In2Games Gametrak: Real World Golf review

Golf sims aren't known for their realism.

When Tiger Woods sunk 'that chip' at the 16th in last year's Masters, it took sublime timing, touch and whole-body coordination. But give him a traditional golf sim and game pad, and the great man would be all fingers and thumbs - literally. Gametrak: Real World Golf is different because it puts a club in your hands and asks you to swing it. As you move, taut fishing lines attached to gloves monitor the position of your hands with 1mm accuracy. Your swing is re-created realistically on the screen and your ball flies off in the direction you send it.

The overall effect feels remarkably like a real round of golf. The graphics, particularly in handling the golfers' movements, are quite convincing. The plastic club provided is rubbish, but the Gametrak motion capture system will work with any club-like object you have to hand. You can swing your own driver if your ceiling's high enough. Put a round, white sticker on the floor to give yourself something to aim at and you're sorted. With Peter Alliss giving a description of each hole before you tee off, it's great fun and, after 18 holes, quite tiring.

Aiming and club selection is all done with the Gametrak unit. You raise your left or right hand to move side to side through menus and there's a foot pedal to select, so you need never touch your keyboard or mouse. However, play can get a bit disjointed with two players as you take turns strapping yourselves into the gloves. At least the game lets each player complete a hole before passing over the gloves. Still, a spare pair at £5 is a good investment, allowing you to clip and unclip the lines to switch players.

The more you play, the more discrepancies you spot. Putting is far too easy; you'll regularly sink 30-footers, while your computer-controlled opponents struggle with tap-ins. The default irons and woods are also charitable, although you can up the difficulty level by switching to less-forgiving 'pro' clubs. These allow you to hit the ball a long way in the wrong direction. We're not convinced the Gametrak captures the subtleties of club rotation or wrist action, but if a swing feels good it tends to go straight on the screen. On balance, Real World Golf is more likely to improve your golf swing than wreck it. There's even a driving range where you can practise your technique.

For a game that mimics the real sport so closely, the biggest surprise is the price. As green fees go, £35 for life membership is ridiculously cheap. That price includes the robust Gametrack hardware, making Real World Golf a clear Best Buy.

Author: Paul Sanders