The way I see it, there are two types of golfing gamers in this world. The first type are those who watch the game on TV and pay attention to every detail, be it the power they put behind a shot, the preciseness of a backspin, wind trajectories for the right placing, and, of course, tracking their stats like a bandit to become the best golfer out there. Obviously, a game like EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is the game for them. But then there's the other type, those who want to just get into a game and have fun with it. Obviously, Tiger Woods can offer this kind of entertainment if you let it, but sometimes you don't want to mess with analog swings and you just want a three-tap system that'll send the ball airborne towards the green or fairway. If that's the case, Sony has the game for you.

Sony previously released Hot Shots Golf 3 for the PlayStation 2, and it turned into an enjoyable affair, employing the three-tap system with a new graphic interface courtesy of developer Clap Hanz (taking over for the departed Camelot Software Group, now working on Mario Golf games for Nintendo). The game sold reasonably well, kicking up enough interest in a new title. And that title, Hot Shots Golf Fore!, has arrived.

This time around, Sony's taking the approach a bit more seriously, even though it's still in the great comical nature it's always been. Characters are comically animated, varying in a number of types, from a sassy female to a somewhat overweight guy who gets his kicks from scoring eagles and birdies. A few other familiar faces have also made the cut- Jak (along with Daxter) and Ratchet (along with Clank). It's great to see them pop up in a golf game, even if it seems out of place from their normal ass-kicking affairs. The graphic detail overall is just as smooth as it's ever been, utilizing just enough of the PS2's power to put a nice touch on things without going into overkill. The courses look great, and there are 12 in all to choose from, along with a simpler par three course and a couple of mini-golf courses when you get tired of hitting the major links.

One thing I couldn't understand, though, is why the sound hasn't really been improved. The music still sounds pretty basic, not really out to wow or improve the mood of your golfer, but not grating on the nerves either. What's so wrong with adding a good soundtrack to a golf game? Anyone? Also, character voices don't really fit the characters at all, going more for an annoyance factor than a comical sense. Is this so hard to grasp? What's wrong with adding some great comic talent to a golf game?

That's just a small divot in the game, though. Hot Shots Golf Fore! more than makes up for it with the addition of its online component. With the PS2 networking option, you can challenge up to four friends in a local tournament and test your skills, or you can take part in a huge 50-person tournament (you can't see your friends play, but you can match up in a huge leaderboard). The online play seems to work rather well, with only the occasional hiccup to throw things off. This community is awesome and the challenges seem to be endless.

The gameplay is of the "three-tap" variety, where you tap a button three different times to judge power and accuracy. However, Clap Hanz has added a few tweaks to make it a bit more interesting. You can now increase or decrease power by hitting a particular button during the "three tap", and you can also work better on accurately placing your shots. The meter is about the same, where if you hit the ball too soon or early on the third tap, you can hook and slice rather easily. The addition of a little power icon between the two is kinda neat, allowing you to slam a ball without having to worry too much about its distance once it hits the ground. Overall, it's still the basic arcade play that it's always been, but Sony and Clap Hanz has worked to make it more interesting, and it gets a thumbs up from me.

There's plenty of replay value here as well. Aside from the online stuff (which will keep you busy for hours in itself), there are over 20 golfers to choose from (along with their helpful caddies- watching Clank help Ratchet out is hilarious), a huge number of courses available, and plenty of off-line match-ups you can have with your friends. It all depends on how much you enjoy the gameplay. If you run into any struggles, Clap Hanz has also included a Hot Shot Club option, where you can perfect your skills and get better.

Hot Shots Golf Fore! isn't going to change the golf world, but it really didn't set out to. Basically, it's an ultimate reimagining of the previous Hot Shots Golf game, with the kind of additions that'll make it a crucial title for fans of such a genre. I can't recommend it enough. Despite its sound flaws and its simplicity, I still enjoyed my time playing Hot Shots Golf Fore!, if only for the online opportunities and the ability to have Daxter do some frickin' work for a change. Give it a swing.