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In the release thread I mentioned getting Tiger Woods 2005 and Xbox live.

That's a pretty uninformed decision. What would be the best golf game and why? I expect answers to be between 200-250 words.

Seriously though, I am interested in playing online with my Xbox whatwith DOA Ultimate Edition and a few other games that are coming out and the only sporting game that at all interests me is golf. What does everyone around here play? Will people be updating to the 2005 editions or should I save myself $20-$30 and just get the 2004 editions?

Also, should I go with the Xbox Speakerphone from Nyko (http://www.pica.com.au/games/accessories/index5.html) or just use the bundled headset? I currently use a desktop mic run through my regular speakers for Teamspeak - as headphones sort of bother me. Though the one packaged with XBL looks decent.

I thought you said you didn't like sports games?

Oh, right, Golf isn't a real sport.  Carry on. :)

Bruce

I prefer Links.

Nope.  I've always been a square sausage man, myself.

(http://www.shopping-datenbank.de/images/orig/3-1423808.jpg)

Tiger Woods 2004 has the analog swing, a fair selection of real golfers, real equipment, and a very deep create-a-player feature. TW2004 has a good feel to it, even with all of the computer-enabled advantages on, it doesn't feel too "arcade" for my tastes.

It has a nice balance of sim and fantasy uber-golfer to be certain....everything from the beginner golfer, which have exaggerated slices and pulls on some shots, to the advanced golfer who is bombing 350 yard drives on a regular basis. The courses range from realistic ones, like TPC at Sawgrass to fantasy courses like The Predator, which takes place in a South American jungle, or Penguin Falls, which takes place in a polar paradise. The fantasy courses are dsigned to continue challenging the player even after they've maxxed their stats, and obtained great equipment.

TW2004 was a pick-up-and-play game for me....it turned my best friend, who doesn't normally like sports, sports video games, and detested the sport of golf to not only pick up TW2004, but to take of the sport IRL as well. I also picked up the game, largely due to how much I enjoyed TW2004. That, IMO, is the ultimate testament to a sports video game.

TW2005 claims to retain all the best of the 2004 edition, and adds "Tiger Proofing", which allows you to make slight modifications to the course to make it even harder....in theory, this should keep courses more challenging, even for advanced players.

PS2 Online play in 2004 was marred a bit by cheating....there are plenty of GameShark fans out there who have hacked their characters to have superhuman drives. Plus there is the turbo debate (TW2004's defau;t play allows you to "boost" your strokes by tapping a button, which adds power but compromises accuracy by exaggerating any offline stroke). Players frequently drop out of games, although trash talk is not as prevalent as it is in a game like Fight Night 2004. Moreover, in online play the competition is just really damn good....the weekly tournaments are so competitive that you will probably need to break 50 to top the leaderboard.

I haven't played Links, or any other golf titles of late....so I can't really comment on how it stacks up. But a great part about golf titles is that they tend to hold up better over time than other sports titles like football or hockey....and the TW series has a tradition of giving a special goodie in the new game if they detect an prior edition saved game on the memory card.

It captures the feel of golf perfectly....one of the few console games of the last several years to ellicit a fist-pumping "YESSSSS!!" out of me over a great shot, as well as to evoke a full-on controller-smashing tirade of profanity. If you've ever played golf IRL, you know the game can humble you....and TW2004 is no exception, especially early on.

I plan on making TW2005 a rental, but if it is anywhere near as good as 2004, I will quickly add it to my library.

Bring the noise.
Cheers............

i've found the Tiger Woods games, in the past anyway, too have been more of an arcade game and viewed Links as more of a golf simulator. It is to golf what MS Flight Simulator is to flying aircraft. In other words, it makes you know golf or at least learn golf - and spares you no mercy if you fail to learn.

The XBox version of Links was far more closer to Tiger Woods than previous Links editions, but I stuck with it because of brand loyalty. Much like any sports franchise, people will tend to defend what they like.

Agreed. I would suggest renting both TW2004 and Links 2004 to compare them. I absolutely LOVE Link 2k4...TW would have to be pretty incredible to stack up with it. Analog swing, a robust career model, tons of options to play (stroke, match, Nassau, Stableford, etc), customizable golfers...good stuff. Their crowning achievement is probably the camel toe they gave Annika Sorenstam. It never fails to crack me up whenever I see her character (in fact, one of my buddies insists on using her as his golfer whenever we play).

am I gay if I say I never noticed?
or is it okay if I never looked at a console game character 'in that way' (DOA and Gaiden notwithstanding)

Sid Meier's SimGolf!

I can't get the golfer cursing out of my head.

MUNNA MUNNA MAHUNNA MEHAYNNA

Huge fan of golf sims... one caviat: most of them are too easy and scores in the low 60's/high 50's can be shot pretty consistently once you master chipping/putting.  

If I were you schild, I'd rent TW and Links and play around with them.  See which has the swing feel and course selection you like.  If you haven't mastered one of the games in the time you have rented it, conside buying one for those days when you want something low key to play.  They can be fun games to play with a friend when you don't feel like having a button mashing session.

Well, if you turn off the arcade options, like power boost or spin direction, TW2004 is a pretty tough simulator. Particularly on the green, if you don't use the break line or green grid, it's every bit as hard as playing IRL.

You will even find some purists who prefer the "sim" oriented game online, because it places a greater emphasis on smart realistic shot placement, as opposed to simply whacking the drive 400 yards and then playing putt-putt golf into the cup.

Even among the "4 guys and a case of beer" atmosphere, TW2004 plays pretty well, you've got plenty of options, from scramble, best ball, stablford, skins, match play, or stroke play that are all just pick up and go....and it makes for some spirited multiplayer, especially when the competition is tight and you miss a birdie putt, or hit a hole in one.

Like I said, I'm pretty partial, mainly because I bought TW2004 within a month of release, and I'm still playing it regularly almost a year later. If not for the depth of the create-a-player, I probably would have left it on the shelf, and also never picked up the sport IRL.

Bring the noise.
Cheers..............

Looks like I'm gonna have to rent them. I'd keep playing Ribbit King but with no online play, the charm wore off pretty quickly.

I can't tell you if Links is the best, but Links is so GD fun I've never entertained the idea of getting another golf game. Playing St. Andrews is a good part of that - well done model of the course.

- Jim

Which St. Andrew's course do they include? There are six to choose from, five of which are full 18 hole courses. The "Old" course is most represented in games, and I've yet to find any that get the drop-off on the back of the first green into the burn correct.

That reminds me I still need to get Mario Golf for the GBA.  Its a golfing RPG!