Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition

Last updated
Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition
Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition cover.jpg
Developer(s) Microsoft
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Artist(s) Neil Galloway [1]
Series Microsoft Golf
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: August 24, 2000
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player
Multiplayer

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition is a 2000 golf video game developed and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the final game in the Microsoft Golf series, and the successor to Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition . It uses the same game engine as Links LS 2000 (1999), part of Microsoft's Links series of golf games.

Contents

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition was marketed as a basic golf game with limited features, intended for casual players and beginners. It received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic, with some praise going towards the game's graphics and high resolution. Some critics noted similarities between the game and Links LS 2000, and believed that it would appeal to its target demographic.

Gameplay

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition is similar to Links LS 2000 , [2] and features seven courses, most of which are already featured in previous Links games and add-on disks. [3] Courses include Bighorn in California; Bountiful Golf Club and Entrada at Snow Canyon, both in Utah; Kapalua Plantation and Mauna Kea, both in Hawaii; Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia; and the fictional Three Canyons red rock course. [4] [5] [6] Courses include varying obstacles and conditions relating to wind, fog, and cloud coverage. [3]

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition features ten game modes, five of which are absent from Links LS 2000. [2] Modes include match, Nassau, scramble, skins, and stroke. [5] [6] The game also offered multiplayer through MSN Gaming Zone. [4] The game includes three playable golf characters, [5] and more can be custom-made by the player. [7] The game has three swing methods, including Easy Swing and PowerStroke, [8] [4] [2] both previously featured in Links LS 2000. [6] The PowerStroke uses computer mouse motion to simulate the swing. [4] [6] The game includes commentary in response to golf shots. [7] The player can take mulligans and gimmes, [8] and can utilize various camera angles to aid in golfing. [3] Grid lines can be placed on the course to aid in putting. [8] [5]

Development and release

Microsoft Golf 2001 was developed and published by Microsoft, [8] which owned the rights to the Links series. [9] Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition uses the same game engine as the 1999 game Links LS 2000. [3] In North America, Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition was released for Microsoft Windows on August 24, 2000. [8] [10] [11] It was marketed as a basic golf game with limited features, intended for casual players and beginners. [9] [4] [7] [3] [6] [2]

Reception

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic. [12] Some critics viewed Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition as a basic version of the Links games; [7] [6] several noted similarities between the game and Links LS 2000 in particular. [9] [3] [2] Kevin Rice of Daily Radar considered it a "continuation of Links LS 2000 with very minor changes," but stated that this was "not really a bad thing". [3] Brett Todd of Computer Games Magazine called the game "really nothing more than a repackaged Links LS 2000 offered at a bargain basement price," while stating that this "is both good and bad." [9]

Critics considered the game a good value at $20, and believed it would appeal to its target demographic of casual players, rather than hardcore golfers. [9] [4] [7] [3] [6] [2] Considering its low price, Todd believed the game could have appeal for some people, but not for most, stating that nearly all of its good points had been eclipsed by other golf games. [9] Stephen Poole of GameSpot called the game an "attractive package" for its variety of terrain and "excellent" course design. [4]

Some praise went to the graphics and the high resolution. [5] [6] [3] [2] Shawn Nicholls of AllGame considered the courses to be "blatantly artificial", and "inconsistent" with the appearance of the golfer, [8] while Gordon Goble of Gamecenter felt that the golfer characters could have been better animated. [6] Sports Gaming Network considered the graphics to be good, but dated. [2] Nicholls praised the sound, commentary, and music, [8] while Scott Steinberg of IGN criticized the commentary for occurring a few seconds too soon or too late in reaction to golf shots. [7] Michael Lafferty of GameZone was disappointed by how limited the commentary was, [5] and Poole stated that the commentary was "delivered as if the speaker had just finished walking 27 holes." [4]

Despite a few minor deficiencies, Lafferty praised Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition for its simple gameplay and called it "the golf game that will enable families to play together and give the newer players a chance to succeed." [5] Rice considered the game to be realistic, [3] while Nicholls stated that computer golfers expecting a realistic and challenging experience would be disappointed by the game. [8] Steinberg stated that lifelong golfers should stick to the Links games, as Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition "lacks serious challenge." Steinberg called the game "a lot more user friendly and less intimidating for newly baptized proponents of the sport." [7] Sports Gaming Network criticized the lack of an off-line tournament mode, a feature that was present in Links LS 2000. [2] Todd considered the game to be dated, but also "good in a 1997-98 sort of way," while calling it a "reasonably deep simulation of golf." [9]

