robg@Apple.COM (Rob Griffiths) (06/28/91)
While browsing the local software shack last night, I noticed a new
version of PGA Tour Golf (I think it was new -- I hadn't seen it before).
A brief in-store demo was all it took to convince me to purchase the
game. A mini-review follows...
PROS:
+ Runs in >>256<< colors on machines so equipped. Looks GREAT!
+ Good sound usage.
+ Features four courses (three real, one fantasy, I think).
+ Play in real four-round tournament play, against a database of
60 real touring pros.
+ Realism level is high -- I've played a few tournaments, and have
yet to make the cut. It's one of the few golf games where I
haven't been able to shoot 54 after a few rounds!
+ Real neat "overfly" of the hole from a helicopter perspective.
This is neat, but time consuming, and can be skipped with a simple
mouseclick.
+ Restricts golfer to the USGA-standard 14 clubs. You pick which 14
(Don't want the putter? Leave it!).
+ The ball can fall into certain "lies", such as "in fairway", "in
divot", "buried in rough", etc. Each of these affects the distance,
spin, and accuracy of the shot.
+ Automatic "instant replay" of really nice shots (or manual instant
replay of any shot you want to see again).
+ Keeps statistics on your performance over time.
+ Nice "camera angles" after shooting - the first shot is behind the
ball, then it switches to a position near where the ball will be
landing. Really well done.
+ Higher irons (ie 7,8,9+) actually spin back when hitting the green!
CONS:
- The putting is ridiculously tricky to figure out. A 3-D perspective
is used to show the curve of the green (good), but it's somewhat
confusing. I putt worse on this game than I do in real life!!
- The window used is sized to fit a 9-inch screen. A minor annoyance
on a 13-inch RGB. But the nice look almost makes up for it.
- The winds are somewhat too sensitive. A 14MPH headwind can turn into
a 17MPH tailwind in 5 seconds or less! Basic tactic: Wait for the
wind speed/direction you desire, then start the swing. This freezes
the wind...
- The manual is OK, but leaves some things unknown. For example, it took
experimentation to discover the proper hook/slice method.
- No terrain, other than on the greens. That is, everything is flat.
No uphill and downhill (a feature of Jack Nicklaus' golf that is very
nicely done!).
Overall, a very nice golf game. And, if you have color, it's worth the
purchase price just for some of the pictures! Now, if they'd just add
some terrain-mapping to the fairways, and let me eliminate some of the
in-between-each-hole features (scorecard, leaderboard), it'd be perfect!!
The publisher is Electronic Arts, and I found my copy at Egghead. Not sure
of the version number or anything like that...
-rob. As always, speaking for myself...
--
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| R. Griffiths | PP-ASEL; -IA and -Glider under construction... |
| robg@apple.com | "Would you be prepared if gravity reversed itself?" |
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