Links 2004 Impressions...

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 9:30 pm

I´ll chime in. Just got links from gamefly.
 
 I think there needs to be two other features in Links.
 
 Rough Adjuster. Where you can set the length of the rough. If you want 5 inch US Open or everything easy at 2 there you go. I find it silly that you have rough in three settings. Have it in length and then graphically represent it. I don´t know if that´s possible but would be neat.
 
 Second, Links needs a Sensetivity slider. For some it´s still a bit too genrous.
 
 However the fun factor kills. I love how the shots after special affects to them. There´s a snapsnot mode, bullet time and some more I think. On top of the the camera angles always leave you guessing where you hit your ball.
 
 Amazing golf game. I also like the fact this game looks great. Just something about it for me makes it look better than Tiger on the PC. But that´s just me.
 
 Good game!!!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 10:11 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-15 17:12, BigBerthaEA wrote:
 I finally ponied up for an XBL headset to try XBL out for Links. My gamertag is Big Bertha EA.
 
 Played a 4-some at Superstition Mountain on Advanced and shot a 57 or -15. That is easily my best round on Links 04 so far. I think the SM is a pretty easy course though, so I am hoping to play online on some more difficult settings.
 
 Fast Play is AWESOME! Our 4-some finished 18 holes in 23 minutes....I am going to be pushing EA to incorporate something similar to this...this is simply one of the finest online play features I have seen for a Golf game!
 
 [ This message was edited by: BigBerthaEA on 15-11-2003 17:14 ]
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Tim,
 
 That sounds incredible... a foursome played 18 holes in 23 minutes! I´m curious, did you get a good feel for what was happening with the others in your group? And you shot this 57 in advanced mode!?
 
 How about this... how much more difficult would Links 2004 be if the rough was as punitive as TW 2004´s on the PC? Are you missing enough fairways and greens for this to matter?

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 11:49 pm

One more question for those playing this game Live. Am I understanding correctly that if you´re playing Fast Play, and you finish the hole before the others, you get to see the other players finish the hole - in the flesh? I may be misconstuing the info I´m reading on Xbox.com´s forum. I can´t imaging that this is happening, although I would think it might be pretty cool if it were to happen.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 12:08 am

Yes, after you finish a hole in fast play, you see the ones who haven´t finish up.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 2:45 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-15 18:11, J_Cauthen wrote:
 1. That sounds incredible... a foursome played 18 holes in 23 minutes! I´m curious, did you get a good feel for what was happening with the others in your group? And you shot this 57 in advanced mode!?
 
 2. How about this... how much more difficult would Links 2004 be if the rough was as punitive as TW 2004´s on the PC? Are you missing enough fairways and greens for this to matter?
 
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 1. Fast Play is a bit different than Ready Play in that I rarely ever saw anyone else hit their shot unless it was the last player putting out. With a 4-some, it can be a tad disorienting seeing 3 other different colored trails leaving the teebox about the same time as your shot and yet you rarely see the other players take any shots. It could be that the group I was in was in a pretty big hurry. And yes, I did shoot this score in Advanced mode.
 
 2. I don´t spend much time at all in the rough or sand, but when i do get there, it is just not punitive at all from what I am able to tell. I am not sure how much more difficult they could make Advanced without making it too difficult/frustrating for most players...even hardcore players. At some point, when players learn the interface and how it affects the gameplay, there just is not alot more a developer can do to make it more difficult without making it frustrating for the majority of players. Welcome to a developer´s "hell" so to speak...

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 2:46 am

TCrouch,
 
 Sorry, I missed your invite tonight. I stepped out of the room for a moment and it was too late.
 
 Leebo

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 5:07 am

No worries. XBL is a goner for me tomorrow anyway (barring a miracle), so I was just trying a last hurrah.

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 5:10 am

? whys that terry ? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_confused.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 5:07 pm

John:
 
 That is correct. If you finish your hole early, you can watch the other player(s) finish. Very, very cool feature.
 
