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 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
Developer: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii
Reviewer: Marty Webb
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Single Player: 4.25
Learning Curve: 5
Presentation: 4.5
Online: 4.25
Extra Features: 4.25
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For those that have ever played a Tiger Woods game before, you've already played Tiger 08. A bad thing? Not at all.
 An
improved version of Putt Preview allows players to preview the path
their ball will take on the green, taking elevation, speed, and power
into account. Usable one time before each individual spot, putt preview
is a useful technique that greatly improved my putting game.
Unfortunately, this useful mechanic seems to be a little off. Many
times, the preview's path is over- or under-estimated, resulting in
putts that go far beyond or below where the path said they'd come to a
stop. The trick is to sometimes not use full power, especially on
downhill shots, which is obvious. Of course, when uphill shots come
into play, using full power is necessary, but the ball may still fall
short. Still, once players learn how to manipulate the broken system,
it's rare that they'll miss a putt. Which kind of takes most of the
challenge, if not the biggest challenge in this game out.
Another downside of Putt Preview is that, as mentioned, it can be used
before every single putt. Not once per hole, but once every putt. This
means, if players use the preview and happen to miss, they can just use
it again. Had it only been an option to use it once per hole, it would
be a very key variable when playing against an opponent.
Once to start, once for power, and once for accuracy; that's how you
hit it. The 3 click shot allows players to use the old school method of
hitting the ball, which requires much more accuracy than analog stick
method that has been used for a while. However, the pin-point timing
required to successfully gather enough power and strike the ball with
decent accuracy is difficult, especially considering how easy it was to
hit a perfect shot using the analog stick.
For players who find it difficult to keep peering into the mirror to
depict themselves perfectly, Photo Face will no doubt be the most
exciting of Tiger 08's most notable new features. By way of either
importing digital photos or capturing one via Xbox Live Vision camera
or a PlayStation EyeToy (and presumably the forthcoming PlayStation
Eye, as well), gamers can import realistic representations of
themselves into Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. The faces themselves are
strikingly accurate, with more realism able to be added by way of
taking a profile shot. It takes quite a bit of time to line up the dots
so that facial features wind up in the correct places, and even longer
to render the actual face(20 minutes max) but the end result is worth
the time. It's not a huge deal, but the ability to really see your own
face next to Tiger's really adds more personality to the game.
After creating a Photo Face, or using a default model, players are able
to further customize their avatars by adding hair, changing eye color,
picking out clothing, and more. From there, it's on to improving player
stats such as Power and Putting by way of participating in different
challenges. Seven, a Power challenge, revolves around the created
player and a pro golfer choosing a hole and driving the ball as close
to it as they can. Whoever gets closest receives a point and is able to
select the next hole, where the process is repeated.
While Seven and other are fun to play, a created golfer's stats are so
low(starting at 5/100) that winning the majority of them is pretty
difficult. You'll drive the ball 150 yards if you're lucky, and your
opponent is knocking the thing close to 300. Far more preferable would
have been for players to receive a set number of skill points and
distribute them to their liking.
Jumping into a PGA Tour is the most entertaining method of raising
created player stats. If players make a particularly difficult putt,
place a good amount of spin on a ball, or demonstrate a nice approach,
their stats will be updated accordingly at the end of individual
tournaments. It's still a tedious process, and most players can expect
to get thoroughly beaten and aggrivated due to their stats being so
low, but it's better than repeating the same drills over and over.
 Tiger
Challenge features several new contests for players to overcome with
the ultimate goal to challenge Tiger to a round of golf. A bevy of
challenges and golfers, pro and fictional, will stand in the player's
way as they work to hone their skills. Golfers are unlocked after
they're defeated, and winnings can, as per usual, be spent in the Pro
Shop on new equipment to use in tournaments, with the end goal being to
continue building the created athlete's skills.
Graphically, the game is fantastic, definetely the best graphics in a
Tiger game thus far. The detail in the golfers is especially striking,
perfectly replicating Tiger's smile and mannerisms, as well as those of
the other pros as well. Sure, we've seen them many times before, but
the courses look especially beautiful, though no weather effects, other
than wind, is getting old. Spectators are still blocky and disfigured
in appearance, but their presence is for atmosphere more than any
critical gameplay mechanic. Everything else is beautiful.
Rabid stat fanatics will no doubt rejoice at the addition of Shot
Confidence, a built-in mechanic that tracks each and every decision
players make. Its purpose is to watch how players perform on certain
holes, with certain clubs, specific putts, and so on. Shot Confidence
will notice if a player scores a birdie on a certain hole, and will
adjust the player's overall confidence rating for that hole. Deftly
knock a ball out of a sand trap onto the green? That will be recorded.
It's a rather smooth mechanic that will allow players to get a little
something new out of courses they've played over and over, as Shot
Confidence will allow them to walk onto a certain hole and know they
can dominate as they had previously.
Multiplayer allows two to four players to jump into some head to head
competition. The game runs smoothly, with almost zero lag and the
ability to view every move opponents make. Putt preview's problems can
be a problem online, as many games can be won or lost due to the
system's occasional inaccuracy. Skilled players may find themselves
losing when they should have won, all because of a reliance on the Putt
Preview mechanic. You can use it, but if you abuse it you just might
find your lead slipping.
By far the most notable addition to Tiger's online repertoire is
GamerNet, an online service that allows players to create custom
challenges based on an entire round of golf, or separate holes or
strokes. The most popular has to be the 9-hole challenge, which allows
gamers to play the given number of holes, save their score, and upload
it for prospective opponents to overcome. This challenge can actually
be a fun substitute to an actual multiplayer game, as in essence, it's
the same thing: Compete against someone else to get a better score.
Several parameters can be tweaked in order to create fun challenges.
Should the golf ball bounce a certain number of times in a certain
area? Make that a condition. Happen to drive the ball over 500 yards?
That's a condition. It's a very customizable experience, ideal for
challenge creators who want victory specifications to a niche.
GamerNet's deep level of configuration is certainly is primary
strength, but it is also its core flaw. Most of the challenges in the
Free Style category are absurd, with conditions similar to those set
above. Whether it be a slight glitch which hits a ton of fans, or
random shots that had no business landing on the fairway.
Overall, the game is great. First timers and Tiger Woods veterans alike
will find it easy to pick up and go, making it easy to challenge your
friends or online players. Surely next years game is just going to get
better and better, but with the handful of additions this is great
upgrade from PGA Tour 07.
Discuss
this Review
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Single Player - 4.25
How much you'll enjoy this in the comfort and company of yourself.
- Being able to create yourself and take the PGA Tour challenge is a
grueling experience, but if you're really that into it than it will
provide great amusement. It does get old, as any golfing game does, but
it shouldn't be a problem.
Learning Curve - 5
The ability to pick up the game and enjoy it.
- Easy, easy and easy. If you know what golf is, you'll be able to play
this game. The new features provide it easy, and tutorials are only a
click away.
Presentation - 4.5
How the display and sound work together.
- The elements can sometime be iffy, but otherwise it is absolutely
outstanding and made leaps and bounds over previous versions.
Online - 4.25
Can you connect to players across the world, and if so, the overall environment.
- Gamernet alone will provide challenges, but if you want to take the
whole 18 or just the back 9, it's all easy and lag free. I guess this
all depends on who you're playing against, but if you're decent you
have a shot at winning period.
Extra Features - 4.25
What else is included in the game
- Putt Preview, Shot Confidence, the mini-games and the skill challenge
all provide different arrays in this great game. For the most part,
they're all great features, although mini-games get repetive if you're
playing by yourself.
Overall - 4.45/5.0
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