I’m usually the kind of guy who thinks this whole Xtreme thing is getting way out of control. Games like the infamous BMX XXX are generally to blame for this attitude. Not only that, but it seems many games are putting the Xtreme twist on things that they probably shouldn’t, and golf is one of the first things that comes to mind. When the first Outlaw Golf was announced, I rolled my eyes and didn’t give it a second thought. So when the opportunity to review the sequel came around, I guess you could say I wasn’t the first person to raise my hand. I mean, when the box reads “New and Old Outlaw Characters Return – This time with more attitude and less clothing” the game just screams “Marketing Ploy!” to me. But then I found out that Dave Attell, one of my favorite comedians, was doing the commentary, I felt a little more inclined to volunteer. What I found with Outlaw Golf 2 is a game whose marketing campaign is more obnoxious than the game actually is. That’s not to say that there aren’t cheesy one-liners, scantily clad women, and the stereotypical soundtrack found in such games, because all of those things are there. But beyond that is a satisfying golf game with some genuinely cool characters with some surprisingly funny dialogue.

Don’t take that last comment to mean that Outlaw Golf 2 is the video game equivalent of Caddyshack or Happy Gilmore, because that it is not. In fact, some of the comments grow tiresome after just a few rounds, and some other just after a few holes (“I think I’m gonna cry. No, that was just gas.). But there are games out there that make much worse and forced attempts at humor, and the commentary or the dialogue never overly bothered me. Perhaps that’s because Dave Attell’s delivery is wry and natural sounding and the characters were well acted.



Outside of the standard golf, let’s focus on what crazy things OG2 brings to the table. First and foremost is the Composure Meter, which changes depending on your performance. If you hit a few nasty shots, your character will begin to lose his/her composure and as a result the shot distance will decrease, forcing you to improve your game. There are many ways to increase your composure (like hitting a few nice shots), but the most effective way is by giving your caddy a serious beating, allowing your character to blow off a little steam. These beatings are performed by short timed events and provide a small laugh, if nothing else.

Also included is a mini golf course, which as you suspect, contains various obstacles that must be avoided. Mini-golf is a feature that seems to have been neglected in other games, and frankly isn’t much of an attraction in this one either. In fact, you’ll probably only play through one or two rounds and head on back to the standard golf courses.

The game provides eight courses to explore, and though more would have been nice, this is more than satisfactory. Courses range from New Jersey turnpikes to a desert locale. Three holes are available right away, while the rest must be unlocked. The courses are mostly well thought-out and each has its own set of obstacles like power lines, foliage, and even crowds of spectators. As mentioned earlier, Outlaw Golf 2 actually provides a pretty solid game of golf, though not nearly as deep as Tiger Woods, Links, or even Mario Golf for the Cube. The controls are fairly simple. Aim in the general direction you want your ball to go, hit A, then pull back on the analog stick to increase your power and push forward to swing. Unfortunately, while the mechanics are easily figured out, the timing of the shot takes a lot of practice and will probably be the source of great frustration for a while.

Modes of play included are fairly standard with Scramble, My One and Only, Pick Up Sticks, and Gamble being the ones that stand out. In Scramble, each team chooses which ball to play after every shot, which certainly keeps things interesting as the best team can easily get hosed. My One and Only forces you to play through the course with one club of your choice and your putter. In Pick Up Sticks, the winner of each hole gets to remove a club from his/her opponent’s bag. There are more modes of play, and this variety really helps Outlaw Golf 2 avoid becoming stale after just a few rounds.



Of course, few Xbox games would be complete without having an Xbox Live option, and Outlaw Golf 2’s online mode is sufficient, if a little ordinary. Its best feature is the way it allows everyone to play at once rather than taking turns through the holes. It keeps games quick, but allows that feeling of competition to still exist.

When all is said and done, I suppose I’m more impressed with the fact that Outlaw Golf 2 doesn’t suck than anything else. I realize that’s not a glowing endorsement, so let me clarify by saying that it’s a surprisingly solid game and worth the time of those who want to play some golf, but aren’t into simulation style games like Tiger Woods or Links 2004. It’s not as charming as Mario Golf or Hot Shots Golf, and the commentary and dialogue do get old after a while. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of game options to keep you busy after you’ve decided to turn the audio off.



Article By: John