Hot Shots is a 4-player and a Duel minigame in Mario Party DS. As such, it can be played in Party Mode by landing on a Duel space or landing on a certain colour space with all others landing on spaces of the same colour and having its name be selected from the roulette wheel; this also unlocks it for free play.
Opening[]
The player is shown a 2x3 arrangement of targets, and is demonstrated how to fire at targets. Once the demo targets have been shot, the first actual targets are shown, and the game begins.
Gameplay[]
Players have 30 seconds to score as many points as possible by firing arrows at the targets. They must shoot arrows in to a field of six targets on a platform, similar to a game of beanbag toss. The targets come in three different forms.
Kamek appears the most often followed by Toadette, and then Bowser. A cumulative bonus of 10 points is awarded for chained shots made in sequence--so long as the player successfully shoots targets and scores, the player will receive a bonus equal to 10 points times one less than the length of the chain.
Controls[]
The Stylus is used to pull back the bow string and aim the bow. The arrow will fly in a direction opposite of that in which it was pulled. Where the player's arrow will land is signified by the crosshairs of their color.
Strategy[]
The bulk of the points here lie in the chain bonus. It is in your best interest to create a chain and maintain it over the course of the shooting, as the points that they contribute eventually dwarf the points earned by shooting Bowser over Kamek.
How to Win[]
Whoever scores the most points wins. The game can end without a loser if everyone gets the same score, as long as it is a positive number.
Ending[]
Whoever has the highest or tied for the highest score is shown on a giant golden arrow coin celebrating their victory. Those with less, if any, will be shown sulking on the green grass close by. If everyone has the same score, they will be shown celebrating their victory on this coin (sulking if that score was, as mentioned before, not a positive number).
Behind the Scenes[]
Etymology[]
The minigame's name comes from the term "hot shot," which refers to a self-assured, successful person.