“Hot Shots Golf Fore” attempts to make another fun golf game in the “Hot Shots” legacy, keeping the amusing characters and stimulating gameplay.

The new addition in the already solid “Hot Shots” series does a great job of simulating golf, the way it should be played.

When it comes to the fun factor, “Hot Shots Fore” is slightly better than “Mario Golf Toadstool Tour,” though “Mario Golf” features Nintendo game legends.

Four characters are available for play at the start of the game, but the total roster includes 24 characters, most of which are unlocked through one-on-one matches.

The characters range from an obnoxious 12-year-old cheerleader-wannabe to a greasy old man with a ridiculous accent and a toup‚e that falls off during his post-putt ritual cheer.

Each character has its own cheers and taunts, which can be used to mess up foes on the course or show frustration after a horrible shot.

The gameplay of “Hot Shots Fore” is easy to learn through quick acclimation to the game’s controls. However, it can be tough for beginners to hit the ball straight on the first couple attempts, unless “easy” club mode is chosen. With this option, gamers only have to press the X button at the top of the character’s swing and not at the bottom of the swing, like normal gameplay setting requires.

The different unlockable club and ball sets also help ease the punishment from the old slice or hook shot if players choose to play in “normal” mode.

The game features five courses from the previous “Hot Shots” game, as well as seven new ones. There are also a few mini-golf courses and a nine hole par-3 courses.

The 9-hole mini-golf course available at the beginning of the game is harder than it should be, and players have only two shots to get the ball in the hole. The paths are extremely slanted, and strewn about them are conveniently placed rocks that end up sending the ball into the water easily.

Putting is the hardest thing in the game because the power meter moves too fast if you’re putting fewer than three feet, making it difficult to putt effectively.

The graphics in “Hot Shots Fore” are solid. Everything looks real except for the characters in the game, and the graphics are smooth to allow for great flow during gameplay and cut scenes.

Perhaps one of the most fun features in the game are the caddies, three of which are available at the start and several more as unlockables. After a shot is hit, the caddies will sprint after the ball until it stops. They are also present for moral support and making fun of the other characters.

“Hot Shots Golf Fore” did what it set out to do: Keep the tradition alive.