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eCS Software |
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Application Review |
Links
for OS/2 |
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Year:
1997 Game
Link: Click
Here Additional
Courses |
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Links OS/2, like Microsoft Golf 3, is the successor to Links 386 Pro (the most popular golf game of all time). Links OS/2 takes advantage of OS/2's 32-bit nature, GUI, and multithreaded features to deliver a breath-taking game. The graphics and sound are well beyond anything ever seen on OS/2. DIVE and DART are used heavily to ensure excellent graphics and sound performance. The game behaves very well in a multitasking environment. Players can play an entire course in one sitting or take a few shots, work on something else, and return to the game. Courses developed for Microsoft Golf and Links 386 (.CRH files) are also compatible with Links OS/2. All those courses people have bought in the past will continue to work. The customizability of Links for OS/2 is remarkable. Players can change nearly everything about the on-screen golfer including their hair color. Because of the GUI, players can see where they currently are shooting from, where the green is, an overhead map of the course, and more all at the same time. (2) Installation: I have the downloaded version of Links for OS/2 that I got from Stardock when it first came out in 1997. Because of this the installation was fast but as a negative there was one or two missing options (which I will discuss latter). Installation is pretty straight forward, there is an install.exe file that quickly brings you to the introduction screen. This is an old OS/2 installer that works well but is not like WarpIn. I had an issue with installing Links for OS/2 from an JFS drive. It would simply crash. I had to move the installation files to a USB Drive formatted with FAT. Once I did this the install went fine. After figuring out the JFS problem, there were no issues with the install, taking only a minute or two from install to having the folder and icons on the desktop. Oddly enough, I installed Links for OS/2 on an JFS drive.
To be honest, I did not play the New Game option much, I went straight to Quick Start and wanted to swing a few balls. This is where I will focus most of my tine since all the settings are the same here and I jump right into the meat of the game. One note. There is not much when it comes to configuring the game. As you can see in this picture, you really can't beef up the graphics much. I'm not saying that it is an ugly game, quite the opposite. For an OS/2 game, even in 2011, it's nice looking.
For this review I did a few new games and played a few courses. The first thing off the bat I noticed was the sound started screaming at me with a scrachie (that a word?) hiss. I tried to play with the settings but they were very limited and so I was forced to turn them off. It might be my soundcard or that Links for OS/2 is having problems with some driver in eCS that was not there in OS/2. After I turned off the sound I loaded up a course I downloaded off the Internet, Mauna Kea. Links for OS/2 comes with two courses already: Banff Springs and Firestone Country Club. Basicly, Links for OS/2 starts in it's own desktop with icons to play, here is all the windows minimized:
You can configure the windows any way you wish, it depends on what you want to see, your “playing style” and how large your monitor (resolution) is. This is a nice feature, here is mine:
There is no way to make the “playing screen” larger, or if there is, I can't find out how. This is not a major problem, more of an annoyance as I would of liked it a little bigger. As you can see from the “miracle” of multi-tasking, eCS users are treated to much more data than the DOS version. Even though there were not many bells and whistles compared to today's Gold on the PC. Everything was snappy and there was no lag in the game. (5) Final Thoughts: I'm not an avid golf player but I am a avid gamer. Links for OS/2 is a great game if you just want to burn up a few minutes or an hour. For the eCS community, this is an A class title and everyone should have it installed on their computer for when the need to put down the database and pick up a club arises. (6) Updates after the review: 03-06-11 : Added all other missing courses thanks to one of our readers! There is now one large file that has all the courses in one .zip (56 megs). 01-08-11 : Added 8 more courses that work with Links for OS/2: Banff Springs, Bighorn Golf Club, Castle Pines Golf Club, Devils Island, Innisbrook – Copperhead, Mauna Kea, The Belfry, and Pebble Beach Golf Links |
Clicking
on the Links for OS/2 icon brings you to the welcome screen.
Pretty simple stuff. You have the choice of New Game, Quick Start,
Practice, or Resume Game. Since this was done in 1997 choices here
are rather limited. Good for me that it is not very important
since I am just looking to swing some balls around when I need a
break from work.
