Everybody's Golf 5
Encyclopedia
is a golf
video game developed by Clap Hanz
/SCEI and published by Sony Computer Entertainment
for the PlayStation 3
. It is part of the extremely popular Everybody's Golf series and was released in Japan on 26 July 2007, close to the 10th anniversary
of the series debut on the PlayStation
. Additionally, the game was sold in bundle
deals with the PlayStation 3 in Japan.
A demo
was made available on the Japanese PlayStation Network in May 2007. The European localised demo was made available on the Australian PlayStation Network on 14 February 2008. The demo arrived in
North America on 26 June 2008.
The game was released in North America on 18 March 2008 and Europe on 28 March 2008. The North American release has mild censorship, replacing the panties of the female players with biking shorts.
Initially, there are six courses in the game, five beginner characters, five intermediate characters, five advanced players, and seven caddies. Shigeki Maruyama
will become the second real-life golfer to become a playable character and caddy.
There consists of a story mode otherwise known as challenge mode where you compete in various tournaments and against other computer controlled players to increase your ranking and unlock various items.
The game has had a large graphical overhaul, with nearly every visual aspect becoming more detailed and realistic.
from the God of War
series was made available as a playable character.
On 12 March 2009 Sackboy from LittleBigPlanet
was made available as a playable character.
Everybody's Golf 5 is one of the few games that fully support game launching in PlayStation Home
, the PlayStation 3's online community based service. With full support game launching, users can set up a multiplayer match in Home with advanced options. After they've set up their match, other users can join them or vice-versa and then they can launch into the game directly from Home. The game launching feature can be accessed in the dedicated game space for the Everybody's Golf series in Home.
. Chris Roper of IGN
gave the game a score of 8.9 out of ten, writing: "Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is a tremendously fun golf game, one that should appease either casual or hardcore golf fans. It's an arcadey approach to the sport, for sure, but there's still a good deal of depth in the game that'll give veteran players plenty to work with. There could have been more courses, and the lack of voice support online is somewhat disappointing, but the overall package is a ton of fun and definitely worth picking up."
Aaron Thomas of GameSpot
gave a score of 7.5 out of ten, writing: "The Hot Shots Golf series has changed very little during the past 10 years, but there's no question that while still good, this is a franchise in need of a shot in the arm -- or at the very least, more courses. But that said, the new swing and robust online play freshen things up just enough to make it worth getting a tee time with Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds." Reviewing the Japanese version, Everybody's Golf 5, Dave McCarthy of Eurogamer
gave the game a score of 8.0 out of 10, writing: "In spite of the fact that all you're doing is pressing a button three times, over and over again, it never gets boring. It would probably be too controversial to call it the best golf game, or the best PS3 game. But on both counts it's a remarkably close call."
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
video game developed by Clap Hanz
Clap Hanz
Clap Hanz, Ltd. is a video game developer located in Japan. It is an independent 3rd party company with strong ties with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and is the developer of the Everybody's Golf and Everybody's Tennis series...
/SCEI and published by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. It is part of the extremely popular Everybody's Golf series and was released in Japan on 26 July 2007, close to the 10th anniversary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the series debut on the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
. Additionally, the game was sold in bundle
Product bundling
Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as one combined product. This strategy is very common in the software business , in the cable television industry Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as...
deals with the PlayStation 3 in Japan.
A demo
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
was made available on the Japanese PlayStation Network in May 2007. The European localised demo was made available on the Australian PlayStation Network on 14 February 2008. The demo arrived in
North America on 26 June 2008.
The game was released in North America on 18 March 2008 and Europe on 28 March 2008. The North American release has mild censorship, replacing the panties of the female players with biking shorts.
Gameplay
Everybody's Golf 5 introduces a modified version of the "3 click" shot system. Instead of relying completely on the gauge at the bottom to estimate the strength and slice of the shot, the new system encourages you to use the actual character's golf swing to select the power. Once the strength of the shot is determined, the gauge disappears, and the accuracy of the shot relies on the player's timing when the club hits the ball.Initially, there are six courses in the game, five beginner characters, five intermediate characters, five advanced players, and seven caddies. Shigeki Maruyama
Shigeki Maruyama
Shigeki Maruyama is a Japanese professional golfer.Maruyama was born in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. He attended Nihon University and turned professional in 1992. He is known for his ever-present smile on the golf course which has given rise to his nickname of the "Smiling Assassin"...
will become the second real-life golfer to become a playable character and caddy.
There consists of a story mode otherwise known as challenge mode where you compete in various tournaments and against other computer controlled players to increase your ranking and unlock various items.
The game has had a large graphical overhaul, with nearly every visual aspect becoming more detailed and realistic.
Downloadable content
On 15 May 2008 two additional characters, Alex and Gloria, were made available for purchase from the PlayStation Store in Europe and North America. On 19 June an additional course, Oceania Resort Course, was made available for purchase from the PlayStation Store in Europe and North America. On 20 August 2008, the character KratosKratos (God of War)
Kratos is a video game character from Sony Computer Entertainment'sGod of War series, which is loosely based on Greek mythology. Kratos first appeared in the highly successful video game God of War , which led to the development of five additional games featuring the character as the protagonist...
from the God of War
God of War (series)
God of War is a series of action-adventure video games based on Greek mythology.The main trilogy—God of War I, II, & III—in the series were developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division , with Ready at Dawn Studios developing the PSP and Javaground the mobile phone installment...
series was made available as a playable character.
On 12 March 2009 Sackboy from LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet, commonly abbreviated LBP, is a puzzle platformer video game, based on user-generated content, for the PlayStation 3 first announced on 7 March 2007, by Phil Harrison at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California...
was made available as a playable character.
Game Launching
PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social gaming network developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network . It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar under PlayStation Network. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN...
, the PlayStation 3's online community based service. With full support game launching, users can set up a multiplayer match in Home with advanced options. After they've set up their match, other users can join them or vice-versa and then they can launch into the game directly from Home. The game launching feature can be accessed in the dedicated game space for the Everybody's Golf series in Home.
Reception
Critical reaction to the game has been mostly positive, with the game holding a rating of 81 out of 100 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Chris Roper of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a score of 8.9 out of ten, writing: "Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is a tremendously fun golf game, one that should appease either casual or hardcore golf fans. It's an arcadey approach to the sport, for sure, but there's still a good deal of depth in the game that'll give veteran players plenty to work with. There could have been more courses, and the lack of voice support online is somewhat disappointing, but the overall package is a ton of fun and definitely worth picking up."
Aaron Thomas of GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave a score of 7.5 out of ten, writing: "The Hot Shots Golf series has changed very little during the past 10 years, but there's no question that while still good, this is a franchise in need of a shot in the arm -- or at the very least, more courses. But that said, the new swing and robust online play freshen things up just enough to make it worth getting a tee time with Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds." Reviewing the Japanese version, Everybody's Golf 5, Dave McCarthy of Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
gave the game a score of 8.0 out of 10, writing: "In spite of the fact that all you're doing is pressing a button three times, over and over again, it never gets boring. It would probably be too controversial to call it the best golf game, or the best PS3 game. But on both counts it's a remarkably close call."