 Fast Play mode is innovative as hell. You´re still in the game, yet it only take 25-30 minutes for a foursome to play 18 without it feeling like a 100-meter dash.
 
 Take care,
 PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:52 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-16 01:10, Cincinnati_Kid wrote:
 ? whys that terry ? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_confused.gif">
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 With us finding out that I have a FOURTH child on the way, I just don´t have the time or money to pour into XBL and XBL games anymore. I decided to let it expire. However, XBL (being the demon that it is) automatically renewed itself, which let me keep it without getting in trouble with the wife over spending unnecessarily (since I didn´t technically do it).
 
 So I´m good for another year, I just won´t be getting many new games. 4 kids is just a damned gaggle.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:55 pm

Terry:
 
 Cool news. I was bummed the other night during our Links game when you said it was your last night on XBL.
 
 Take care,
 PK

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 7:11 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-17 14:52, TCrouch wrote:

On 2003-11-16 01:10, Cincinnati_Kid wrote:
 ? whys that terry ? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_confused.gif">
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 With us finding out that I have a FOURTH child on the way, I just don´t have the time or money to pour into XBL and XBL games anymore. I decided to let it expire. However, XBL (being the demon that it is) automatically renewed itself, which let me keep it without getting in trouble with the wife over spending unnecessarily (since I didn´t technically do it).
 
 So I´m good for another year, I just won´t be getting many new games. 4 kids is just a damned gaggle.

thats cool i definatley understand congrats on the forthcoming child
 
 you know im sure they would refund your fee if you really didnt want to resubscribe
 
 nah.....its too late now right <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 7:34 pm

<IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif"> <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif"> <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif"> <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif">
 
 SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 7:44 pm

Thanks for confirming the information about players becoming visible after you finish the hole guys. That is a very cool feature. I bet they put it in their as an incentive to get players to pick up the pace.
 
 Have any of you tried playing conventional turn based play online? Just curious how it compares.
 
 One more question: should I get the XBox Live package, (Star Wars/Tetris), or the Splinter Cell/Mech Assault package? I understand that Links 2004 comes with 2 months of XBox Live so I´ll have that covered anyway. I´m not a big fan of any of the games that come with the bundles I´ve seen at Best Buy, but every now and then one of these FPS games sneaks up on me! I still play the multiplayer demo of Battlefield 1942 every once in a while. [ This message was edited by: J_Cauthen on 17-11-2003 16:06 ]

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 8:16 pm

I´ve tried turn-based, and the pace was still decent. Of course I only played a twosome.
 
 As for the bundles, no idea...sorry. I would probably go with the Splinter Cell bundle.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 9:18 pm

John:
 
 I would go with Splinter Cell/Mech Assault.
 
 Splinter Cell is a bitchin´ game. Mech Assault is overrated on XBL, as it becomes a toe-to-toe fragfest too often. But I found it surprisingly fun offline in a rental.
 
 Looking forward to you joining the Xbox Nation!
 
 Take care,
 PK

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:33 pm

Thanks for the recommendation Paul and Terry. I think I´ll opt for the Splinter Cell bundle. Does Splinter Cell have a two player option on the same machine? (I´m really skinning my ignorance on these sorts of games).
 
 Also, with Links 2004´s XBox Live time... all I´m going to need is an ethernet cable to connect from my router to my XBox?

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:39 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-17 18:33, J_Cauthen wrote:
 Also, with Links 2004´s XBox Live time... all I´m going to need is an ethernet cable to connect from my router to my XBox?
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Yes.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:04 pm

John:
 
 I believe Splinter Cell is one player only. Someone please correct me if I´m wrong ...
 
 Thanks,
 PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:42 pm

It is indeed single-player only. No link, no splitscreen, nothing.
 
