SimGolf

Everyone with a golf game in the pipeline seems to have suddenly latched upon this 'unique' and 'revolutionary' new mouse-drag interface, and they're all claiming to be the first to use it Well. Maxis are actually the first to use it, and they've managed to incorporate a rather neat course designer/editor into their golf game too.

It's painstakingly slow to use, but the SimGolfs Course Architect does allow you to have complete control over what goes where and builds up a very detailed course. Despite the comparative crudity of the graphics, the screen update is slow, and this, combined with the length of time it takes to build up a course, means that you'll be pushed to design a single hole, let alone a whole course in anything under a few hours. For this reason, maybe Maxis should have provided more basic courses ready for modification, although the two 'real-life' courses. Rancho La Quinta and The Prince in Kuai can be modified to suit your requirements relatively speedily.

At first, the Maxis Mouse Swing seems a little bit awkward to use, although after a few minutes' practice you can't help thinking that it's actually quite forgiving. Although it gives you the sensation of more control, it's not exactly sensitive to subtle changes in your wrist action and the ball does tend to end up in the same spot with anything but a wildly different stroke. Despite this, it is possible to execute wildly sliced and hooked shots and bend the ball around trees and the like with comparative case (maybe someone should incorporate this interface into a football game for set pieces and corners), and at least it's more involving than the standard click-click-click power bar interface, which is also available.

Graphically, SimGolf just doesn't compare with the lushness of PGA or Links LS, but then you don't have a problem with slow screen re-fresh rates. Overall, it's a comprehensive and impressive package that's easy to use and fun to play, if a little on the basic side.