Preview: Outlaw Golf
Posted 19 Nov 2002 at 08:25 by Javid
Always thought Golf was boring and for the more 'classy' kind of person? Well, this maybe so, but Outlaw Golf intends to change all of that. The aim of this game is to deliver a 'fun' golf game which differs from any other golf game ever experienced with one simple premise: there are no laws!
This game takes Golf to the extreme (yes you heard correctly!) with 4 outrageous courses including the Newark Municipal Course which is set within a city where you can actually hear the spine tingling sounds of Planes taking off from the local Airport. Another course is set in a very sandy desert in the Nevada Desert and another course stupidly placed on a swamp, but the up-side of this is where the fun of this game actually stems from.
There are 8 characters to choose from, each of which is assisted round each course by their own caddie. This caddie is the focus of all your frustration, you can beat them down till they cry and basically just give them a beating of a lifetime! On the swampy course for example, you can force your caddie to be attacked and ambushed by alligators!
The characters themselves are all rejects from a classier private golf club, and with good cause. Doc Digler for example possesses a striper girlfriend and Killer Miller is a released from jail convict and a wannabe street-pimp! Not traditional golfing material, I think you'll agree!
Outlaw Golf also offers a driving range, which again, is far from anything you would usually expect. It's basically a mad, road side, freak site where you can participate in events such as Golf Darts, a precision activity and a more fun, Windshield Smashing game where the more car windows you hit the more points you get.
Just because this game takes a light-hearted approach to Golf, that doesn't mean it doesn't care about the features of Golf. The game contains a very impressive, scientifically developed, Composure Response System. This sounds complicated, but what it means is that, depending on how you play, you will manipulate how the controls actually 'feel' For example, if you play well, then the controls will feel smooth and more effective, but if you play badly, then the controls will be rougher and harder to use. It uses this as a reflective experience on Golf in real life, where if you play bad, it's harder to retain your previous composure and focus. This Composure Response System is quite an intriguing, additional feature which will give the game more depth and a respected realistic feel.
So how do you regain your characters composure on the game then? Well, there are two ways, either by generally improving your game and performance or by kicking the living day lights out of your caddy! This relieves tension, and can re-focus your character, but beware, your caddy will not stay around long if you punish them too much, and you'll be left on your own, which would be a loss, as the caddies actually offer good advice and tactics.
The game play itself is quite solid, with features such as choosing your club, aim and power and using a selection of shots such as chippings, punch shots, flop shots, fades and draws. It is also quite realistic. Weathering will cause specific effects on how your ball flies and rolls and the ground conditions have been engineered to be spot-on accurate, effecting how your ball lands and moves as well as effecting how effective your shots are and how your ball flies depending on the ground conditions it was struck from.
You can also play with up to 4 players or compete in a tournament against the games hilarious characters whilst enjoying the satisfying graphics.