 But don´t let that deter you...it´s the greatest "stealth" experience I´ve ever had in a game.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 10:31 pm

Guys, thanks for all the input on my pending XBox purchase. I think the deal got sealed today when I saw that the XBox Live bundle (Clone Wars/Tetris Worlds/2 months XBL free) at Best Buy now includes the "Griffin Advanced Racing Wheel (a $29.95 value). Supposedly, this wheel has "vibration feedback" (careful not to say force feedback so I´m not expecting too much). It has analog acceleration (but analog braking is curiously not mentioned) and it looks like it goes between your legs in the chair. Not sure this is going to work, but what the hey? I was about decided on the Live bundle anyway for Tetris Worlds for my wife´s benefit.
 
 Furthermore, the only gamepad game I´ve been able to halfway manage thus far is F-355 on my Dreamcast (which I just got done racing with my 9 year old on, btw... still love that machine and that game!), so this might tide me over until something better comes along... how I´d love to see a Logitech Driving Force go the way of the XBox - with proper developer support!
 
 This is just too much hardware and software to turn away from for a paltry $179.95! Tack of the $40 I´m going to spend for Links 2004 (with coupon thank you), I figure I´m going to get quite a load of entertainment for $220, before tax. I think my 9 year old will probably dig the Star Wars game as well.
 
 If I can work everything out, I might actually be picking this all up on Thursday! I can´t wait!!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 3:43 pm

Well guys... I´m now XBox and Links 2004 equipped! Got the XBox Live package at Best Buy for $179.95, which for now also includes the Griffin Advanced Racing Wheel (which normally runs $29.95). Don´t have a racing game yet, but I imagine I´ll be picking up Project Gotham Racing 2 next week!
 
 Anyway, I´m reasonably impressed with what I´ve seen of Links 2004 thus far. I created a player and set him up as "advanced". I just played one round at Greywolf with Annika Sorenstam (they really flattered her figure for this game.... sssssson!) I can´t really use my score as a measure because I used mulligans out the ying-yang (hey... I´m in training). I shot a 68, but without mulligans it would have easily been low 80´s, at best.
 
 The graphics are drop-dead gorgeous, even using my composite video input on my 1988 vintage G.E. 25" T.V. on which I´m now playing it. These are the best looking polygonal players I´ve ever seen on any golf game, console or computer - they´re so biological. (Why can´t PC polygonal golfers look and animate as fluidly as these do!?) I can´t get over the natural beauty of the course, terrain, trees, lakes, creeks and totally organic grass textures! The audio is mixed - ambient and environmental sounds are better than average, but the commentary is sloppy and amateurish. I guess it´s better than nothing, but I can see where Dom would have been put off by it.
 
 The camera work is overdone too much of the time, particularly when Annika was playing her shots. Tiger Woods 2003, and up has it beat in this dept. big time. I wish there were some camera control options.
 
 Gameplay wise, I´m not sure where I come down on this yet. I like the tempo business in the swing. I fell right into it because I´ve strived so hared to be tempo oriented with all of my TrueSwing and RTS efforts. I´m doing really well with tee and approach shots in advanced. The chipping animation seems a little too restricted and it´s hard to gauge distance because of the limited backswing. Putting is tough, but I think I´ll get the hang of the tempo and power here with play. Overall, I guess I´m not quite as jazzed as I thought I would be with my first play, but I think I had my expections to be a little more simulation bound than it turns out the game truly is. Once I readjust my thinking, I´ll get over that blemish, I think. It´s still far more satisfying in a sim sense than any other console game I´ve played since 1997 (PGA Tour 97 on the PS One). I gotta try this XBL thing though... I´ve heard nothing but raves about it.
 
 I haven´t even connected the XBox to my router yet, but will do so pretty soon. I guess I´ll take a quick peak at Star Wars: Clone Wars, which also came with it, along with Tetris Worlds.
 
 Oh, I really like the XBox S-Controller... it feels great! I can see now why XBox owners aren´t clammering for steering wheels in racing games as bad as PS2 owners with these analog triggers for throttle and brake!
 
 I guess I´ll see some of you online - I don´t have a "Gamertag" yet, but I´m going to go for "J Cauthen". I also don´t have the Communicator yet... Best Buy wanted $29.95 for just the communicator and $49.95 for a year of XBL. I can get the XBL 1.0 Starter kit at Wal Mart, which includes the Communicator headset and 1 year of XBL, for $39.95!

