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Tiger Wood PGA Tour 10By Marlon Esmeralda - 08-12-09 Print  EmailWhen Wii Sports first introduced us to the golf swinging mechanic, I was pretty stoked about finally playing a golf game the real way, and not with button presses. Unfortunately, it wasn't as great as I anticipated. Playing through numerous golf games, I didn't really notice that much of a difference between swinging a Wii remote, and pushing a button. The lack of accuracy also made me prefer going back to button controls, and not even bothering with the motion. Thanks to Wii MotionPlus and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, that vision I had of playing real golf in my living room is now more of a reality. Though the game will accurately read my terrible swing more clearer, I will at least have more fun doing so this time around. The biggest change with this year's Tiger Woods PGA Tour title is the controls. With the Wii MotionPlus attached to the Wii remote, swinging a golf club is more accurate than ever. Pulling the Wii remote back, and watching your character on-screen doing the same is pretty satisfying to watch. Then watching them nearly mimic your full-on swing makes the experience feel ever more better. Aside from copying your movements, MotionPlus also allows the game to better detect the power and angle of your swing. Due to the increase in sensitivity, you can expect a bit of learning to be done before you become more accustomed to the overall feel of the game. Practice makes perfect, and for Tiger Wood PGA Tour 10, as you get better, so will your experience with the game. There's also three types of difficulty, so you can work your way up to obtaining a nicer swing without fading or drawing the whole time. The All Play Mode is back, which shows your ball's full trajectory and having draw/fade being pulled off manually. Next is standard mode, which is a bit more difficult in terms of swinging, but spin control is present. Lastly, there is the Advanced difficulty, which will have everything dependent on your actual swing. It will take some time to be accustomed with the advanced controls, but I feel it's the true way to play the game. Using the game's club tuner mode is also another way to obtain that straight swing. There are many options to tweak on your swing, and doing so will make fades and draws happen more less, and even increase your power and accuracy. Putting is also more defined this time with the addition of precision putting. Not only will your backswing determine the strength of the putt, but the speed of your forward swing will have an effect as well. The classic putting method will still be available. Controls aren't the only good thing about this golf game, as it is filled with many features. You do have your traditional golf modes present, but career mode is where most of my enjoyment was at. In career mode you get to create your own character using the game's very deep customization system. You then take that character and play through multiple tournaments as you work your way up from an amateur golfer to a top-ranked pro. The career mode alone will last you a long time, as it won't be easy to build up your golfer. Experience and money will be given away for playing well and winning tourneys, which will further advance your player's ability. This year's version will also include the US Open Championship. Career mode is such a great experience, as you feel like a real pro golfer playing from tourney to tourney, while honing your skills along the way. The game's other modes include Disc Golf, Arcade, Mini-Games, and Golf Party. The modes are mainly twists on the traditional golf rules, and are fun to play when others are present. Disc Golf is especially fun, as the golf ball is replaced with a Frisbee. Just like swinging, throwing the Frisbee is more enjoyed with MotionPlus attached. It's a good alternative to the main golf mode, and can be a whole new game in itself. Golf Party is also a bit different as it doesn't necessarily require a ball to be put into a hole. This mode can only be played with more than one player, as players will compete in different mini-games, like golf juggling, in order to score as much points as possible. It's really for the casual crowd, but they're a very welcomed addition. If you want to further prolong your experience, then you can check out the game's online mode. As with EA's other recent releases, the online experience is top notch. You can play with friends or strangers in traditional stroke play, and even compete in daily and weekly tournaments. The tournaments simply have you record your score, and then it will be ranked with others worldwide. There is also a Play The Pros feature, which is the same as any other tournament, but your scores will be ranked with the actual scores of the pros. So if you're a big fan of golf and see how you match up with your favorite player, then you can do so in the next upcoming tournament. A weather feature is also taken into effect thanks to online, as the game utilizes the Wii's Forecast Channel to detect real-life weather situations for the course currently being played. If you're playing a course with rainy conditions in real-life, then expect rain to be pouring as you play in the game. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 provides a nearly endless gaming experience. The new accurate controls make the game more enjoyable and addicting. Many modes are available for mostly every occasion. Play through the game's career mode by yourself, or play fun party games with others. Take your game online for even more options. There is just so much to do in this game. While the game does provide a lot in terms of gameplay, the same can't be said of the graphics and audio. The courses do look like their real-life versions, as do the pro golfers. The swinging motions are also animated nicely, and the character models aren't too bad either. There is a lack in detail though. Trees and bushes look nice from far away, but start to look less appealing when up close, and the spectators aren't anything to brag about either. The soundtrack is nice, but not really a high point for the game. Commentary is well done, but will get pretty repetitive if you play the game for a very long time. Sound effects are also a nice touch, with the sounds of actually hitting the ball and hearing the cheers of the crowd bringing more emphasis to the realism of the game. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is a definite must have for any golf fan, and every Wii owner as well. The addition of Wii MotionPlus really provides one of the best golfing experiences ever in a video game. If for some reason you decide not to invest in a MotionPlus, then expect this title to play the same as the previous ones. MotionPlus is a definite need in order to fully experience what this title has to offer, which is a lot. A deep career mode, a fun disc golf mode, alternate rules and mini games to play with others, and a great online mode. This is a experience that can only be possible on the Wii, and really sets the bar high in terms of golf games, and sports games in general. If you've long desired for a real golf experience, then Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is the closest you can get without actually being on the tee. Ratings |
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