Some criticized the grid lines for being difficult and unhelpful. [8] [5] The PowerStroke swing method was also criticized. Nicholls stated that the game seemed "impossible and frustrating" when using the PowerStroke, [8] and Sports Gaming Network considered the PowerStroke awkward to use. [2] Goble criticized the PowerStroke icon's location onscreen: "It is, for some wacky reason, located right at the base of the screen, in almost exactly the same spot where the game's hidden menu panel is activated. We cannot count the number of times we accidentally triggered that menu when all we wanted to do was make a damn shot." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>British Open Championship Golf</i> 1997 video game

British Open Championship Golf is a 1997 sports video game developed and published by LookingGlass Technologies. A simulation of The Open Championship, it allows the player to engage in multiple forms of golf, including stroke play and fourball. The player competes at reproductions of the Royal Troon Golf Club and the Old Course at St. Andrews as and against famous golfers of the time. Announcer commentary is provided by actor Michael Bradshaw and Wide World of Sports host Jim McKay.

<i>Jack Nicklaus 4</i> 1997 video game

Jack Nicklaus 4 is a 1997 sports golf video game. It was published by Accolade, and is the fourth in a series of video games named after golfer Jack Nicklaus, following Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition (1992). The original Microsoft Windows version was developed by Cinematronics. Versions were also released for Macintosh and DVD. A PlayStation version titled Jack Nicklaus '98 was also in development. The game was followed by Jack Nicklaus 5, released later in 1997.

Links is a series of golf simulation video games, first developed by Access Software, and then later by Microsoft after it acquired Access Software in 1999. Microsoft also produced its own series of golf games based on Links, under the title Microsoft Golf. The Links series was a flagship brand for Access, and was continued from 1990 to 2003. The first game in the series, Links: The Challenge of Golf, won Computer Gaming World's 1991 Action Game of the Year award.

<i>Links 2003</i> 2002 video game

Links 2003 is a golf video game developed by Microsoft and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is part of the Links series and was released for Microsoft Windows in 2002. It follows Links 2001 and was followed by Links 2004. The game includes six courses, a course designer, and four professional golfers: David Toms, Jesper Parnevik, Sergio García, and Annika Sörenstam. Links 2003 introduces a golf swing method that works in real time as the player makes the shot.

<i>Actua Golf 2</i> 1997 video game

Actua Golf 2 is a sports video game developed and published by Gremlin Interactive for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Development of the game was underway as of August 1997, and it was released in September 1997 in Europe, and in June 1998 in North America. A Sega Saturn version was planned, but eventually cancelled.

<i>Links 2001</i> Golf video game by Microsoft

Links 2001 is a golf video game developed and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Links series and follows Links LS 2000. It is the first game in the series to include a golf course designer, allowing the player to create custom courses. It also features Arnold Palmer, Sergio García, and Annika Sörenstam as playable golfers.

<i>Links 386 Pro</i> 1992 video game

Links 386 Pro is a golf simulation sports game for MS-DOS released in 1992. It is part of the Links series, and was developed by Access Software as the follow-up to Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990). A Macintosh version, Links Pro, was released in 1994. An enhanced version called Links 386 CD was released for PC in 1995 that included audio comments by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait acting as the player's caddie, and an aerial flyby of each hole streamed from the game's CD-ROM. Re-branded versions of the game were also released for Microsoft Windows under the titles Microsoft Golf 2.0 (1994) and Microsoft Golf 3.0 (1996), part of the Microsoft Golf series.

<i>Links LS 1998</i> 1997 sports video game

Links LS 1998 is a golf video game developed and published by Access Software. It is part of the Links video game series, following Links LS (1996). It was released in 1997, and is the first game in the series to be published for Microsoft Windows. The game was well received, and was followed by Links LS 1999.

<i>Links LS 1999</i> 1998 sports video game

Links LS 1999 is a video game developed and published by Access Software for Microsoft Windows in 1998, and is part of the Links video game series.

