hours of play. I had my reservations about a non-Clap Hanz interpretation of the series, but Hyde has managed to deliver a commendable experience. If the studio can address the frequency of the voice lines, I believe my enjoyment will significantly improve—before the caddies become victims of their own exuberance.
