Gaming Target - Xbox: Outlaw Golf

Written by Ryan Smotherman on April 17, 2002

First Impressions: You see, mindless violence can really make anything exciting.

For those of us who don't play golf and don't even care enough to watch it on the tube, the sport can be a very boring experience. Even in the video game world. That's the exact reason why so many developers have been trying new concepts to make an enjoyable video game experience out of it. Nintendo's Mario Golf and Sony's Hot Shot Golf series are two of the most successful golf games out there, while golf simulators like EA's Tiger Woods games take a back seat in popularity. Why is this exactly? Simply put, the games' just sport a fun atmosphere with their interesting and popular characters, not to mention a variety of different play modes. Luckily for us Xbox owners the developers at Simon & Schuster Interactive are looking to take this concept to a whole new crazy level, looking to finally give Xbox owning golf fans something to write home about. Let the salivating begin!

AhhЕ yes, just another day on the green. Your lackluster golfing skills have resulted in a poor +20 score, with an infinite amount of shanks that have resulted in a bogie-riffic experience. What's a poor golfer to do? Smash your expensive golf clubs into million of pieces? Sure that's always a viable option, but what exactly do we smash it on? How about your caddie's skull? Oh yeah! Sounds like fun to me! In getting right into one of Outlaw Golf's most interesting points, let's take a look at probably one of the most unique features to ever make it's way into a golf game Ц the Composure Meter. The concept here is very simple. Characters start out with an optimistic frame of mind, but determining how good you play dictates where it goes from there. Too many bad shots and hitting hazards lead to frustration and a loss of composure. Here's where it gets interesting.

Starting out each hole you will have the ability to vent out some of those frustrations. Hit the corresponding button and a meter pops up between you and your caddie. With the proper timing you'll proceed to assault and batter your opponent with a barrage of varying attacksЕ waitЕ okay, I just had to absorb how cool that is, let's continue. If pulled off correctly your composure meter will shoot back up and you'll be hitting like a pro once again. Which leads us to the other side of the spectrum. If you do good enough, you'll be Уin the zoneФ so to speak. This whole concept sounds really interesting in theory, and if pulled off correctly it could add much excitement to the genre. It's no doubt an interesting twist and let's hope they can pull it off with much success.

Other than that though, the gameplay is set to include some pretty standard stuff and is actually taking a more realistic approach than even Mario Golf or Hot Shots. So hardcore fans and casual fans alike should enjoy this game, as it will feature a nice blend of simulation and fantasy elements. Just as in any golf game, you'll have to take into account things like the wind speed and which golf club you should use in each situation. In a sort of interesting set up, controlling the power and direction of your shots will not be done with an on screen display, but instead by pulling back and then pushing forward on the right analog stick. As if you're really swinging the club.

On to another very important aspect of the game are the 10 very stereotypical characters you'll have to choose from. Everything's covered here Ц we have your hard-nosed military veteran, the skimpy stripper, a wannabe gangster, a doctor, the list goes on and on. Each character will be very unique from one another, sporting their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and a caddie to whoop up on. At this point it's looking as if Outlaw Golf will contain some of the wackiest characters around, each who will promote their own styles of violence and humor.

Visually, Outlaw Golf is shaping up to be quite stunning. Since this is going to be an Xbox exclusive, the developer isn't holding back one once of the Xbox's raw power. The 3 over-the-top courses (Turnpike Valley Country Club, Crusty Leaf Country Club, and El Diablo Country Club) in the game are alive with beautiful blue skies (complete with realistic clouds), impressively green courses where you can see individual blades of grass, and even some of the most realistic water effects you've ever seen. Character models are also set to impress, containing generous polygon counts and lifelike character movements (most impressive as your beating the snot out of your poor caddie). The characters are also proportionate; so don't expect to find any big heads as in the Hot Shots Golf series. Other course specific effects will be littered throughout the game as well. This game is certainly spilling over the brim with personality.