How long does it take to make an Everybody’s Golf game for the PlayStation 4? A bloody long time, apparently – it’s been three years since Clap Hanz’s new-gen debut was announced, and we’ve still got to wait until the end of August to play it properly. Fortunately, there’s an online beta ongoing at the moment, and we’ve been checking it out.
The server stress test centres on the multiplayer component as you’d expect, but there will be single player tournaments in the final product, so worry not. This is a title that’s clearly designed to be connected, though: cosmetic items will rotate on a regular basis, and practically everything in the release has a leaderboard attached.
It’s the most ambitious Everybody’s Golf ever, then? Definitely. The developer has toyed around with interactive online lobbies in the past, but here courses are basically like mini-MMO instances. When you choose a level (only one is available for the beta), you’ll be pulled into an open space where other players are milling around or teeing off.
You’re free to do whatever you want in that space. There are hidden items to seek out and collect, you can practice on any of the holes, and in the full game you’ll be able to race buggies, go fishing, and much more. You can chat to other players a la PlayStation Home, challenge them to a round of golf, or just avoid everyone like the introvert you are.
Starting at hole one allows you to line up a nine hole round – there will, of course, also be an 18 hole option for each of the five courses in the full game – whereby you’re automatically transported to each tee off point in succession. Completing a full round will put you in the running for a daily tournament, where the best players will receive cosmetic prizes and coins.
The golf itself is much the same as it’s always been, focusing on the classic click-click-click action of yore. For the first time ever this extends to the putting, too, adding a little extra challenge to those all-important concluding shots. Spin can still be applied to your drives, and there are alternate balls available from the in-game shop to help you get a little more control.
Perhaps the biggest change this time is that you can level up each of your clubs by playing the game. Hitting a long shot will earn XP for the club you used, and as you level up that particular attribute you’ll gain more distance. The same is true of control, spin, and so on – it’ll be interesting to see how this is balanced in multiplayer because it seems a veteran player may have a big statistical advantage over a newcomer.
Speaking of which, there’s a new eight player multiplayer mode named Turf War, which splits players into two coloured teams and tasks them with sprinting around the course, trying to earn as many points as possible. You need to essentially, as a team, dominate as many holes as you can, which actually really cleverly leverages the new open world format.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment so far is the presentation. It’s twee and as jovial as it’s always been, but the visuals are seriously underwhelming, and we still can’t decide whether we like the character creator or not. There are certainly enough options to come up with acceptable avatars, but the beauty of previous Hot Shots titles has always been the great pre-designed character models.
The game seems promising, though – a clear “live” title that will benefit greatly from frequent content updates and a dedicated community. With all of the other gameplay features still to be added in the full game and a couple of months leftover for some spit and polish, there’s no reason not to call your caddy and prepare to get back into the swing of things.
Will you be teeing off with Everybody's Golf this year, or do you remain unconvinced? Pretend you can better Sammy's best Eagle in the comments section below.
Comments 28
I loved the PS Vita version , I'm excited for a console release again. This is the perfect game to pick up and play a couple rounds then turn it off .
I so want this. Too bad I didn't get the invite code.
How's finding someone to play like? I'm concerned that if the game doesn't do all that well it maybe tough to find matches.
@adf86 When you enter a course you'll immediately be in the same area as other people and (I believe) you can challenge anyone that's hanging out to a match.
It shows you how many people are currently playing on each of the courses, and I think even if there were only 20 or so people on the servers, you'd be fine.
There were loads of Japanese people playing earlier so it seems the servers aren't region based which should massively help with player population, too. I expect it'll be fine.
I can't wait!! I love Hot Shots!
Can't wait. I'm dying for a good golf game on the PS4.
Waiting for this game!!!! Seems like forever, and played the PS4 Out Of Bounds to death...disappointed no trophy support ever came to the PS3, especially when they added Move support, but then we got the Vita version as a download, and I bought that one too and played that to death! Will be nice to get a fun Golf game for PS4, and since it's Hot Shots Golf (now with the Hot Shots taken away), can't wait for it...especially since it's only $40!!!!! With this and Crash Trilogy, I'll be set for a while in PS4 love!!!!
I had a go of this last night and it was fun, the actual golf is very good and the 9 holes you can play have some trickier shots than I was expecting. I can see this being the go to game with some friends when you can unlock the golf carts and fishing. The social aspect is cool with you able to roam the course at will and spectator or just practice that hole. I'll definitely be picking this up on release
I'm hoping there's a western demo planned because I'm not really digging all this online connectivity and open courses malarkey. And, like you say, those character models look awful compared to the original designed models of previous EG games. I'm also an introvert so maybe that's why I'm complaining.
Damn it.....now I want to play the Vita version......Ah well, as the weather is beautifull, maybe not so bad.
This makes my ps4 sound like a jet aircraft, as does opening messages.
Nrrrgghhhh I can't wait!!
hm, seems like i didn't get into the beta
played a few rounds yesterday, though haven't tried turf war yet. the golf is pretty much the same as you've always loved (or not). i found the character creation to be ok - i used the random generator over and over til i found one that i liked, then tweaked it a bit. it reminded me a bit of the creation in modnation racers.
the levelling up takes a bit of getting used to. when you start, the driver has a max distance of about 180yds. which makes getting birdies on 400+yd par 4's quite difficult. i've levelled it up to about 215yds, but you also level up control, spin, etc. each time you hit a good shot, and you level up your player each time you compete in tournaments. best i've managed for the only 9-hole course available so far is -4, but top of the leaderboard was (as of last night) -15!
@ApostateMage - the closed beta is an online test, but in the final game you can play single player tournaments offline. there's a 'gate' for it from the home lobby, but you can't enter it in the beta.
@leucocyte Ah cool, good to know. Cheers. I bet I'll end up loving it all the same.
I am downloading the beta now and I am interested to play it, personally, I am not that happy about the focus on online in this game. I liked the characters and carreer progression in world tour.
@ApostateMage @leucocyte Worth noting as well that even if you're in an online lobby, you don't necessarily have to be playing with other people. It's just cool feeling like you're in a "busy" area.
Sound's pretty cool, this might be the first golf game I actualy buy. The online feature's make it much more appealing and worth a full price purchase if i'm honest. I like the sound of leveling up my club's etc as well, it's the first golf game i've genuinely been interested in.
Yeah, I'm interested in this, though it's not my usual type of game. Would be good just to dip into as a break from MMO's
Looking forward to this. I agree the little group of default characters and their various quirks were more than enough. Not sure about the Multiplayer but will probably give it a go.
@xMEADx Good news for you , it's not a full price title ! I pre-ordered for £24.99 a couple of weeks ago . It's £23.85 from Base.com now but your from USA I think so not sure whats what over there !
@MinerWilly This game is firmly on my radar now, with price's like that everyone should give it a go and support this game, it sound's far more of a full package than some game's i've paid £50 for.
@MinerWilly Thanks. Pre-ordered from Base.com along with Wipeout with the classic case! Result!
I spent a good summer chilling out and playing this on ps vita. Looking forward to this one!
@get2sammyb
You don't mention it so I assume it is not the case, but do you know if Move is supported here? If there is a genre where I vastly prefer motion controls, it is definitely golf. And with the recent Move push provided by VR, it would be great to have the option.
@sinalefa Pretty sure it doesn't, but I'm not 100%.
Would love to try this out but definitely need to demo it first.
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