, known as Hot Shots Golf in North America is a series of golf games published by Sony for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 consoles. The series is well-known for its humorous look on the game of golf (including cartoon-like caricatures) and guest characters from other games, along with modes such as miniature golf and its ability to maintain a realistic engine with precise control in tandem with the unrealistic design. The series is popular with both golf fans and non-fans alike.

Everybody's Golf spawned six sequels: Everybody's Golf 2, Everybody's Golf 3, Everybody's Golf 4 (named Everybody's Golf in Europe due to the non-release of Everybody's Golf 3), Everybody's Golf (on PlayStation Portable, called Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee in North America), Minna no Golf: Coca Cola Special Edition (Japan only; a version of the PlayStation Portable version of Everybody's Golf with heavy Coca-Cola branding) and Everybody's Golf 5. There is also a spin-off to the series: Everybody's Tennis.

Everybody's Golf

Everybody's Golf (1997)

The original Everybody's Golf was developed by Camelot Software Planning and originally released in Japan on July 7, 1997 for the PlayStation. Later, it was released in the United States and United Kingdom on May 5, 1998.

There are a variety of modes including Tournament, Training, Stroke Play, Match Play, and a Miniature Golf course. The game featured several characters; those not available from the start had to be unlocked for play by defeating them. A player could earn experience points for his character for winning tournaments and hitting a variety of shots. These points were used to open new courses. The game featured six different courses and a free moving game camera.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Golf – Untranslated Japanese title
• Hot Shots Golf – North American title
• Everybody's Golf - Worldwide title (Except North America)

Everybody's Golf 2 (2000)

This sequel developed by Clap Hanz, was released on February 29, 2000 in United States and April 19, 2000 in the United Kingdom for the PlayStation. In 2006, it was released for the PSP via the PlayStation 3.

While the game is very similar to the original, it does bring slight improvements. Like the game's 1997 release, there are several characters to choose from, and many more to be unlocked throughout the game. Each character has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, making character selection more than just choosing a skin. The character models themselves are more realistic looking as opposed to the big-headed anime style of the original.

Again, there are several different modes of play, from standards like Stroke, Match, and Tournament play, to the versus, through which new characters can be unlocked. Gameplay itself is a version of the standard '3 click' variety used by the majority of golf games.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Golf 2 – Japanese title
• Hot Shots Golf 2 – North American title

Hot Shots Golf 3 (2002)

Developed again by Clap Hanz, this is the third installment of the respected PlayStation golf series and the first entry on the PlayStation 2. It was released on March 11, 2002 in North America, and was not released in Europe.

The overall look and feel of the game is pretty much the same as its predecessors, refined visuals are a given. The same '3 click' system for hitting the ball is back. There are a number of different courses, characters, clubs, and ball types to choose from. New equipment can be purchased with experience points, which your characters earn by winning matches. Better equipment will ease up the games difficulty a bit by providing greater accuracy, distance, and control. As an additional feature, the game has an international ranking system: With a password from the game you can post your scores on a website, where you can see how you measure up against everyone else out there. As of March 12, 2002, Hot Shots Golf 3 has sold over one million copies worldwide.

Alternate title

• Minna no Golf 3 – Japanese title

Everybody's Golf 4 (2003)

The fourth game in the EG series, but only the third released in Europe; the third game developed by Clap Hanz and the second on PlayStation 2. It was released on November 27, 2003 in Japan, August 17, 2004 in North America and September 23, 2005 in Europe.

The new version contains more realistic physics and better graphics. In addition, the game introduced online play with the Network Adaptor. The developers also increased the overall number of characters from 15 to 24, added more caddies (10 in all) and boosted the number of courses from 6 to 15. Of these, 10 are new, while five are returning favorites from the previous game. The game also features an online Tournament mode where up to 32 players can compete against each other. the North American and European versions included online play while Japanese did not.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Golf 4 – Japanese title
• Hot Shots Golf Fore! – North American title

Everybody's Golf (2005)

The first Everybody's Golf game for the PlayStation Portable, released as a launch title in Japan and Europe on December 12, 2004 and September 1, 2005 respectively. It was released in North America on May 3, 2005.

