|
World Class Leaderboard |
Copyright/Publisher: Access Software, Created by: Bruce and Roger Carver,
Release Year: 1986, Genre: Golf, Number Of Players: 1 to 4
The definitive golfing simulation, featuring three accurate representations of famous golf
courses, plus a special Gauntlet Country Club course - the ultimate challenge!
Commodore 64 owners will need no introduction to the successful series of Leaderboard
golfing simulations from Access. The recent addition of the Executive Edition introduced trees
and bunkers to the courses, and now World Class Leaderboard completes the series, combining all
the features of the previous releases in reproductions of three famous golf course:
St.Andrews, Doral Country Club and Champions Cypress Creek. It also includes a specially
designed course, the Gauntlet Country Club, which provides the hardest challenge of all.
The eariler games' control method is retained, whereby the strength of the shot and hook
or slice are joystick-controlled - pressing the fire button stops a moving bar at the required
moment. A cursor is used to determine the shot's general direction.
The course is displayed as a forced perspective first-person view, re-drawn after each stroke
to give the correct viewpoint of the next shot. Trees, rivers, lakes, bunkers, rough and grren
are incorporated on all four course, and DIY golfers also have the option to build a course of
their own design by taking any of the 72 holes included and re-arranging them into bew, 18 hole
courses. A further course customisation can be carried out by choosing the type of tree
required.
An option to practice driving and putting is included, and for the first time there's an
overhead view of the course to help plan your shots.
As reviewed, the disk version loads the data for each hole separately. Thus, the cassette
version will involve a multi-load system, although at present it isn't known whether this will
prove seriously detrimental.
|
Julian Rignall |
You may think that US Gold are flogging the Leaderboard format to death, but this is the
best of the series. World Class Leaderboard enhances the features of the earlier versions, and
gives a golfing fan a chance to live out the fantasy of playing on three of the world's most famous
course, a fantasy which is made more authentic by the excellent implementation of the courses
and superlative playability. The brilliantly designed fourth course is a real test of skill and
should perplex even the most proficient of Leaderboard players. Although you may have
reservations about buying a third golfing game, take a look - you may find yourself in for a
pleasant surprise.
|
Gary Penn |
US Gold have arguably milked Leaderboard dry, what with the Tournament courses and Executive Leaderboard.
Unlike the latter however, the trees and bunkers in World Class Leaderboard haven't been
thrown in for good measure - they are an integral part of each course, and far more strategy
and though is required.
The four courses offer a significant challenge, and the package represents excellent value -
even if you own any of the previous versions. I think Access would be pushing their luck if
they released a follow-up to World Class Leaderboard - they can't possibly make any further
improvements... or can they?
|
S.J. |
With World Class Leaderboard, Access have finally achieved what may be considered to be the
complete golfing simulation. It takes the best of Leaderboard and the Executive Edition,
combines the two and then improvesd on them. The presentation nad options are excellent, and
the game is far more playable than any of the previous incarnations.
It's a shame that this wasnt' released instead of the Executive Edition, as the market
place may not exactly meet this latest offering with open arms. Still, WCL will remain the
standard by which all golfing games (if not sports simulations in general) are measured for a
long time to come.
|
