Outlaw Golf 2
Score: 88% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Global Star Software Developer: Hypnotix Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 (2 - 4 via Xbox Live) Genre: Sports (Golf)/ Arcade/ Online
Graphics & Sound: Hypnotix’s Outlaw Golf 2 looks great! The lush outdoor environments (duh, this IS golf!) are detail-rich for sure. Every tee box, fairway, and green make you feel like you’re on the course for real. And the rough (which is where I spend most of my time when I’m really on the course) looks absolutely amazing! Added to this are great rain effects, and even more amazing looking water. Character models are equally as well-done, with every tattoo and low-cut outfit giving a lot of personality to each and every one. It is safe to say that the eye candy in OG2 really is eye candy! Added to the graphical content of Outlaw Golf 2 is the music, sound fx, and voice-overs. A great soundtrack gets you going from the moment the disc is inserted, and you also have the option of using custom soundtracks from the Xbox’s Hard Drive. On the golf course, every sound effect is accounted for; from the simple swoosh of the golf club to the dreaded splish splash when you hit the ball into the drink. The character voice-overs may not be the greatest in quality, but I have to admit that I’m shocked at some of the things they say. To round things out, comedian Dave Attell announces the action for each and every round. The only downfall is that it won’t take long at all before the corny and witty phrases get old from hearing them too often.
Gameplay: The Outlaw Golf games aren’t your typical conservative series of golf games. Hitting the little white ball around has never been more fun, thanks mostly to a motley crew of social outcasts as the main characters. Within minutes, you’ll have the opportunity to take control of (and/or play against) the likes of an inmate, a redneck, or a stripper, among many others (there are 10 playable characters total). Each has his/her own unique personality, which adds a little spice to what some may consider the otherwise boring sport of golf. Outlaw Golf 2 shoots a birdie in terms of content. If you’re looking for a golf game that offers a variety of different gameplay methods, you can look no further. Included in the Exhibition matches are: Stroke, Match, Skins, Best Ball, Scramble, My One And Only (choose 1 club and a putter), Casino (gambling), Time Attack, Bingo Bango (First on the Green, Closest to the Pin, and Best Score receive points), High Low, Vegas, Pick Up Sticks (Add/Remove Clubs), and Baseball Golf. In addition, Outlaw Golf 2 offers many mini-games, where you can take your golfers to earn additional attribute points and improve your own skills at the same time. Of course, no sports title would be complete in this day and age without the ability to play online. OG2 fully supports Xbox Live, so it will be possible to kick your buddy’s ass from across the country now. Of course, the heart of Outlaw Golf 2 lies within its Tour Mode. However, OG2 offers a different kind of Tour. Instead of competing in full events every weekend of your calendar, this game throws challenges in your face. The variety of these challenges is what makes OG2 interesting, because each event is different, and each are taken from the many events described above. What this means is that you will not only have to improve your own skills, but you will also have to rely on the skills of a computer-controlled partner at times. This has its up side and down side, but in the end it all evens out. Your partner will completely suck the big one at times, but other times he/she may bail you out.
Difficulty: Outlaw Golf 2’s Exhibition mode offers four difficulty settings: Amateur, Pro, Veteran, and Tour Skills. Tour Skills adjusts the difficulty to wherever your character currently is on the Tour. While in the actual Tour Mode, you’ll see that your opponents tend to adjust to your skill level (to an extent). This can be very frustrating, however, as having one bad hole makes it very hard to come back to win. Even more frustrating is when you have a computer partner who seemingly hits the ball into a water hazard just because your opponent previously did the same. Any way you play, Outlaw Golf 2’s difficulty adjusts with you as you get better and more accurate. The game caught me off guard at first because I couldn’t beat a single event! But after some practice, and a little bit of luck, I got over the hump. Since then, OG2 doesn’t seem quite as difficult. This is also largely in part to the Composure Meter. As you do well, your meter will go up and your skills will improve. But hit a few bad shots, and your Composure will drop, followed by your score going up! Luckily, you can always raise your meter by beating up your caddy... if you’ve earned enough tokens!
Game Mechanics: Outlaw Golf 2’s controller layout is perfect. The game has relatively few buttons that ever need to be pressed, and the option to use either analog stick doesn’t hinder people used to one or the other from other golf games. The use of the analog stick to backswing and follow through is a bit tighter than other games too, so the learning curve is not very high. Just don’t get too comfortable though, because there can still be the occasional hook or slice, especially when you’re Composure Meter is in the gutter. A game that I would consider horny old men to be playing, Outlaw Golf 2 is a fun, and better yet, fully-functional golf game that can be busted out, rain or shine. The humor of OG2 may get a bit old, but there’s just something about seeing scantily clothed women and stereotypical men out on the links that keeps drawing me in. And with a price tag of only 20 USD, Outlaw Golf 2 is a great game at a great price. Just be warned and pay attention to the Mature ESRB Content Rating, as this is definitely not a golf game for children.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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