Holed Out (The 4th Dimension) Review | The Micro User

The Micro User

1st August 1989

Holed Out

Categories: Review: Software
Author: Lazarus
Publisher: The 4th Dimension
Machine: Archimedes A3000

Published in The Micro User 7.06

You can follow the ball's flight by its shadow on the ground

Much faster, better

In the June issue of The Micro User, Holed Out tor the BBC Micro was described as "a test of skill not to be missed". The same game has now been released for the Archimedes and it is quite a stunning piece of work, ranking with Zarch and Conqueror in quality.

The game is very similar, although control is via the mouse. You start by selecting the number of players, their skill levels, whether right or left-handed and so on, plus which of the two courses you want to play.

There are two types of game - match or stroke. In the former you play to win holes while in the second you're aiming for the lowest number of strokes.

Once on the first the the differences from the 8-bit BBC Micro version become obvious - more colours, finer detail, much faster display update and the controls are at the top rather than down the side.

You select the required club using the mouse, then take a swing. Animation of the golfer is very smooth and detailed - and to my inexperienced eye looks perfect, copied from a book on golfing perhaps?

You can follow the ball's flight by its shadow on the ground

goes on until the ball is potted. Of course there are problems like bunkers, trees and water.

The graphics are effective and have amusing little touches like the ripples when the ball hits water and sand flying into the air when you are trying toget out of abunker.

The sounds are all digitised and include the swing, the ball travelling through trees, a very meaty plop for landing in water and the classic rattle as the ball goes down the hole.

The basic gameplay is identical to the 8-bit BBC Micro but it's much faster and makes a great game.

Lazarus

You can follow the ball's flight by its shadow on the ground