Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition

Reviews / previews

Review: Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition

Neither does the 1999 Edition, though given that its $10 for owners of the 1998 Edition, there is plenty of play value. More on that later.

This is the kind of computer golf Dad likes to play, yknow? It sets up and installs in about 30 seconds, presents a clean, pleasant, uncluttered interface that looks like a Triple A brochure, and youre just about five mouse-clickstotalfrom creating a player and hitting the links.

Once youre on the tee, the game itself is incredibly user-friendly. Fly-bys are accompanied by a commentators tips on how to attack the hole in front of you. Its a welcoming, inviting feel.

On the other hand, its also way behind the technological curve. Links LS 99, the current bar for golf games, is much more compelling in nearly every regard. Its photo-realistic graphics make Microsofts look like simplistic palette work. Microsoft Golfs trees and shrubbery look like they were plopped in, with none of the organic feel that exists in Links. When you send an errant shot into the brush in Links, you wince because you can almost see the ball getting tangled in green wraps. In Microsoft Golf 1999, it looks like the ball has been swallowed up by a pixel batch.

All of Microsofts shots look errant because the ball flight is woeful. The first few shots I took, I thought Id lost sight of the ball because all I could see was my divot fly sharply into the air and then come down. I realized with astonishment that the divot was the ball. The ball-flight physics send your shot in a sort of egg-curved blooper arc that takes off extra- ordinarily fast, dies like a gunned-down bird, and then bounces a few times before settling. Theres none of the artful accuracy of a Links drive.

To be fair, the bizarre ball-flights are the only really noticeable flaw in the mechanics. The four different swing systems, including two- and three-click meters, mouse swing, and a nifty natural swing that provides a fan-shaped meter with which to gauge your stroke are all technically sound and playable. The adjustable difficulty levels are sensitively arranged to challenge you at different levels of comfort with the swing mechanics.

The soundtrack includes some nice in-game comments, with favorites like That was fairly horrendous, and Well, that certainly was rather embarrassing. But as a rule, Microsoft Golf 1999 is a flat experience for the ears, with nearly inaudible backgrounds. It has none of its competitors aural flair, sticking instead to club pings and balls rolling inside the cup.

There are two reasons to ignore all my misgivings and maybe buy this game anyway. Number one is that you get free, easy, and enjoyable Internet play on Microsofts Internet Gaming Zone. Microsoft-bashers never give enough credit to this wonderful service, and it serves golfers splendidly. Reason two is that if you own Microsoft Golf 1998, you can mail in a rebate coupon from the 1999 box and get $30 back from Microsoft, making this a $10 purchase that adds several courses (including a best-ofDonald Ross fantasy course) and the new swing meters to your arsenal.

Rebate golf? Maybe so, but thats the only way I can see recommending this game.-- Daniel Morris / GamePro