Product: Links LS 2000
Company: Microsoft
Website: http://www.microsoft.com/games/links2000
Estimated Street Price: $54.95
Review By: Mark Law

What a great time for a golf game to be released! Fall is here and winter is on its way. Golfers may not be on the courses in your town but they will be on Links LS 2000!

The Features

• Tee off on 6 courses, 5 of them being new. Links LS 2000 also supports over 25 available add-on courses
• Links LS 2000 features improved tree and foliage graphics with a new image capturing system providing twice as much detail in the vegetation
• Fuzzy Zoeller, along with three other new golfers, join the cast to give you a total of 12 golfers to choose from
• Two new commentators, including the witty CBS golf analyst David Feherty, provide complete play-by-play
• Choose between 35 different game styles, including 5 new modes of play
• Links LS 2000 brings out the natural beauty of golf with new SkyScape options, which accent the scenic splendor and realism of the course with a greater variety of selectable sky scenes
• Leave the caddy at home with new Links Lessons designed to help new PC golfers get into the game quickly. New PC golfers will also be at ease with the ability to select between the new one-click swing in addition to the two-click, three-click, and Power Stroke swings
• New Quickstart feature allows users to get on the green in only 2 clicks
• Play free on the Zone. Now Links LS 2000 will be available for online matchmaking on the MSN Gaming Zone. 

Installation & Settings

• Install -- installs Links LS 2000
• Browse CD -- allows you to view files on the CD
• View Readme -- Displays the Readme file
• Exit -- exits Autoplay

• Quick Start -- Starts a game immediately with a set type of round
• New Round -- Gives you the option of what type of round you want to play
• Resume -- Lets you continue a saved round
• Online Play -- Lets you play via the internet. Using MSN Gaming Zone, LS Tour Online, and Other Connections.
• Multimedia -- Allows you to enjoy many multimedia movies about various golf courses.
• Virtual Tournament -- Allows you to join a tournament.

There is also a menu bar along the bottom of the screen that consists of the following:

• Lessons -- Gives you lessons on swings, aiming, and so forth.
• Options -- Access any of the game options, including player, game, course, and tournament settings, as well as a feature to import courses from Links 386.
• Help -- Quick access to the online help section, also accessible by pressing the F1 key.
• Exit -- Exits Links LS 2000.

Gameplay

• Easy swing -- Simple one click method
• Classic swing (2 click) -- Two clicks (one click, hold, release, then click again)
• Classic swing (3 click) -- Three clicks (click, click, click)
• PowerStoke -- More complicated. Move the mouse back and forth while clicking to start and finish the swing.

Graphics

The graphics are very realistic. From the crowd that stands around you, to the grandstands and camera towers that loom around the course, you get a clear very distinct picture of what it is like to actually golf in real-life. Access really out did it with the quality of the graphics used in this program. The golfers you can choose from look very authentic and the real life players look almost exactly like the real thing!

Sound

The sounds are very real in Links LS 2000. As if you were playing in a real gold tournament, you can hear cheering and booing coming from the crowd. Plus, the commentators always have choice words for your shot. The sounds do give you the feel of playing with someone in real-life. The sounds also include normal everyday sounds, such as planes and animals, etc. Even though this is only a golf game, Links LS 2000 maximizes the realism you could possibly get with the sound environment.

Screenshots

Final Comments

Links LS 2000 continues the Links series of golf games by Access well. It is as close to the real thing as you could get on today’s gaming technology. By far, it trumps all other golf games out on the market. I really like to golf so the games came easy to me. However, with the menus, tutorials and improved interface even if you weren’t a big golfer you would enjoy the game. The ability to play this game online (MSN Gaming Zone) makes playing the game all the more exciting! I really like this game and all the choices that it gives you – although somewhat overwhelming at first! The plethora of courses and different golfers is amazing as well. I’d recommend purchasing Links LS 2000! Well, back to the game – Four!

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