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 12:55 am

>>>"Oh, I really like the XBox S-Controller... it feels great! I can see now why XBox owners aren´t clammering for steering wheels in racing games as bad as PS2 owners with these analog triggers for throttle and brake!"<<<
 
 John,
 
 That is the way I feel about the original Xbox controller. It may be big and I don´t use it alot, but its an absolute dream with racing games. The analog triggers are tighter and have a wider range of movement than the S and the analog stick also seems to have more movement range. PGR 2 with an original Xbox controller is a beautiful thing, and I never thought I could race without a wheel after hundreds of Papy Nascar races.
 
 I´m actually debating between the 2 controllers for Links 2004. I´m a little worried that its going to be too easy to hit straight shots everytime with the S controller. After some severe mishits my first few days with the game I´m really starting to groove my shots right down the middle. I want to use the controller thats more challenging and will give me a larger range of shot results.
 
 I´m really enjoying Links 2004 and will be playing it alot, but I´m just not convinced on analog swing interfaces using console controllers. To me there doesn´t seem to be a way to miss just a little. In my experience I either hit it straight or hit it way off. I really enjoy the slight variations and wider range of shot results that I find in Trueswing and some 3-click interfaces. Those small variations just don´t seem to be present on an Xbox analog stick in my experience.
 
 As much as I try to judge console golf titles on there own merits and not compare, nothing comes closer to the feel of a golf swing than Tiger 04 Trueswing. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 [ This message was edited by: btmmayor on 20-11-2003 20:56 ]

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:12 am

Bob, I´ve now played four matches online, 2 foursomes, one threesome, and one twosome. All were using Fast Play. I think it finally makes me a bit gunshy. I have a hard time telling what´s going on. I think I´m a fast player, yet 90% of the time I´m the last one putting out! I think the others I´ve played made heavy use of the fast forward button.
 
 I thought it was pretty good at first, but I think I´m just burned out on a heavy day of gaming now. I just went through the motions in my last 18 foursome match and lost to all - shot a 93! I didn´t care what I shot - I was just ready to be done.
 
 All I´ve played is Advanced - haven´t even tried anything else. I can´t say that I´m hitting everything straight yet, and my putting is now getting horrendous, especially the 1 to 3 footers - I can´t control them. I need to do the tutorial on that.
 
 So the original Xbox controller is better for racing? And you think it might also make Links 2004 play better? I´ll have to look into that. I don´t have anything to test the Griffin Advanced Racing Wheel I got as part of the package today. PGR2 is in my radar for next week. The demo looked pretty nice at Best Buy today.
 
 I can say that this is the best console golf game I´ve ever played, but it´s still second to Tiger when it comes to feel and physics. I´d be curious to see how Links 2004 would play with a mouse interface - I like the way they´ve done the tempo even using the stick. Of course it wouldn´t pay to develop a mouse interface for the Xbox for the paltry few who would use it.
 
 I didn´t get out to Wal Mart to pick up the XBL Starter Kit 1 (with the communicator) today. I enabled TV audio in Links 2004 today and it sounded like the guys who had the communicator were staying in tune with what was going on better. And I didn´t hear one explative uttered! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif"> It will probably be next week before I can pick up the communicator/starter package now, but that´s okay. I need to learn some more about Links 2004 offline before I go playing advanced matches - when I can find them (they must not be nearly as popular) - online.

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 11:22 am

>>>"So the original Xbox controller is better for racing? And you think it might also make Links 2004 play better?"<<<
 
 I think so, but I don´t think that the differences are enough to justify a $30 purchase if you don´t have an original already. I´m sure there are plenty of others that would prefer the S controller as well. Since I don´t see too many original controllers in stores anymore, I´m guessing I´m in the minority on this one.
 
 Btw, PGR 2 is a brilliant game. A must have for the Xbox.