Links 2003
by Microsoft
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Video Game Reviews of Links 2003
Customer Review: New Realtime Swing reason enough to upgrade.
Summary: 4 Stars
It seems like most of the complaints here are about the online play. I don't play online, so this review is addressed to those who don't bother with that aspect of the game. The addition of the real time swing is enough for me to recommend this game. The double-click interface had started boring me and I never could get into Powerstroke. The putting is more difficult than clicking and I think they could have done a better job with iron play (I hit woods easier than irons in this game, which isn't what happens in real life to most golfers). Still, I find it far more entertaining than the click method. The graphics look better than 2001, at least on my system (AMD 1.2 Thunderbird with an ATI 8500 video card) and I don't have any delays in loading screens. That could be because I have 512 Meg of RAM. Those with just 128 Meg may be doing a lot of watching. There have been complaints about the sound, but I don't pay much attention to that aspecte of the game anyway.
I've played the 2002 version of Tiger Woods a few times. In comparison to Links, the 3D look of TW adds quite a bit to the game. Unfortunately, most of the courses for that game look the same to me and you cannot save a game in progress in career mode. It lets you save it, but doesn't carry over the statistics. I lost interest in the game after discovering that. You can save a game in progress in the Links2003 career mode and it carries over the stats. The courses for L2003 have far more variety than the TW ones, although they aren't 3D.
In sum, I don't think this is a must-have upgrade like 2001 was, but it is a solid effort. It also comes with a [...] rebate for previous owners of the game. I received that check less than a month after purchasing the game. Say what you want to about the "Evil Empire," but they do a good job with those rebates.
Customer Review: I think is one of the best golf games out there.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been a huge fan of the Links golf series since playing Links 386, now Microsoft has released its best effort to date. This application is made for the armchair golfer of all ages.
The installation was simple and straight forward with no complications during the install. I was able to get the application up and running in Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP professional. I was impressed by the graphics and how realistic they have become from previous versions. I was also impressed by the fact that previous version courses could be converted with the utility included.
Nice additions have been made with a new swing type and the addition of the putt path when you are on the green to give a better chance of sinking the long one on the first try. One thing that I found nice is the web interface connection that comes up at the intro screen; however you do need an active connection.
Loading and rendering were above average as long as you have a 3D video card and that you can tailor the game to your needs making this head and shoulders above all others out there. I also like the new addition of the "New Record" feature that lets you know your longest drive or putt by course or overall play.
The best new feature is the fact that you can now setup and play an entire golf season, so now you can setup leagues, run tournaments and even have skins competitions all from the comfort of you own home and it cost a lot less.
The game has several new courses included and there are a number of websites you can download additional courses from. Speaking of additional course I also received the Links 2003 Championship courses as well.
Customer Review: Lousy Links 2003
Summary: 1 Stars
I agree completely with the reviewer who panned this game. I ownall previous Links games and all the courses. This was a great
disappointment. Unfortunately, I couldn't return it, since I had
opened it. The graphics are poor compared to Links 2001, and the
players look as though they're painted on the screen. I removed
the game from my machine and am trying to forget how I wasted my
money.
Customer Review: What a fiasco!
Summary: 1 Stars
Microsoft has ruined their reputation with the Links series by producing this error filled, bug infested fiasco. Unless you are playing at home by yourself, this game is unplayable!It is almost impossible to go online, and launch a game with 4 to 6 players. And if you are lucky enough to launch, if someone quits, you are out of luck as there is no feature to allow the host to drop the player and continue, or resume without him such as on Links 2001.
And, if you are lucky enough to play a game, but wanted to chat with your buddies, you probably ruined your game by accidently hitting the space bar and causing your player animation to swing prematurely. These bugs, and there are many more, should have been caught if this game was beta tested, but obviously it was not.
Also, this game seems to be "somewhat" incompatible with Windows XP as lots of people cannot even launch from the MSN Zone if they have Windows XP. Or at least, Windows XP is not helpful, even with tons of ram.
People are even having problems launching their game when using unique avatars on their players.
Links 2001 was great! This game is horrible to the 3rd degreee!
Do not buy this game until you read about a patch(s) being available. Someone at Microsoft, if not already, should be fired over this game!
Customer Review: Bugs Galore!
Summary: 1 Stars
Don't buy this game until Microsoft produces the first patch, but it will take several to fix this abortion. It seems Microsoft did not test this game with a Beta edition, but actually are using their paying customers as Beta testers on this game.When playing this game online, it is impossible to chat to other participants as on prior editons because your player may start a swing from touching the space bar, a very obvious bug the designers failed to correct.
Also, on Links 2001, a group of online players could continue a game if one player was dropped or lost their connection. Not in this newer version of Links 2003, as your entire group is screwed if this happens! What was Microsoft thinking?
The game also takes forever to launch when playing online, even if you have an optimum broadband connection, and the latest Pentium 4 processors, plenty of Ram and the latest video cards. A few of us are starting to wonder if it is even compatible with Windows XP, as it loads so slow on that OS.
Microsoft should start over from scratch and refund anyone that bought this game. As for me, I broke my CD's out of frustration.