|
DanLab Games Islands Mini Golf Review |
|
Written by Don Lee
|
|
Monday, 07 August 2006 |
 DanLab Games develops games for the Mac and Windows platforms.
Their latest release is a beautifully rendered miniature golfing game that offers
fun and entertainment at an affordable price.
The shareware game is offered through the company’s website as a download that you can try out first but you can pay to gain full access to the game’s features.
Now I have always enjoyed miniature golf courses but they are too far away to drive to when I have the urge to play. There have been a few computer versions of miniature golf but there were always issues with the game play. After seeing the screenshots of Islands Mini Golf, I was very hopeful that this game could deliver where the others could not. Here is what I discovered about DanLab Games’ Islands Mini Golf for the Mac.
Hit the Course
Fortunately, the game has very low system requirements, which is a little surprising because the graphics are pretty good. The learning curve is minimal as well since the controls consist of changing the angle of the shot and selecting the amount of force used on the shot. You can either control the angle and shot power using your arrow keys or through your mouse.
The game offers five different themes of play (Coco Paradise, Jammin Islands, King Castle, Pharoah Islands and Zhao Islands) along with 90 holes to plays. Each theme is has 18 holes to play. I discovered that you need to utilize strategy on certain holes where others require better aim and shot power.
I really like games like this because you can just launch the game and get right into the action. Sometimes a quick game is all you want and this game can feed that need. I also enjoyed the tropical design, which makes for a nice backdrop for the game.
The system requirements for Islands Mini Golf are very low and it is offered as a universal binary for those using Mac Intel systems. You can click HERE to purchase Islands Mini Golf for Apple Macintosh systems. If you’re a Windows user, click HERE to purchase the game. You can also download a demo of the game from the DanLab Games website.
While I enjoyed the aiming and power meter controls to make your shots, I did not like the 3D elements surrounding the course getting in the way. There were a number of times where I wouldn’t be able to get a clear shot at my ball because there would be a tree or other element on the outside of the playing area that would be obstructing my view. You would have to try and work the camera around to try and improve your view.
I absolutely loved the graphics used in the game. The 3D environments in Islands Mini Golf are beautiful but that would be expected from a DanLab game. I enjoyed the Jammin Islands theme as it wasn't too difficult for a novice like me. The Zhao Islands are very complicated
Despite the graphical glitches that affected some of the shots as you were near the edges and trees, the game play is pretty good and the shot meter is easy to use with your keys or mouse. DanLab Games’ Islands Mini Golf is a fun and challenging game that earns a 4 out of 5 star recommendation.
About DanLab Games
DanLabGames is a small software community that produces games for the Mac. The name DanLabGames refers to an existing company: DanLabG. You can visit them online at http://www.danlabgames.com
|
