Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Chris McCarver on 10.04.2007
EA Sports' latest installment of the “David Feherty Snarky Windbag Tour...”
Publisher: Electronic Arts/EA Sports
Developer: EA Tiburon
Platform: Xbox 360 (also available for Playstation 2, Playstation 3, PSP, Wii, DS, PC, and Mac)
ESRB Rating: E
Release Date: Aug. 28, 2007
Funny how we enjoy things in videogame form that we wouldn't be caught dead doing in real life. For me, it's golf. If it doesn't involve putting a ball under a windmill or into a plastic hippo's mouth, chances are slim you're gonna catch me anywhere near the links. But at the same time, I freakin' love the Tiger Woods PGA Tour games. I first reviewed a Tiger Woods game back during the original incarnation of 411 Games, which began my very long addiction. My golf knowledge-challenged friends were very perplexed to come over and find me in front of the TV in focused concentration, saying strange phrases such as “Pebble Beach” and “pitching wedge.” So our good friends at EA Sports have dropped the 2008 edition of the venerable pro-golf series into my lap. This being my first go-around with playing Tiger on the 360, were my expectations on the high side? Oh yeah. Justifiably so? Mmmm... yes and no.
John Deere must make a mint on this place.
Graphics
As always, the graphics on this game look 31 flavors of crisp, clean, and detailed, with every course and character nicely composed and textured. Though, to be honest, there is only so much detail you can pour into the same selection of golf courses for which the TWPT franchise is famous. Yes, they've added a few for a total of sixteen courses in comparison to the previous year's twelve (at least on the 360), but the fictional fantasy courses are completely absent this year. The animations are serviceable and very realistic, but a part of me still misses the days of breakdancing animations as celebration for sinking a birdie putt. In short, the game has pretty much regurgitated the same visual presentation with a bit of spit and polish. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but this could mean that Tiger is falling into the same trap as most of the EA Sports' titles, namely giving us the same game every year with a few tweaks here and there. Though we'll get into the nice array of new gameplay features in the next section, the graphics are just as competent as last time... and that's about it.
New to the character customization system something some of you may remember from the Tony Hawk Underground titles, a neat little face-mapper called “Photo Face.” Basically you use your XBL Vision camera or Playstation EyeToy to take a snap of your face, which is then digitized onto your custom character model. I'd have more to say about this feature, but sadly I'm somewhat bereft of camera peripherals for any of my consoles. Character customization is just as deep as the previous games, but personally I liked being able to thumb my nose at tradition and hit the links in a black EA t-shirt, baggy jeans, and sneakers without having to unlock them or pay for them with a load of in-game cash. And from what I could see, my golfer outfit of choice wasn't much of an option. I wear polos and khakis to my day job, not to play video-game golf. Dammit.
Gameplay
The core single-player career mode once again takes the two-tone form of real-time PGA tourneys (which, thank God, you can finally set a round-number on) and the eponymous “Tiger Challenge,” wherein you plow through a series of challenges against real-life pro golfers, in-game fictional players, or on your own. Each time you succeed at pulling off a skill feat, such as nailing a putt or using the spin-control feature to keep your ball on target, the game awards your player stats a corresponding bonus. While this is a very organic alternative to the purchasing of skill points in the in-game pro shop, it yanks away some of the customization and interactivity, and personally speaking, I preferred the purchase method.
Also a problem is the fact that custom golfers' stats are so hopelessly low that getting from one challenge to the other can be something of a chore. Also something of a disappointment is that only one new skill challenge was offered up this year, namely “Bingo Bango Bongo” wherein you're scored for a) getting on the green first, b) getting closest to the green than the other guy upon approach, and c) sinking the ball first.
"Don't hit the Lexus, don't hit the Lexus, don't hit the... crap."
For those for whom the analog golf-swing controls can be both trusted friend and fickle mistress, Tiger 08 has finally given players an option that will be very familiar to players of earlier versions of Tiger and other older school golf games. Remember the old three-click swing? It's baaa-aaack. And it's a welcome alternative to the analog swing (while I'm not knocking it per se), but it doesn't necessarily make things easier. The precision of nailing a good swing can be a bit tricky, but if you haven't yet figured out how to get your thumb to move the left thumbstick without hooking your ball into the trees or bystanders, this will be a refreshing change of pace. And given the fact that this year's analog swing is so overly sensitive it would hook your swing if you inched the stick much more than a nanometer away from a straight line, some may find the old-school method a necessity to getting anywhere in the game.
