Golf - its one of those games that everyone but me seems to have played. Even kids are now walking around the playing fields swinging a club at a ball (I suppose it's cover for when they are swinging them at the rival gangs or people's cars). That said though, I would very much like to give it a go - all this talk about a good walk ruined sounds just fine to me and after playing virtual golf since the days of Leaderboard on the Commodore 64 just how difficult can it be?

Links golf has been around for years - for years it was THE golf game that had many a PC user updating to the latest version year after year. Now the game comes to the Xbox and a whole new generation of games players can be introduced to the series.

What can be said in a review of a golf game, especially by someone who is not qualified to compare it to the real thing? I guess ill start at the beginning.

Links tries to portray itself as a more serious simulation-style of game than "that" other golf game that many have played - a problem with that is "that" other game actually has the biggest star in golf and the licence to use others too. How big a problem is that? Well to me its not a problem at all - with the exception of Nick Faldo, that fat bloke from some place near (or maybe actually in) Wales and Mr Woods I would not have the faintest idea who the stars are or what they are called.

As with many sports games these days, Links allows you to create your virtual self - be it male or female, choose what clothes they are wearing and the type of Golf gear they use - you then name them and on you go. Now I'll pause here for a second and dwell on what for me has to be the neatest and cleverest feature I have seen in a game. Once you have named your player and start the game the commentators actually refer to you by your name - there is none of the generic "player one" stuff - they actually say YOUR name (as long as it's a sensible real name that is, and not too obscure) - now I may be easily please but this really does add a great deal to the game and does help suck you in that little bit more.

   

Again as with almost all sports games there are numerous types of modes you can play the game in. Be it a single player one off match or a full on career mode - all the basic golf game formats are present in all the modes, and it's more than possible just to have a quick 10 minute mess around or an entire afternoon of golf. The main meat of the game though is the Career mode. It is here you take your created player through numerous matches, tournaments and challenges.

The challenges range from hitting targets such as getting close to the pin or completing various holes in as few a shots as possible. Winning these challenges not only allows you to win money but also can unlock various different clubs or other equipment. There are then numerous matches and tournaments for you to take part in at various difficulty levels. At the lowest skill level these are rather straightforward but they soon become a lot more challenging and very competitive. The "just one more go" factor is present in spades.

To win some of the later challenges and games you need to not only play better and smarter but you also need to improve your golfer. This is where all that money you won is spent. You can increase your putting ability, the control of the ball (and most important for those long shots) the power of your hitting. You can soon get a golfer who is able to compete with the best.

So how does the golf play? Well gone are the days of the three button press system. Now with the analogue control offered by the game pad you have a real swing type system, first seen in EA's Tiger Woods series. Pulling the stick back results in your on screen character pulling the club back - pushing the stick forward that sees him swing at the ball. The skill is getting a nice smooth and fluid motion along with plenty of power to hit the ball with, whilst making sure the swing is straight. Any deviations on the stick see the shot curling off target and usually ending up in the trees. Besides how well you hit the ball you also have to take into consideration things like wind speed/direction and lie of the ball - all of these can affect your shot. Once you actually hit the ball you follow it through the air and hold your breath as you hope and pray it reaches its target. Like I said, I'm not qualified to say just how realistic all this is - but it sure looks real and the way the ball reacts and bounces with the environment has to be very close to perfect - maybe even better than Tiger Woods 2004's remarkably believable ball physics.

   

Graphics-wise the game is very nice - the courses all look beautiful; trees sway in the breeze, rivers run, rain falls and there is even the odd bit of wildlife to see. All the shots are met with various commentary which rarely seems repetitive and actually does match what you have done (and that's not forgetting that name feature) - There are a fair amount of courses to play (8, but more will be downloadable for a premium) and although some seem to crop up more than others they never get repetitive as shot making seems to have more variety than some golf games, and obviously familiarity gives you the chance to get the feel for a course which will allow you to play better and better an lower you scores.

So what else is there? Well for those connected to Xbox LIVE then there is full online play. A feature that really pushes the game in front of the competition. Here you can take your created golfer and play anyone from around the world on any course with any game mode complete with voice communication to allow you to ridicule or congratulate your opponents as you see fit. One problem that can come up a lot with online games is the fact that new players can struggle against more experienced ones due to the fact that their characters have inferior stats. However, with Links this does not seem to be too much of a problem and even just an hour in career mode can see you having many a close game online. There is zero lag, and the games seem very relaxing.

Links is a great golf game. It does lack a few of the options and variety of Mr Woods' game and non live players may soon get fed up with the single player mode, but having played this and the other Golf game I would say that it's a close call as to which is the better game - for me the ability to play Links 2004 on Live just gives it an edge, and pushes it to the top of the Xbox Leaderboard.