We recently had the opportunity to hear from Takafumi Takemoto, the main producer behind the upcoming EVERYBODY’S GOLF HOT SHOTS. Takemoto, who previously worked as assistant producer on games like Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions and BLEACH: Rebirth of Souls, is now leading the charge to bring this beloved golf series back to modern audiences.
The franchise has been around for decades, winning over both serious golf fans and casual players with its unique blend of accessibility and depth. Now, with HOT SHOTS, the team is trying to capture that same magic while updating everything for today’s gaming landscape.
A New Look for a Classic Series
One of the first things players will notice about HOT SHOTS is its fresh visual style. Unlike the more realistic look of the 2017 entry, this new game goes for something more stylized and animated.
“We aimed for a ‘just right level of stylization’ that isn’t too realistic,” Takemoto explains. “While valuing a realistic golf experience, we felt that an anime-style taste was appropriate to express the friendliness and fun that is characteristic of the ‘Everyone Can Play’ series.” This artistic choice wasn’t made lightly. The team wanted to make sure both longtime fans and newcomers would feel welcome when they first see the game.
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Modern Tools for Classic Fun
The development team also made headlines for using AI-generated textures for trees and leaves throughout the game’s various courses. Since HOT SHOTS features golf courses inspired by locations around the world, the team needed a lot of different natural elements to make each course feel unique.
“We use pattern creation to produce textures for trees and leaves implemented within the courses,” says Takemoto. “Subsequently, designers fine-tune and implement these elements to match the overall world and atmosphere of each course.”
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Wacky Golf: When Skill Isn’t Everything
Perhaps the biggest new addition to Hot Shots is something called Wacky Golf, a mode that turns traditional golf rules on their head. This isn’t just a random addition – it comes from the team’s desire to make sure everyone can have fun together, regardless of their golf game skills.
“Our starting point was the desire to create an experience that everyone could enjoy together—even those unfamiliar with golf,” Takemoto explains. The mode draws inspiration from special rules found in older games in the series, but takes things much further.
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
“By incorporating rules that allow the outcome to flip regardless of skill level, we’ve created a golf experience that’s fun for families and friends alike,” he adds.
Keeping the Soul of Everybody’s Golf
Taking over a franchise with so much history comes with pressure, but Takemoto and his team approached it with respect for what came before. The core appeal of Everybody’s Golf has always been simple: games that are easy to start playing but offer plenty of depth for those who want it.
“Easy to pick up, yet deeply strategic. This is the greatest appeal of ‘EVERYBODY’S GOLF,’” says Takemoto. “While retaining the essential strategy of golf, the controls are intuitive and approachable, making it accessible for anyone to start playing.”
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
The team kept classic elements like the famous 3-tap shot system and strategic club selection, but updated everything else – graphics, controls, and user interface – to feel modern.
Balancing Old and New
Creating a game that satisfies both longtime fans and newcomers is never easy. The team had to figure out which parts of the classic formula to keep and which parts needed updating for modern players.
“It was necessary to retain the elements that series fans would recognize and appreciate, while also incorporating elements that would appeal to new players and a modern sense of pace,” Takemoto reflects.
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
The result is a game that tries to make longtime fans feel nostalgic while making newcomers think it’s fun as a modern game. They’ve added things like different control options – both Classic and Standard modes – to accommodate different player preferences. For players jumping into Everybody’s Golf for the first time, Takemoto recommends starting with the Single Player mode to get a feel for what makes the series special. The game offers multiple ways to play, from traditional golf rules to the new Wacky Golf mode.
“We designed it with the concept of ‘Easy to pick up for beginners, deeply engaging for experienced players’ in mind,” he says.
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Looking Ahead
As for what comes after launch, Takemoto and his team are focused on listening to players and working together to improve the experience. “We value feedback from our players and want to work together to create an even better golf experience,” he notes.
Taking on the responsibility of bringing back such a beloved series was both an honor and a challenge for Takemoto. “It was a great honor to bring this series back to the world in a way that respects its history while still reaching today’s users,” he says.
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
With EVERYBODY’S GOLF HOT SHOTS, the team hopes they’ve created something that captures the spirit of what made the original games so special, while giving both old fans and new players plenty of reasons to pick up the clubs and hit the virtual links.
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