Game Reviews

Given the pick of a few choice, "desert island" games for PSP, I'd undoubtedly include Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee on that list. My fondness for the series was cultivated on PlayStation 2, but Open Tee made perfect use of its handheld canvas throughout, and still ranks as one of the most fulfilling and long-lasting experiences on the device. It's fitting, then, that the PSP also serves to improve the Hot Shots series' shrug-worthy PS2 spin-off, Hot Shots Tennis, via a new iteration that incorporates existing Hot Shots elements while introducing at least one new element I'd like to see carried over to the virtual fairways.

While the PlayStation 2 Hot Shots Tennis lacked interesting characters (or even player customization) and play modes, Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip on PSP recognizes what makes this long-lasting franchise tick. Like Hot Shots Golf, the gameplay is simple and approachable, yet hardly dumbed down or trivialized. With different tennis swings mapped to various face buttons, it's easy to jump in, but advanced play requires smart shot selection and character placement. My only recurring gripe has to do with difficulty reading the spin and speed of some shots on the PSP screen, as some shots will die quickly after the first bounce, yet look similar to others that reach the back of the court.

Get a Grip also has the personality I've come to expect from a Hot Shots experience, with a series of odd playable characters (aging pop idol, overworked college cheerleader, etc.) and the ability to customize their outfits with a bee costume, cricket helmet, Santa beard, or one of dozens of other silly unlockables. It's not the most detailed or consequential character editor around, but I can't help but get a kick out of seeing my player dive for a shot while wearing a faux anime idol dress and jack-o-lantern mask.

While much of the presentation and core game structure come from the golf side of the franchise, one element that Get a Grip wisely introduces is a new story mode, which lets you visit numerous locations and provides (light) context to matches. It's a silly premise -- you're a world-traveling player seeking to remind select folks why they love tennis -- but the ability to walk around and explore settings while taking in minor bits of narrative is a step up from the traditional menu-based career options of previous Hot Shots releases. What's here is rudimentary, but I'd love to see Clap Hanz build upon it in the next Hot Shots Golf release, whenever that inevitably comes.