The game does contain another major new gameplay mechanic: a little thing called Shot Confidence. This is basically the game telling you how good you are on certain holes dependent on previous performances on that same hole. While it doesn't have all that major an impact on gameplay, it's nice to have the game show you where you've been in your quest for golf pwnage.
As for the other controls, well, they're all pretty much represented exactly as they were in past Tiger games. Button-mash power boost? Check. Button-mash ball-spin control? Check. Analog swing? Check and double check. So if the controls for past Tiger games are like a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa on a crisp December morning, settle in and enjoy. One thing I seriously enjoyed is how the little grid they put down on the green for putting actually has something of a purpose; the grid lines actually have color changes that indicate the general slope of the green so as to aid you in finding the right angle and force to employ. However, the new Putt Preview feature, which gives players their ball's travel arc prior to putting, nearly takes all the challenge out, even if you can only use it once per hole.
Sound
EA Sports opted for a selection of licensed Euro-trance music for their soundtrack this year, which is fun but background enough that it won't rattle the country-club ambience a la Saliva or DMX's entries from previous versions. Once again, perennial favorites Gary McCord and David Feherty return to handle the play-by-play commentary. Like some PGA version of J.R. and the King, the bickering pair continues their tradition of McCord's insightful analysis and Feherty's tiring arsenal of smack-talk and put-downs. Seriously, if mastering this game wasn't enough of a challenge, putting up with Feherty's color commentary ought to be worth at least a few skill bonuses. Could EA please change up the announce team next year? Pretty please? With a margarita at the 19th hole on top?
Graphite-shafted 9-iron: better than pepper spray.
Lasting Appeal
Keeping this disc spinning is what GamerNet is all about in this game, or at least it should be. GamerNet is an online hub devised by EA to offer up your gameplay accomplishments for the XBL community for simple “look what I did” value or as challenges that other players can try to top. The GamerNet challenges are very customizable, down to the point that you can make a stipulation out of sinking the ball without hitting the rough or any hazards or even bouncing the ball a certain number of times. Problem is, as customizable as the GamerNet challenges are, the more sadistic of the denizens of Xbox Live can make these challenges so mindnumbingly hard that many will just forget about them all together. Online multiplayer for up to four players is available as well, but I feel I have to stress that overuse of Putt Preview (see the Gameplay section) may unbalance the unholy hell out of online pick-up games.
Fun Factor
There's a lot to like about Tiger 08; unfortunately, there's just as much not to like. The game balance issues are extremely noticeable, to the point of making the game feel like it's stacking the deck against you. The touchy controls, the all-too-gradual custom-player progression, the near-cheat level of fudging Putt Preview offers... the game isn't entirely broken, but it will feel that way the first time you slide it into your 360. And for those who are new to the Tiger franchise, such a bad first impression may be all that's necessary to find that Wal-Mart receipt in preparation for running it back for a refund. And, on a personal note, I found previous games in the series a bit more enjoyable with their even mix of sim and silliness. With the creative direction of the franchise favoring simulation-based play, the games just aren't that much fun anymore, and with Tiger 08's considerable gameplay problems, this may well be one game that gets called for rain.
The 411
Remember my earlier statement about my addiction to the Tiger Woods games? Tiger Woods 08 may well be the video-game equivalent of the local methadone clinic. What attracted me and probably a lot of other gamers to this franchise is pretty much gone in my estimation, and all EA's done to plug up the holes is add a few new play features that just accentuate the game's drawbacks. Ah well, back to windmills and plastic hippos for me.
Graphics
7.0
Courses and character models well-made but lacking of any enhancements from the last game
Gameplay
6.0
Wide variety of game modes, three-click swing provides nice alternative to very-touchy analog swing, Putt Preview too unbalancing, Shot Confidence nice but adds little to gameplay, custom-character progression not as interactive as previous Tiger Woods ga
Sound
6.5
Euro-trance soundtrack a nice accompaniment, commentary by McCord and Feherty got old three games ago
Lasting Appeal
7.0
Online multiplayer adequate but unbalanced by Putt Preview feature, GamerNet a novel idea but somewhat labor-intensive
Fun Factor
5.0
Noticeable gameplay flaws, lacks the enjoyment of previous games in the series
