Of course, like the pastime created by the Scots all those centuries ago, the "Tiger Woods" series was pretty good to start with. And "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" is no exception.
The sport of golf hasn't changed much over the past 200 years or so -- the basic idea is still to knock a ball into a hole in as few attempts as possible.
The same holds true for the "Tiger Woods" video game golf franchise. Changes, at least during this most recent console generation, have been subtle at best. Sure the game's graphics have improved somewhat and a few bells and whistles have been added -- most notably in the online arena -- but the core gameplay has been relatively untouched.
Of course, like the pastime created by the Scots all those centuries ago, the "Tiger Woods" series was pretty good to start with. And "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" is no exception.
"Tiger 10" features the same solid gameplay from tee to green with the biggest change being the new Precision Putting feature. Instead of choosing a putter based on how far your ball rests from the hole, the new Precision Putter automatically adjusts to the proper distance. You still need to account for the break, any rise or fall in elevation and speed of the greens.
At first, I was put off by the new putting method but I've come to love it. The Precision Putter takes a lot of the guesswork out of setting up your putts and is much more reliable than the old putter (which is still available to use if you prefer.)
Another new feature that had a direct impact on your score is the addition of variable weather. Precipitation ranging from light sprinkles to out-and-out downpours can pop up at any time during a round. Generally I've seen rain last for only a few holes at a time, but I have played entire rounds in monsoon-like conditions that would send the real PGA Tour pros scrambling for the parking lot. Playing in the rain forces you to adjust your game as the fairways and greens slow considerably in these conditions. I was also surprised (pleasantly so) to find that the greens didn't firm-up instantly once the rains ceased. Score one for realism!
On the features side, "Tiger 10" offers a new Tournament Challenge mode offline and live online tournaments against both other gamers and the pros themselves. In the Play the Pros events, you'll compete on the same course, under the same conditions, as the actual PGA golfers that week. You can then post your scores online and see how your round compares to the professionals. It's a neat idea that works remarkably well, especially the live weather feature. The standard career mode returns, as well, and now utilizes EA's Photo GameFace feature for your created golfer.
ESPN's Scott Van Pelt and Kellie Tilghman provide the commentary and do an OK job, though I began to tune them out after the first few rounds -- Tiger doesn't like camera flashes during his backswing, I don't like commentary in my golf video games.
The sport of golf hasn't changed much over the past 200 years or so -- the basic idea is still to knock a ball into a hole in as few attempts as possible.
The same holds true for the "Tiger Woods" video game golf franchise. Changes, at least during this most recent console generation, have been subtle at best. Sure the game's graphics have improved somewhat and a few bells and whistles have been added -- most notably in the online arena -- but the core gameplay has been relatively untouched.
Of course, like the pastime created by the Scots all those centuries ago, the "Tiger Woods" series was pretty good to start with. And "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" is no exception.
"Tiger 10" features the same solid gameplay from tee to green with the biggest change being the new Precision Putting feature. Instead of choosing a putter based on how far your ball rests from the hole, the new Precision Putter automatically adjusts to the proper distance. You still need to account for the break, any rise or fall in elevation and speed of the greens.
At first, I was put off by the new putting method but I've come to love it. The Precision Putter takes a lot of the guesswork out of setting up your putts and is much more reliable than the old putter (which is still available to use if you prefer.)
Another new feature that had a direct impact on your score is the addition of variable weather. Precipitation ranging from light sprinkles to out-and-out downpours can pop up at any time during a round. Generally I've seen rain last for only a few holes at a time, but I have played entire rounds in monsoon-like conditions that would send the real PGA Tour pros scrambling for the parking lot. Playing in the rain forces you to adjust your game as the fairways and greens slow considerably in these conditions. I was also surprised (pleasantly so) to find that the greens didn't firm-up instantly once the rains ceased. Score one for realism!
On the features side, "Tiger 10" offers a new Tournament Challenge mode offline and live online tournaments against both other gamers and the pros themselves. In the Play the Pros events, you'll compete on the same course, under the same conditions, as the actual PGA golfers that week. You can then post your scores online and see how your round compares to the professionals. It's a neat idea that works remarkably well, especially the live weather feature. The standard career mode returns, as well, and now utilizes EA's Photo GameFace feature for your created golfer.
ESPN's Scott Van Pelt and Kellie Tilghman provide the commentary and do an OK job, though I began to tune them out after the first few rounds -- Tiger doesn't like camera flashes during his backswing, I don't like commentary in my golf video games.
The character models and courses look fine (I didn't notice a big improvement over "Tiger 09") but the animations need a drastic overhaul. How many years do I have to watch my golfer ride his putter like a horse after making a birdie before a change is made? Hopefully EA puts some effort into updating this area of the game for next year.
If you were holding out for a drastically different golf experience, "Tiger 10" isn't for you. This is very much the same "Tiger" we've been playing for the last couple of years. But the new Precision Putting and cool online offerings make the game a must-have for die-hard golf fans. EA has put this one squarely in the fairway.
"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10"
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ($59.99)
Rating: E for everyone
Score: 8.1/10
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