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

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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

The Photo Game Face is incredibly cool! You won't believe how well this actually works. You can either upload high quality digital photos of yourself or of your friends to the EA website, or you can streamline the process by using your console's web cam. After capturing your likeness, the software and console take over and will create a golfer that looks just like you. It's scary how well it works. There is some margin for error, but if you use high quality photos including a profile shot, or are able use your web cam in a well lit area, you will be able to create a golfer that will really bring you into the experience.

The controls are still based on the analog stick and work very well. For those of you old school PGA Tour gamers, you will be interested to know that the 3-Click Swing makes its triumphant return to the game. That's right! You can press one button three times to meter distance and accuracy. Additionally, you are not locked into using one control style or the other. You can actually switch styles on the fly with the press of a button. That means you won't have to constantly exit to the menu screen and switch the option. You can actually choose a control style depending on the shot that presents itself. I like the idea, and I always love options. This feature certainly provides for better situational control, but it may be a bit unfair while playing online. It definitely makes putting a lot easier.

The visuals and sounds in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 are awesome. The courses, the players, the swing mechanics, and the water hazards all look fantastic. However, trees look great from a distance, but the leaves still look pixelated and blocky up close. The overall graphic quality and the inclusion of the Photo Game Face feature help to set the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions apart from the Wii or handheld versions. The sound effects and commentary are also great. The essence of golf is well captured, whether it is in the planes that pass overhead or the witty banter between McCord and Feherty. Contact between club and ball, the chirping of birds, and the roar of the gallery all add tremendously to the overall experience.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is the most complete and refined version of the series yet. Overall, it is very similar to last year's Tiger, but the refinements are cool. The presentation, sounds, graphics, and attention to detail are all great. The inclusion of the Confidence Meter, GamerNet, and Photo Game Face make this year's Tiger a title that's not to be missed by any golf fan.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

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