The Missing Link

[RaychelSnr]

Some sports gamers say Links 2004 was the best Golf game they have ever played. Unfortunately, as with several other titles in the past few months, Links 2004 was the series' swan song, or was it? Rob Fetter writes today about why he thinks the Links series should be revived in his article, The Missing Link.

"Not to mention that now when I look at Prizefighter all I keep thinking to myself is, “That should have been Links, that development money could have gone towards Links." But alas it is too late for that now. So it appears that the next installment of Links will be something that the gaming world will never see. "

[BigBlue]

It's backwards compatible. My buddy and I STILL play this game against each other online.

[OnlookerDelay]

Links 2004 is indeed the best console golf game every made, IMO. I understand that Indie Games had an 80% complete version of Links 2007 ready for release in September of 2006. Those who saw it said that it was on course to be the 360 version of Links 2004, and then some. It's a shame that we'll probably never get to see it. I keep hoping that some publisher will pick it up, but it would probably be economic suicide to try to compete with the Tiger name recognition.

Great piece Rob... a fitting tribute to a wonderful game that still lives in BC mode on my 360 and gets played serveral times a week!

[fishepa]

I still have this game as well and play it every once in a while. I would love to see a next gen version.

[mgoblue]

Re: The Missing Link

I still have this game as well and play it every once in a while. I would love to see a next gen version.

Same here! Links has the best feeling analog stick swing ever...The TW series is getting better but it's still not quite there...I can't explain it but it's just frustrating in TW whereas Links felt better.

Links you'd understand why you hit a shot poorly, TW it seems like you can do the same exact thing and get wildly different results...that's the difference in my eyes. I'd love to see a new Links but I doubt we ever will.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: The Missing Link

Same here! Links has the best feeling analog stick swing ever...

You just said the key word - "feeling"! In my estimation, this is why Links 2004 is much more fun to play than next-gen Tiger... you can feel the swing! There's some lag between stick movement and player animation. This allows the player to feel like they're governing an action. It also makes the game feel more alive. The more powerful shots in Links 2004 come as a result of a more believable tempo, not how fast you can move a stick back & forth in a straight line.

The swing animations I'm seeing in the Tiger Woods 2009 videos thus far suggest to me that the golfer animations in the game still play in an inertialess world...

[orthostud23]

I have HIGH hopes that someone will come out with a golf game other than EA. I have not enjoyed one TW series yet. Links 2004 was simply a great game.

EXCELLENT ARTICLE

[Jordanfan23]

Re: The Missing Link

Links you'd understand why you hit a shot poorly, TW it seems like you can do the same exact thing and get wildly different results...that's the difference in my eyes.

I agree, this is the one thing about TW08 I can't stand, is its inconsistencies. As far as Links 2004, it was a great game, and it is sad there hasn't been another one made as of yet.

[JimmyPelican]

Re: The Missing Link

I have not enjoyed one TW series yet. Links 2004 was simply a great game.

EXCELLENT ARTICLE

Totally agree! It doesn't look like TW 09 is going to be much different.
Looks like another year of playing Links!

[Fetter21]

It really is too bad that Microsoft shutdown their XSN site, since it sounds like 4 years later there are still enough people choosing to play Links over Tiger that we could put together a tournament or even a tour.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: The Missing Link

It really is too bad that Microsoft shutdown their XSN site, since it sounds like 4 years later there are still enough people choosing to play Links over Tiger that we could put together a tournament or even a tour.

XSN was wonderful! I can't help but think that there are enough hardcore sports gaming fans to make that happen again. Links 2004 was better equipped to handle tournament play than even the latest next-gen Tigers. Heck, they can't even support multi-round play. I just can't believe that we have the viable fetus of Links 2007 for the XBox 360 laying dormant in Take-Two's archives, and no publisher with the vision to pick it up and market it!?

[Casper]

Re: The Missing Link

What the heck, how did I miss this thread ?... A few months ago I bought another Links 2004 just incase my original quirked out on me one day ............CUZ i LOVE THIS GAME!!!

This was the first I've read about Links 2007 80% finished ... that keeps my hopes high, maybe somewhere, somehow, these great realistic golf developers will manage to update/finish what they started.

Their love of Golf really shows ... hope they make a BIG COMEBACK!!

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: The Missing Link

This was the first I've read about Links 2007 80% finished ... that keeps my hopes high, maybe somewhere, somehow, these great realistic golf developers will manage to update/finish what they started.

I don't know that the Indie Built team behind the development of that code still exists in any fashion. I understand that Take-Two Interactive still owns the partially developed code, but it would take an high-risk publisher with plenty of capital to take it off their hands.

Atari pulled Simbins Race 360 out of ashes, maybe they'd be willing to roll the dice on Links 2007 (for lack of a better title at this point)? I personally think Links would be a less nichey title than Race 360.