Intelligent Game Reviews

Intelligamer
Intelligent Choice

For years now the Links LS series has been the undisputed leader in PC golf. It was no surprise therefore, when the undisputed leader in having more money than they know what to do with purchased developer Access Software this year. I speak, of course, of Microsoft. While the boys in Redmond aren’t known for their subtlety and have even bought technology just to keep it from seeing the light of day, so I hear, they haven’t tampered with the formula that has made Links LS a winner… despite having another golf simulation in their game line-up already. And that’s a very good thing.

Basics of Play

Game play takes the form of a variety of different Modes of Play or MOPs. These include the traditional stroke play (against par), skins, and a host of different variations, one of which is bound to appeal. You can play solo or with one or more human and computer players in a round.

Players take turns taking shots. Each player can use one of three different methods for hitting the ball and three difficulty settings (from Amateur to Professional) which lets you handicap things as appropriate. In all cases taking a shot requires you decide where to aim the ball, which club to use, and then hitting the ball. You can also adjust club facing, add hooks or fades, etc. Everything you can do with a real golf club is available to you in Links LS 2000.

And that goes deeper than just the options. The ball physics are the best going too. Wind, green speed, slope, the dynamics of sand, rough and fairway are all remarkably realistic feeling and looking. This is the best simulation of golf out there. And it remains a fun game.

Every year the Links LS games get better and better, and this year is no exception. New features in this version include the addition of Fuzzy Zoeller as an animated computer golfer, the ability to custom create your own CPU golfer to play against, a new Easy Swing mode and a few other minor improvements.

The most obvious changes in this version are those aimed at the novice computer golfer. Previous Links LS games, while superior for someone who really got into the game and practiced, were sometimes a bit daunting for the newcomer. The new Easy Swing mode turns the game, almost but not quite, into an arcade golf game.

The Easy Swing will automatically hit the ball hard enough to get to your aim point, your job is to aim properly and hit it straight. That’s much easier than the traditional style and last year’s mouse driven Power Stroke. Coupled with that are tutorials on game play and features to help novices get up and playing with the minimal amount of frustration. With these added features even my Senior Citizen father was able to enjoy a competitive round of golf against the CPU players and had great fun doing it.

Courses

The courses in Links LS 2000 are a mix of old and new, both literally and figuratively. Held over from last year is the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. New this year are two Hawaiian courses, the new course at St. Andrews and the Covered Bridge Golf Club.

The new courses are perhaps not the best I’ve seen in the history of this game, but they are solid, varied and challenging. There is a little bit of something for everyone, but the new courses lack the visual punch of those included in previous versions. Perhaps I am just spoiled, I do live near Pebble Beach.

Links Tour and Multiplayer Options

Unchanged from last year is the solid multiplayer component. In addition to multiplayer games on a LAN or over the Internet, both of which work nearly flawlessly, Links LS 1999 comes with an online tour feature. Weekly tournaments are held at different skill levels, and you can play against people all over the world. The competition is stiff and plentiful, one of the advantages of playing a game that has a legion of loyal followers.

For a more casual experience online, the game is now supported through the MSN Gaming Zone for multiplayer matchmaking. You can hit the Zone and find a foursome almost any time of the day or night.

Graphics, Sounds, etc.

While Links LS 2000 still has rock ‘em sock ‘em visuals, it’s no longer head and shoulders above the crowd. Newer entries in the market are beginning to catch up in terms of visual realism. That’s partly due to the fact that other people are getting better and partly because the graphics engine for Links LS hasn’t changed.

Despite that fact it is still the best looking golf game going. The nearly photo realistic courses look spectacular in any display resolution from 800×600 up to 1800×1440 and 32 bit color. The down side is still the same, it can take quite some time to redraw your golfer on the course on lower end machines. On the minimum spec rig it was not uncommon to take ten or more seconds for the computer to think about the drawing and display it. That’s acceptable, but it does remind one of the sedate pace of the real life game.

Sound effects are still first rate, though the new caddy comments do get old quickly. There are some very amusing comments to be sure, but hearing them three times in your first round is enough. They also sometimes are just plain wrong, commenting on a great shot that hit the rough or a shot that is long when it is short of the hole. I don’t remember this problem from previous versions of the game and for the first time I contemplated, and then did, turn off the caddy commentary. That said the voice quality is excellent and your club distance may vary…

The Verdict

In the final analysis Links LS 2000 keeps the series on top. With many new courses, a new easier to get into swing style and the same great, realistic golf experience, it is still the tour champion. Even owners of previous versions might be tempted to pay full price again, the package does include 5 brand new courses to play on. Really, if you are at all interested in playing Golf on your PC, your best bet was and is Links LS.

Links LS 2000 Screenshots

The courses are a mix of old and new… six are included in total.	The new Easy Swing option lets newcomers to computer golf get right into the action and score well.
In addition to Arnold Palmer, Fuzzy Zoeller is featured in this version of Links LS.	Putting is dealt with better than in any golf simulation I’ve played.

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