In the long-running feud on the PC between Links and Tiger Woods for golf game supremacy, I have to admit I've always been a bit partial to the Links series. I've been collecting the golf course expansions on floppy discs and CDs for as long as I can remember, and I appreciated the authenticity and realism that the series provided, especially since I'm an avid golfer in real life. Sure, I gave the Tiger Woods series a fair look each year, but I've always preferred the complete golf experience that Links provided.

Tiger Woods 2004, however, has completely bowled me over. Make no question about it, if it's a full simulation that you want, Links 2004, coming onto the Xbox later this year for the series' console debut and upgraded massively with an entirely new graphical engine, will definitely keep you happy. However, what Tiger Woods 2004 offers is a slightly more arcadey approach to golf that still borders on realism and tons and tons of gameplay.

The problem with Links is that it's for people who enjoy golf; if you think golf is boring and for old, rich people, then Links isn't going to change your mind. But just like Tiger Woods is acclaimed for attracting a younger audience to the PGA tour and making matches much more exciting for the general public with his dynamic style and vibrant personality, the same can be said for Tiger Woods 2004: this game adds in flash and excitement to appeal to the general public who don't like golf.

Part of the reason for this is the presentation. Right from the intro and throughout the menus, a hip-hop soundtrack helps contribute to the "cool" image of the game. When you hit great shots, there are quick camera cuts and flashy replays as rewards. You'll never find anything like this in a Links game. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, quite the opposite in fact. It definitely livens the golf game up a bit and offers quite a different experience.

The one thing that impressed me the most about Tiger Woods 2004 is its abundance of game modes that will keep you playing forever. Everything revolves around the Pro Shop, where you can buy literally over a thousand items. It is awesome to see all the licenses that EA had obtained, with big names like Calloway, Titleist, Ping, Taylor Made, and many others supplying authentic clubs, golf balls, and apparel. There are so many things to buy that you'll be playing for a long, long time to have a chance of buying them all. Everything gives you money it seems like, from winning matches to hitting close approach shots and scoring well. This gives you extra incentive for winning games, as if you needed any more.

Creating a custom character and building him up is perhaps the real meat of the game and the most fun mode. The customization of the character is the most in-depth and comprehensive create-a-player I have ever seen. You can produce a nearly identical recreation of anyone you want, thanks to the amazing ability to modify the mass of specific parts of the body.

As your character gets better and starts making a name for himself by winning tournaments in the World Tour (the revamped Tiger's Challenge from TW2003), companies offer scholarships and bonuses if you use their products in on the PGA tour. Playing through the other modes and earning as much money as you can is the key to building up the stats of your character. The money essentially serves as points to give your person attribute points in everything from iron accuracy to power shots.

Once you finish with World Tour, there's the authentic PGA Tour schedule available to play through. A total of 10 seasons is offered, which will take next to eternity to play through. However, the mode is rather unrefined, since the only way you can tell that you're playing "in the tour" is the leaderboard with real people. Perhaps next year the presentation will be spiced up a bit, with roars from nearby holes as your opponents make great shots, and even replays of these shots to keep you up-to-date on their progress.

Even more modes are included, from scenarios to date-specific invitationals. TW2004 also offers a wealth of multiplayer experiences that are tons of fun. The basic gameplay simulation modes like alternate shot and fourball are available, along with arcade modes like long drive competitions, speed golf, and battle golf. Speed golf is my favorite, where you literally run through the course and compete to finish the fastest. Battle golf is a fun variation where the winner of the hole gets to steal a hole from the opponent. Sadly, the GameCube version doesn't support online multiplayer, which would have added even more to the game.

The visuals of the game are particularly fantastic. Real courses are stunningly recreated, and the fantasy courses look jaw-droppingly good, with plenty of atmospheric fog, castles, and dark, menacing shadows. Contours of the green are subtly shaded to help gamers notice breaks while putting. There is a lot of attention to detail: pros have their signature shot styles, the tee areas are filled with divot holes on Par 3s, and grass waves back and forth with the wind. Loading times for each hole are surprisingly quick, perhaps even a bit too fast for my tastes, unusually enough. This is because of the gorgeous artwork that graces the loading screen. Golf courses are works of art, and these artistic renditions capture the majesty and "I'm one with nature" sensation of golf. Definitely a very nice touch, I would put those images up as desktop wallpaper if I could find them.

There are a few issues I have with the game, such as the slightly erratic physics engine. Monster drives typically don't land on the fairway and stick to it like glue, and putts on the green behave strangely around the cup occasionally. I've come across many putts where the ball stops short of the cup, then inexplicably falls into the hole all of a sudden. I also don't like how there's no option to view a birds-eye view of the hole. On some of the more complex holes in the fantasy courses, this would help tremendously in shot placement strategy. There also isn't any free-rotating camera to allow you to get a better feel for the hole or to better judge putts.

Hopefully these issues can be addressed in next year's edition, but they don't hinder the enjoyment of the game in any way. Tiger Woods 2004 is the most features-extensive golf game I've ever played: I can easily see myself playing the game until next year. Great news for some of you is that you don't necessarily have to like golf to have fun with the game. It appeals to a wide audience and is a great game to pick up. Even those of us anticipating Links 2004 will have fun with this one. Tiger Woods 2004 is definitely worth a buy.