Outlaw Golf is much like Everybody's Golf, only slightly more dodgy. But if that means nothing to you, how about saying it's a flashier version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003, only not as good? You have to wonder who they re targeting with Outlaw Golf. It clearly doesn't try to be a golf sim - despite having all the features, shot and camera controls of a more serious attempt - but in setting itself up as a "wacky" take on the sport, it's only going to appeal to people who want a game of golf, but nothing too serious. Like who? If you're into golf, you'll want a game that plays like golf. If not, you'll play something else, surely?

That said, the game is decent looking, has loads of modes (some quite a laugh) and several other plus points. The camera's good, with pre-selectable viewpoints or a free camera. The players are intended to be amusingly outrageous and mostly succeed, and there are some purty shot effects when you hit a good 'un. But the bad points outweigh the good. TDK describes the game as appealing to "the Happy Gilmore Caddy Shack/Hooters audience" and that may well be the case. But after the first instance of beating your caddy senseless in order to improve your Composure rating, the reality of the message sinks in. Beat someone up to release tension? Hmm, not a fantastic idea.

The sparse environments suffer from deeply unimaginative course design, making the long game a breeze and the short game frustrating You'll cane the ball down the fairways and then come up short - or rather long - nearer the green. The short game is infuriating, thanks to that errant percentage meter and greens that appear to be made out of Wham-O Superball material.

There are ten golfers, three courses and eight modes. Wait! Three courses? That's a poor count for your 40 quid and they're not even real. Canadian comedian Steve Carell provides the commentary which, while funny the first few times, quickly gets tiresome. The Composure feature - where you supposedly play worse the more duffer shots you hit - doesn't really work. The effect on your golfer isn't terribly noticeable and a single, poorly placed but not disastrous shot can reduce it to zero from "in the zone" full.

Sadly, too, the control combo of stick swing and percentage meter is not a happy marriage. Tiger Woods has dispensed with the shot meter altogether, forcing players to really pay attention to the backswing. OG retains the percentage method and, we feel, suffers as a result.

Despite oodles of atmosphere, the net effect is an uninvolving game of golf just a couple of rounds in. You never feel like you're really playing the course and, once the novelty nonsense wears off, it all falls a bit flat.

1. Light-hearted take on an often dull-as-ditchwater sport
2. Funny animations!

1. Only three courses
2. Commentary quickly irritates
3. Superball Greens

Power
A mere stroll in the park and doesn't exactly set the box on fire, but it's adequately pretty.

Style
Very much a matter of personal taste. At least Happy Gilmore fans will be rejoicing.

Immersion
Levity ultimately fails to provide an absorbing gaming experience. But it's great fun for a while.

Lifespan
The novelty of the jokes, insults and needless violence will wear off very quickly.

Summary
Outlaw Golf may share the initials of a more risqué lifestyle but it's far more OTT than OG.