STAFF REVIEW of Links 2004 (Xbox)


Thursday, December 11, 2003.
by Caesar SYN

Links 2004 Box art Links® 2004

?Links, the best-selling golf franchise for the personal computer, has been rebuilt?from the ground up?exclusively for the Xbox video game system.?, http://www.xbox.com/en-US/links/

I hadn?t playing online for sometime. At one point I think I had even forgotten what my pass code was to get on XBOX Live. ↑󑧠 No? ↓←XY No? Well all that has changed since I picked up Links 2004.

I picked up this little diamond in the rough by cutting off Casper in our local Game Stop like a five year old kid. ?What about Links 2004? It just came out for the XBOX. No ones got that game really yet. You should get that I am.?, Casper expressed in a subdued kind of scheming tone. ?There?s not another copy? you know my luck they won?t have the freaking thing.?, whispered Little Caesar as the Store Clerk cleaned the three year old dirt and grime of the console games I was trading in. I began to get nervous. The clerk kept going over my games looking at the huge gashes in them thinking he is getting credit for these. Finally after tallying everything up it came to just under $100.00. Since I was acquiring several other games I asked for another copy. The clerk proceeded to inform me not having another copy in stock and that there was only one. I through my head to ground began to pout about it and low and behold Casper surrendered his copy to my great fortune. With games in hand and Eagles and 330yd. drives to come XBOX Live was about to be reborn again for me.

After the same old Online Football with new graphics? yeah yeah? and FPS?s with all the action and fast paced movement it was time for a slow down with high packed action. Featuring Sergio Garcia as Poster Boy for this new XBOX Live capable game lets look at what the site has to say and try express our own views of how this game rolls.

?Championship courses: Links 2004 features some of the most luxurious and challenging golf courses in the world, including Greywolf (Canada), New South Wales (Australia), and the Four Seasons Resort Aviara (California).?, http://www.xbox.That they do. I am hoping for more downloadable content in the way of courses, but right now I am happy with what I have. The courses included in Links 2004 have an uncanny realism to them. Yes we all know looking at them they are nothing but graphics in the little pixels, but according to people I know who have played the Four Seasons Resort Aviara California it?s like being there. It?s set up with the same dimensions and all. I am currently trying to acquire a layout of the course to see if I can determine if these claims are true. I have though witnessed Golf Tournaments at these courses and they look pretty similar. 7.5/10

?Detailed golf environments: Hit the sweet spot for a 300-yard drive, and roll in a 20-foot putt for a birdie?all while enjoying the dew-covered fairways and crosscut greens. Links 2004 is the ultimate golf experience. The top courses from around the world come to life with animated water, ocean surf, 3-D trees, divots, galleries of golf fans that react to your shots, and golf course wildlife, such as birds, ducks, squirrels, and gophers. The lifelike courses feature sun-cast shadows that change, depending on the time of day; birds that are spooked when a ball hits a tree; and ducks that will scatter when a ball hits the drink.?, httus/links/

The golf environments are pretty intense. I feel like I am at my local 9 Hole Course sometimes watching the geese in the river as I look for my 12th lost ball of the day. It is quite impressive in the game play. Birds flying right in front of your path. A Momma Bear and her Cub stroll through the fairway. You never know what might be lying around. Occasionally when I land in the rough I am waiting for a Copper Head to slither out from the rocks. I also love that replayed holes have the original divots form previous rounds still in place. I thought that this attention to detail showed the programmers commitment to try to intensify the realism. Overall I love this aspect of the game I think it contributes greatly to the reasons why I love it so. *9.5/10*

In addition to these features well there are many? equipment settings, unlocking courses, unlocking equipment upgrades, making your own player (MINE IS RANKED 21 OVERALL RIGHT NOW in Intermediate Skins Play), career modes, challenges, etc... Etc... The list goes on. I am already looking forward to Links 2005 hopefully next fall to see how they will improve the game. As Chaotic Mage said, ?The spectators look like blobs...? so perhaps this is an issue they can take up.

You know I went and bought this game, but I am like that, for the first time golf experience player I would consider renting this first. So far I have logged lets say at least 30hrs on this game so far in various modes. I am sure you will be happy and go out and purchase it for a year?s possibility of fantastic golf gaming


?Control over each and every shot: The Real-Time Swing feature gives you complete control over every shot. Advanced players have the opportunity to draw, fade, punch, chip, or flop to win a hole. The left thumbstick acts as the club, with ball physics factoring in speed, tempo, direction, and course conditions in real time. ?, http:/links/

The game controls are very well balanced and well thought out for the controller. Interacting within the golfing environment is made simple and easy through well thought out control placement. Some have said that the game may even favor left handed players due to the swing control being on the left analog stick. Either way you see it control is absolute and the tools at your discretion allow you to make informed decisions on every shot. Failure to accomplish any task in this game is solely based on operator error and not programming flaws. 7/10 overall you can?t be too generous.




?Detailed golf environments: Hit the sweet spot for a 300-yard drive, and roll in a 20-foot putt for a birdie?all while enjoying the dew-covered fairways and crosscut greens. Links 2004 is the ultimate golf experience. The top courses from around the world come to life with animated water, ocean surf, 3-D trees, divots, galleries of golf fans that react to your shots, and golf course wildlife, such as birds, ducks, squirrels, and gophers. The lifelike courses feature sun-cast shadows that change, depending on the time of day; birds that are spooked when a ball hits a tree; and ducks that will scatter when a ball hits the drink.?, httus/links/

The golf environments are pretty intense. I feel like I am at my local 9 Hole Course sometimes watching the geese in the river as I look for my 12th lost ball of the day. It is quite impressive in the game play. Birds flying right in front of your path. A Momma Bear and her Cub stroll through the fairway. You never know what might be lying around. Occasionally when I land in the rough I am waiting for a Copper Head to slither out from the rocks. I also love that replayed holes have the original divots form previous rounds still in place. I thought that this attention to detail showed the programmers commitment to try to intensify the realism. Overall I love this aspect of the game I think it contributes greatly to the reasons why I love it so. *9.5/10*




?Playing like the pros: Feel like real pros, as you compete in tournaments broadcasted in a remarkably realistic TV-style presentation. ?,http://inks/

The broadcasting is good but burns out quick. To put it in a serious perspective take NHL Hitz Pro and tone it down about like 10 notches in sarcasm. The comments make sense but I do believe it could have been improved with more exciting and diverse vocabulary. The best feature is being able to use your own music while in game play. The background effects are intense. A friend of mine an avid bird watcher and Creator of ?Mr. Marbles the Destroyer? the Artist formerly known as Clarkey would say that he can differentiate the Blue Jay from the Cardinal. The rising anticipation of the crowds? commotion is done well. Overall on this end I expected a little more from Microsoft, and I will give it a 6/10.




Suggestions:
I suggest a little more intensity in the next version. Personally the game is fantastic but more courses and het maybe I want to bring my 2 Wood and change it up along the way. The commentary needs a little well excitement behind it.


Overall: 8.0 / 10
Gameplay: 7.0 / 10
Visuals: 9.0 / 10
Sound: 6.0 / 10

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