For a solid 10 years, the Hot Shots Golf series has been duly acclaimed as the golf simulation for the masses; a surprisingly deep and robust simulator that happens to be accessible -- and quite a lot of fun -- to those of lesser skill or little interest in the methodical, bird-chirping nuances of Mark Twain's "nice walk in the woods, spoiled." The irreverent humor permeating the series helps, of course, with cheesy, fatheaded characters espousing little regard for gentlemanly behavior if not severe stretches on dress code, whooping it up and trouncing around seemingly pro-caliber courses like Manifest Destiny for duffers.

As its first/only outing on PlayStation3 -- indeed, the only other golf series on the Sony's new-gen system other than EA's more-solemnly serious Tiger Woods PGA Tour -- Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is practically an essential.

The classically accessible 3-tap button play returns, making it all relatively easy and almost instantly playable. A new, optional, "Shot System" control scheme comes off as a wee wonky, however -- more like target-shooting than a club swinging --, while a SixAxis motion-sensitive swing is missing entirely, even though such an arm-swing or perhaps a wrench or thrust activate interface would've made perfect sense, at least as an option. Alas, nadda. Sorry about your luck, formerly-hyped SixAxis controller.

Moreover, as a new-generation game on a new generation system, a system appropriately touted as super-powered, hard drive equipped and online enabled, Out of Bounds is frightfully shallow. In fact, were it not for the high definition gloss and online multi-player components accommodating up to 50 people, this new-generation Hot Shots could be easily mistaken for a PS2 or maybe a PSP game. Sure, the beautifully animated, saucer-eyed caricature characters look wonderfully detailed, as does the equipment and some of the flora and most of the fauna, yet overall it's all terribly Spartan, as if designed for a console of lesser power, then buffed up at the last minute.

The fact that there are only six courses available -- which must be played one-at-a-time ad nauseam (albeit in a variety of ways and one-off challenges) until a new one becomes available for play along with new characters and equipment -- seems more a marketing ploy than a design consideration. That is, if Nintendo's Wii Sports Golf can be so popular yet woefully parsimonious at the same time, then perhaps Out of Bounds need not strive for depth -- especially when additional courses can be made available for download (hypothetically... for now), for a fee, so your $60 golf game can actually cost a lot more if you want the "complete" version. Some perspective: a $60 copy of Call of Duty 4 can include 30 or 40 different levels of hellish warfare, so what's with the scant 6 park-like settings of Hot Shots Golf?

The online, multiplayer lobby, meanwhile, populated by self created "Mii-too" characters, also smacks of copycat tendencies, complete with cumbersome text chat and zero voice chat support, because, you know, somebody might be heard cussing or something, and that's so not E for Everyone.

In short, though Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is a thoroughly engaging goofball golf sim, it comes off as an underwhelming package, lacking not in technical aptitude but surely in terms of long-term playability or bang for your buck.

A simple fix: If the powers that be had considered a $29.99 price point for Out of Bounds, then say, another $2.99 per course and maybe $1.99 for a buff bag of clubs and a new pair of shoes, they'd have had something: an impulse buy of a light-hearted take on a universally recognized sports game, complete with micro-transaction hooks. As it stands, for gamers without $59.99 worth of afterthought purchase power, go rent Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds for now and wait until you see it in the used game bargain bin to buy.

TIPS: Though it might sound redundant, you can instantly unlock the Suzuki character in Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds by downloading the demo version of the game from the PlayStation Network.

If you're using the advance shot system in Hot Shot Golf: Out of Bounds, you'll probably find if easier to line up your shot by eying the club shaft -- as opposed to the club head -- as you trace the path of ghost club (which indicates ideal swing).