This newest version of the game features 6 new courses as well as several classic ones, and has the same, wide range of player customization as other games in the series. Players may also play this game wirelessly with up to 8 people.

The game features three modes. The single-player game offers gamers the chance to unlock characters and items by competing in tournaments or by stroke play. Training mode lets golfers practice their skills on various courses with no pressure. The wireless multiplayer mode allows up to eight players to play a course together in various head-to-head matches, real-time tournaments, or the new putting challenge.

The 10 new characters can be customized with more than 250 items of clothing, accessories, clubs, and balls for a unique style. Once players gain enough experience, they can upgrade their equipment to go even further under par.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Golf Portable – Japanese title
• Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee – North American title

Minna no Golf Portable: Coca Cola Special Edition (2005)

Released on May 5, 2005 only in Japan, this exclusive version of the PSP game Minna no Golf Portable is a Coca-Cola branded special edition which features costumes for the characters in Coke's red-and-white colors, billboards with Coke branding, Coke "thought bubbles", Coke bottle-shaped golf clubs, and packaging designed around the Coke theme.

This game is rare beyond rare as far as Special Editions go: only 1,300 copies of the game were produced. Both the game and the Coke-branded PSP systems (which just have a logo, instead of being red-and-white PSPs) were to be given away as a prize package. To enter the contest, which ran between March 28 and May 31, 2005, contestants needed 10 Coke points and had to be in Japan. Prizes also included tickets to an exclusive club show with Japanese rock act HY and Shonen Jump manga figurines.

Minna no Golf Ba (2006)

At a PlayStation 3 press conference in March 2006, Sony announced they are preparing a second PSP golf game together with Clap Hanz. The game was released at the same time as the PSP GPS peripheral device in Japan in late November 2006.

The game uses the capabilities of the GPS peripheral to simulate real Japanese golf courses in the game. There are to be multiple volumes of the game, with the first volume including golf courses from the Chiba prefecture. The game is the first to take up two UMD discs: the first includes courses in southern Chiba, along with one special bonus course, while the second includes courses from northern Chiba.

Everybody's Golf 5 (2007)

Developed for the PlayStation 3, this newest game in the franchise was released in Japan on July 26 2007. It sold over 150,000 copies during its first week on sale.

Alternate titles

• Everybody's Golf: World Tour – Full European title
• Minna no Golf 5 – Japanese title
• Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds – North American title

Everybody's Golf Portable 2 (2007)

SCEI and Clap Hanz have recently released screenshots of their sequel to their Everybody's Golf game for PSP, which was released in Japan on December 6 2007, in Europe on 28 May 2008 and in North America as Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 on 3 June 2008.

A notable thing is that this title came with PSP System Software version 3.96. It is the only place where this firmware version can be found as it was never released to the web.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Golf Portable 2 – Japanese Title
• Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 – North American title

Everybody's Tennis (2007)

Everybody's Tennis is the first, and so far only, spin-off to the EG series, obviously being a tennis game instead of golf. It was released September 14, 2006 in Japan, April 13, 2007 in Europe, and July 17, 2007 in North America for the PS2.

The game has 14 characters, 5 umpires, and 11 tennis courts. There are 3 different modes to choose from, which are Challenge Mode, Tennis with Everybody, and Training Mode. In Challenge, you play against computer controlled opponents in order to unlock stuff like alternate costumes for characters and more courts to play on. In Tennis with Everybody, you can play matches with 1 to 4 players. The training mode lets you practice positioning and timing shots. You can choose from service, volley, smash and general practices in this mode.

Few of the characters from the previous games of the series (both American and Japanese) make cameo appearances on the courts (usually only in Singles matches). Suzuki and Gloria return as being playable characters.

Alternate titles

• Minna no Tennis – Japanese Title
• Hot Shots Tennis – North American title

References

Sources

• http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/data/920797.html
• http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/hot-shots-golf-minna-no-golf-series/
• http://psp.ign.com/objects/735/735646.html

External links

• European Official site for Everybody's Golf (4) and EG on PSP
• European Official site for Everybody's Tennis
• Clap Hanz Official site