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Whenever someone asks me to describe Links 2004 to them, I inevitably explain it as the golf version of Project Gotham Racing. Allow me to explain. Project Gotham Racing, while not quite on the sim level as Gran Turismo, still has its intricacies that players can learn and practice on. For someone new to the game, though, it's an entertaining experience with cool cars that handle well, driving through well-designed courses, and seeping with replay value with goodies to buy and tricks to learn. Links 2004 is much of the same way to me; it's a stylized version of golf that manages to keep up the proper demeanor of the sport, but still allow a little leeway to catch one's eye. Gamers will be able to choose from a variety of players, either a ready-made pro or create their, and improve their game by using money to buy new gear and to also buy additional skill points in control, power, recovery, and putting. Creating a player isn't the standard method, it is more alteration than anything else; it's giving a golfer unique apparel and skills, not the full-blown smorgasbord that a Smackdown title features. Either way, there is plenty of room to be creative with allocating resources on what skills to become proficient in no matter which route is chosen. On the beginner setting, and this is how it falls in line with PGR, it's extremely friendly to the new player. There are numerous lines and graphs that can assist in the player maximizing the benefit of each shot. Tee offs, near misses, and well-played shots are all treated to special camera shots that dramatize the events. The replays and special views are skippable, allowing the game to be played at a brisk pace. At first, the game feels very arcade-y in how it's played. Of course, that is on beginner, and the game's true nature comes out as the player gets about halfway through their beginner career and proceeds on to greater difficulties. There are single and career games. Singles have the option to be played on the front or back half of the course, or the whole; weather, wind, and a variety of other attributes can be adjusted. The player can challenge a friend or computer opponents to different rounds, such as skins (playing for money; the pot increases whenever someone doesn't win), standard, etc. Career is when a player can take a golfer, or their own creation, and take them up through the ranks. The player will have to face objective-based courses (ie: get the ball in this area in a certain number of strokes), tournaments, and championships. Along the way they will increase their skills by purchasing skill points with earned money. It's a shame the tutorial isn't more helpful. It explains only the very basics, and the basics it does cover could really be expounded upon. Things like wind speed, wind direction, what kind of spin to put on the battle, the kind of hit the player wants to make (chip, blast, etc.), and the fine art of putting on rough terrain are either skipped or glossed over. Luckily, a caddy can be chosen that selects the optimal club to use and the options for beginners allows them to ease into the finer aspects of the game. There are a few helpful hints along the way, actually some pretty useful ones are found on loading screens. It's really in playing that one will have to grasp the finer aspects of the swing and swing meter. The strength of a swing is determined by going down and up, with a quick motion delivering a hard shot. Holding back for too long will weaken the hit as the golfer struggles to hold the position, while going too slow might result in an unimpressive thud. Of course, sometimes a lighter touch is needed, so the swing meter shows to indicate the optimal strength of the swing. Sometimes it's off - sometimes way off - because of things like terrain and wind needing to be compensated for, so a whole host of options, like a grid of the ground, various camera angles, etc., are available to make the best shot. Caution is needed though, because a hard tee-off might be required, but swinging with too much enthusiasm might make the ball slice off into the rough. For fans of the PC golf titles, this is all old ground, but for the console ground whose golfing experience is pretty limited, this will be a new challenge. Playing with friends is also fun, with Live play also being available. Setting up a friendly game, the creator can set how many holes to play (back or front 9, or all), how many mulligan (taking back a bad shot) can be used, and so on. Playing with friends is surprisingly fun as the games get extremely competitive - especially the games for cash. In the beginning, everyone will be having fun and taking wild shots, but towards the end, when nerves are beginning to wear thin, that is when all the practice and patience pays off. It's pretty rewarding, and everyone I've gotten to sit down and play with me has grown to love the game. As
fun as it is to learn while playing, the tutorial could've offered a bit more.
Also, some of the helpful suggestions aren't very. However, these are minor blemishes
in an otherwise stellar game. The level of challenge allows the player to go with
or without assistance, the healthy stable of golfers to deck out and enhance,
along with great courses and a solid control scheme make for an incredibly addictive
game. I wasn't a fan of golf before, but I am now.
Graphics: 8/10 Sound:
8.5/10 Control:
9/10 Overall:
9/10 [ top ] | |||
A
PC staple for years, Microsoft's Links series makes it way to a console for the
first time, and with fantastic results.
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