<i>Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge</i> 1999 video game

Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge is a golf video game developed by Hypnos Entertainment and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows. It is part of a series of golfing games named after golfer Jack Nicklaus, and is the first in the series to feature him as a playable golfer. Producer and designer Mike Franco, who produced previous games in the series, began working on the game in November 1997, when Jack Nicklaus 5 was released.

<i>Links: The Challenge of Golf</i> 1990 video game

Links: The Challenge of Golf is a golf video game developed by Access Software. It was published for MS-DOS in 1990, followed by the Amiga in 1992. A Sega CD version, developed by Papyrus Design Group, was released in 1994. It is the first game in the Links series, and was followed by Links 386 Pro (1992). A Microsoft Windows version, titled Microsoft Golf, was released in 1992 as the first game in the Microsoft Golf series.

<i>Links LS 2000</i> 1999 video game

Links LS 2000 is a golf video game developed by Access Software and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Links series and was released in 1999 for Microsoft Windows, and in 2000 for Macintosh. It was followed by Links 2001.

<i>Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition</i> 1998 video game

Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition is a 1998 golf video game developed by American studio Friendly Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the fourth game in the Microsoft Golf series, following Microsoft Golf 3.0. The game uses a revamped design that is substantially different from its predecessors.

<i>Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition</i> Developed by American studio Friendly Software

Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition is a golf video game developed by American studio Friendly Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It was released in the United States in late 1998. It is the fifth game in the Microsoft Golf series, following Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition, which was also developed by Friendly Software.

<i>Links Extreme</i> 1999 video game

Links Extreme is a 1999 golf video game developed by Access Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the first game in the Links series to be published by Microsoft, which purchased Access Software a month prior to the game's release.

<i>PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition</i> 1999 video game

PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition is a 1999 golf video game developed by Headgate Studios and published by Sierra Sports for Microsoft Windows. The game includes eight golf courses and a golf swing method known as TrueSwing, which uses the movement of the computer mouse to simulate a golf swing in real-time as the player makes the shot. Also included is the ReadyPlay feature, allowing golfers in a multiplayer group to play at their own pace without waiting for others to finish their turn. The game was praised for its variety, including its TrueSwing and ReadyPlay features, although its golf commentary was criticized. The game was followed by a sequel, PGA Championship Golf 2000.

<i>The Golf Pro</i> 1998 video game

The Golf Pro is a 1998 golf video game developed and published by Empire Interactive for Microsoft Windows. The game features professional golfer Gary Player, as well as two golf courses and a mouse-controlled golf swing method known as Mouse Drive. The game was generally praised for its graphics, but criticized for its limited camera angles. By early 1999, The Golf Pro 2 had been released in the United Kingdom.

<i>Front Page Sports: Golf</i> 1997 video game

Front Page Sports: Golf is a golf simulation video game developed by Headgate Studios and published by Sierra On-Line for Microsoft Windows. The game was released in 1997, after nearly three years of development. It was particularly praised for its TrueSwing method, in which the player uses the computer mouse to simulate the golf swing.

<i>Innova Disc Golf</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Innova Disc Golf is a sports video game developed by Sundial Interactive and published by WizardWorks for Innova Discs. It was released for Microsoft Windows on April 12, 2000.

<i>Microsoft Baseball 3D 1998 Edition</i> 1998 video game

Microsoft Baseball 3D 1998 Edition, also known as simply Microsoft Baseball 3D, is a sports video game developed by Microsoft and WizBang! Software Productions. It was released for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It received praise for its graphics, but criticism for numerous glitches and its varying difficulty. It was followed by Microsoft Baseball 2000 and Microsoft Baseball 2001.

References

  1. ↑ "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition credits". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Microsoft Golf 2001 (PC) Review". Sports Gaming Network. October 9, 2000. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rice, Kevin (2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001". Daily Radar . Archived from the original on August 4, 2001.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Poole, Stephen (August 29, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 2, 2001.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lafferty, Michael (October 16, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Goble, Gordon (August 28, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition". Gamecenter. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on October 20, 2000.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Steinberg, Scott (September 6, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001: Microsoft's little cousin to Links does good". IGN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Nicholls, Shawn. "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Todd, Brett (September 27, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001: Attention K-Mart Shoppers!". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003.
  10. ↑ Fudge, James (August 11, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001 Web Site Goes Live". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003.
  11. ↑ Walker, Trey (September 5, 2000). "Microsoft Golf 2001 in Stores". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005.
  12. 1 2 "Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.