Nintendo Wii

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 Review

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, DS
Dev: EA Tiburon
Pub: EA Sports
Release: Aug. 28, 2007
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Review by Jonathan Marx

Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Control issues while playing are few and far between. The standing style of swing is fun to pull off and smooth in execution. There are sitting style swings too, including one that allows you to swing the controller in any direction while seated, or a more traditional method that allows you to use the analog stick on the Nunchuk. However, if you're going to use any other style of swing besides the standing version, why play the Wii? I'm glad the option's there; don't get me wrong. I just think the only truly rewarding aspect of the Wii version of the title is that you feel like you're actually playing golf.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 screenshot

The visual quality is poor. Fortunately, the sounds and commentary do well to make up for the graphic shortcomings. The game is fun despite the visuals, but compared to the other systems the Wii version of Tiger looks ugly. The character faces and menu screens look fuzzy, rough, and not particularly detailed. The sounds, as I said, are very good. I noticed no drop off in quality compared to the other consoles. I can't get over how good the drone of airplanes sound on a set of speakers that supports full surround sound. Planes buzzing over the skies of Doral really make the experience seem real.

When all is said done, the Wii version of Tiger is a neat little title. It is a great game to have around when friends come over, and the controls really make the game fun. However, if you just want to play the career mode by yourself, I would suggest picking up a copy for one of the other systems. The overall complexity of the title is not as deep as it is on the other consoles, but the gameplay is much more fun for the average player. It can be a bit tiresome to get your lazy bones off the coach between turns, but playing the occasional round with friends would be fantastic and not nearly as monotonous as it can be with standard controls. It's true that the visuals were a let down, but they aren't a real detriment to gameplay. You're going to be impressed by the sounds, and the MiniPutt mini-game is a real winner of a party game. If you get rained out next weekend, pick up a copy of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 for your Wii and scoff at the weather!

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

Features:

Confidence is everything. All-new Shot Confidence tracks your performance on every hole, round, and golf course. Based on key factors, including club selection, hole, lie, and more, dig into past performances with the Confidence Meter to identify strengths and weaknesses before every shot.

The Most Golf Courses Ever. Experience the all-new FedExCup championship format by playing a dream round of golf at Westchester Country Club, TPC Boston, Cog Hill, and East Lake.

Take On PGA and LPGA Tour Pros. Challenge the greatest PGA Tour pros, including Tiger Woods, John Daly, and Vijay Singh, plus LPGA Tour pros such as Annika Sorenstam, Natalie Gulbis, Christie Kerr, and Morgan Pressel.

Screen Resolution: Up to 480p (Progressive Scan, Widescreen).

Rating out of 5	Rating Description
3.6	Graphics What we've come to expect from the Wii.
4.5	Control Also what we've come to expect from the Wii. Gets points off from perfection due to the painful Game Face creator.
4.3	Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting The sounds are just as good as they are on the big consoles.
4.5	Play Value Gameplay is fun for anyone. Getting up and down between shots can be tiresome.
4.1	Overall Rating - Great Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.