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> Results: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
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What GamerDad says about the ESRB Content Descriptors:
Mild Violence: This descriptor is for the XBOX360 & PS3 versions ... but GamerDad couldn't find any reason why. Unlike football, golf is one of those sports games that get a yearly iteration whether it needs one or not - and usually it doesn't. Putting it simply, roster changes and player progression in Madden NFL matter much more than whether John Daley now hits drives 375 yards rather than 380 last year. Having played some of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 on the PC, I found I could configure things so that it played almost identically to the MacGolf game I played on the Mac Plus over twenty years ago. Of course, that is completely counter to the way the game should be played, but it is a reminder that the core mechanics of the game haven't changed ﾖ they have simply been refined as the capabilities of gaming systems have increased through the years. The same is true for handheld golf games ﾖ I still distinctly remember sitting snowed-in at an airport halfway between home and my destination in 1989, putting hours into Golf on my shiny new Nintendo GameBoy. The game had a manual aiming system, no ﾑcaddie' to pull the best clubs for you and some nasty wind and hill conditions. Through the years, as PC and console golf games got crisp graphics and physics upgrades with each new console generation, handheld gamers got Mario Golf and not much else (not saying that is necessarily a bad thing!). Now with the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP handheld gamers can get into the act with advanced control schemes and graphical options, and each presents a compelling option for an exciting modern handheld golf game. Previous golf games have been called good ﾑfor a handheld' ﾖ this one is just plain good. Of course this isn't the first iteration of Tiger Woods for the DS or PSP, and that is one of the problems with the yearly iterations. Because while this is a very good game, last year's version was a solid game across all platforms in so may ways that there is no compelling reason to spend for another version of the game just to get a few minor improvements. Taken by itself, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 represents the convergence of content and playability that brings pick-up & play to a game with real depth and replayability. The presentation is rock solid - visuals are crisp and detailed, and the licensed soundtrack and environmental sounds fit perfectly. There is a deep and capable player editor that allows you to go well beyond ﾑpaper doll dress-up' ﾖ you do get tons of character editing options, but that is just the beginning. As you progress with your character, you get skill points to assign to developing certain aspects of their gameplay such as power or luck, and also money you can use to buy new threads and equipment. You can build a great model of yourself, or a player that looks like Weird Harold and drives like John Daley if that is your preference. The character models look quite good ﾖ you can see the tension as you approach a critical shot; the joy as you make that superb chip-in; the anguish as you miss that two-foot putt. The controls are very flexible across all platforms and it is fairly easy to find a setup that will work perfectly for you with minor fiddling. There are quickplay modes and mini-games available, but the real fun is taking your player through PGA Season Mode, which is new to the PSP this year. This sets your custom character up on a calendar full of practice, minor and major events that span the entire year. These includes all of the usual match modes such as skins mode, stroke play, hole play and so on, and also includes the mini-games. Each of these allows you to earn loads of money and kill points and prepare for the major tournaments that are sprinkled through the year. Of course, once you get going in Season Mode, you'll want to show off your ﾑmad skillz' against friends or strangers over the internet. For the console versions you will have no problem finding a game, but the PSP is still limited to local wireless which is a real shame. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is the most complete and deep golf game I have ever played ﾖ and with some of the control options for the XBOX360 and PS3 it has practically become a fully featured simulator. The game mechanics are rock solid, and the depth of the game will keep you coming back for more. Of course the real question is if it will have you coming back to buy another new version next year. In my opinion, there is just no reason ﾖ the differential between the 2006 and 2007 iterations of the game are not worth paying for another version. If you are still playing that old copy of Links LS or have skipped the PSP versions so far and waited for a good one ﾖ this might be the year! With excellent game options and showing considerable refinement, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is definitely a worthwhile first golf game ﾖ and one that will keep you through several years of unnecessary upgrades.  
Golf is a game of peace and serenity ... in which clubs occasionally end up thrown in woods and wrapped around poles. It is all about personal challenge - even in competition you win by being your best and hoping that is better than your opponents. In that way it is a great game for all ages - it is simple fun that grows with you and allows you to increase your challenge as you improve your skills. Perhaps the only troubling thing is that the announcers occasionally veer from making note of poor shots to being derisive of the golfer.
The XBOX360 and PS3 versions come with a 'mild violence' descriptor, but in many hours of play GamerDad was unable to find anything to merit this descriptor. Which version to buy? XBOX360 / PS3: Part of the review above - excellent graphics and new features, but less content than current gen consoles. XBOX/PS2/GameCube/PC: Also part of above review (PC version) - looks and plays great, tons of content, lacking some new features of the next-gen consoles. PSP: The main factor in the review - most advanced and best-looking handheld golf game ever. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 |
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