Links LS 2000

****

PC

Microsoft

Review: Peter Eley

$99.95 Rating: G Access Software topped the leaderboard in computer golf games throughout the 90s with its Links series.

Now they are a part of the Microsoft stable, and Links LS 2000 is the first release under their new masters.

It looks like an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach has been taken, and the game is essentially the same as the excellent 1999 incarnation. That was a five-star game, and this year's version gets four stars only because there isn't anything startlingly new.

Topping the list of new features is a Quick Start option - hardly enough to make existing users rush out to upgrade. But it is still a great game and way ahead of the field.

It is hosted by Arnold Palmer - not as exciting perhaps as EA's Tiger Woods but then again, old Arnie gets to play at the world's most famous course, St Andrew's, which is licensed to Access.

Most golfers can only dream about playing that hallowed course but Links LS 2000 is the next best thing. The course is modelled to a claimed 2 per cent accuracy, and it looks just like it does on television when the British Open is played there.

Required: Pentium 166, 32Mb Ram.

* Send your comments e-mail to peter_eley@herald.co.nz