 Watch out Microsoft! |
| Review Date: November 4, 2003 |
| Reviewer: M. Kelley, Boston, MA United States |
| I've been a loyal fan of the Links brand golf game for quite some time. Even when Microsoft purchased the company who designs Links, I stayed loyal. Frankly, you couldn't buy a better golf game, until now.. I've been waiting for word that a Links 2004 would be coming out soon for the PC but I've only been able to find information relating to the X-Box release. In desperation for a newer golf game to test out my new PC, I decided to branch out and look at EA sports who has brought me hours of enjoyment with their NHL series and FIFA series. I had tried earlier versions of Tiger Woods in the past but I found it too easy and not quite up to par with the Links franchise. I started reading reviews of the new Tiger Woods 2004 and certain things peaked my interest. First, I found it really cool that you can design your golfer in every detail imagineable. Second, the career mode sounded like fun. Links 2003 had a career mode but you basically start off with whatever ability you (the PC user) has and qualify for tournaments. In Tiger Woods 2004, you (your player) starts off with little golfing skills and a few bucks in your pocket. The goal is to take lessons, earn some cash with side competitions with fellow hackers, win some local golf tournaments and basically build your career. Even if you are used to playing these computer games and hitting the ball 300+ yards, you will not be able to do this early in your career mode because your golfer does not have that ability yet. I find this feature to be the best selling point of the game because it tries to replicate what actual people starting out need to go through in order to get better. Granted, the game still plays easier than real golf, it does get much more difficult than as your career and ability increases. The graphics are incredible and is far more animated than the Links series. Even the announcing is great (something that EA sports has always had a problem with) with David Fehherty (spelling?) and Gary McCord throwing in their almost always accurate comments. The True Swing (mouse swing) is far superior to the one used in Links 2003. I've never been a fan of these types of swings because there was always a flaw. I must admit that when I started using Tiger Woods 2004, I switched to the always reliable 3 click swing. The 2 click is also available. I have been practicing using the true swing while in simulation mode and I find it to be easy to learn and it has its selling points over the 3 click or 2 click. I probably will be switching to it soon now that I've gotten used to it. The only thing I have not tried or looked into yet is the course designer. With Links, I never had the patience to design my own course. The course designer was way too advanced for me. But, there are websites that offer hundreds of user designed courses (both real and fictional) that are almost always better than the courses that came with the game. I don't know if this is available yet for Tiger Woods 2004 but if it is, Microsoft better watch out because there is a new golf king in town and it is EA Sports! |
Best PC Golf Title EVER
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| Review Date: March 1, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Thomas Graf, Tualatin, OR United States |
| I really don't know where to begin. I guess I'll give my background, I was a Links guy until I bought PGA Championship Golf '99 (for the course architect). What I found was more than an architect, it was a better golf game than Links. It was challenging, but not overly detailed and intricate like Links. Well since then Headgate Studios has switched over to the Tiger Woods franschise and brought that rather sad line to the top of the golf simulation world. This lastest recreation leaves my jaw open. First off, I felt right at home switching from PGA 99 to Tiger 2004 (very similiar menus/displays). I'm also guessing a first time player of the series would find their way around easily as well. Menus are straight forward and work well. Let's just say you can do just about everything you'd want to do in golf with this game. You can just play a round, start a single season with your player, or jump into career mode where you bring yourself to the top of the golf ranks. You start out as a nobody, barely able to hit the ball straight and three-putt, but work your way up the golf world by enterting tournaments and taking various lessons. It's easy at first but gets steadily harder. Some 18 or 20 courses are included, and vary greatly. From the links style courses in England and Ireland, to the tropical paridise of Hawaii. They've even included a fictional course set in the Amazon rain forest. It is beautiful and challenging. The ball behaves brilliantly. When I downloaded the demo I was surprised at how realistic the ball reacted. I have yet to question the path or actions of the ball. You can add spin, draw and fade the ball, whatever. Being an avid golfer, I found that the game was very detailed in this aspect, providing realism and depth of play. Let me gush on the graphics. They are beautiful. We're talking individual blades of grass swaying in the wind along with the trees, birds flying overhead (type of bird depends on what course you're on). You can recreate yourself with the GameFace technology. It's really cool. And my comptuer is only 866mhz with a 64 mb 3d card, yet it all runs smooth. It is the most graphically impressive game I have EVER seen; on any platform. To sum it all up, you have a realistic, graphically beautiful game that doesn't fail to deliver. 5+ stars! |
Realistic, fun, and deep!
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| Review Date: June 18, 2005 |
| Reviewer: C. W. Fitch, Wichita Falls, TX |
"Tiger Woods PGA 2004" is a very deep, challenging, and entertaining golf simulation on many levels. With several different game modes from which to choose, lots of real PGA Tour golfers (of course, including the titular phenom himself), a course designer, and more, this one will keep you entertained for a long time to come, even long after 2005 arrives with its extra bells and whistles.
Creating your own golfer and taking him through a prestigious career is of course the most enjoyable aspect of this game. Entering competitions around the world to build potential and competing in tournaments to earn money to buy better equipment, fill those potential attributes, and get more stylin' threads will eat up a lot of your free time. As with most EA Sports games, once you start your dynasty, it's very hard to stop. (Especially since you can breeze through an 18-hole stroke match in under 10 minutes once you get the hang of swinging the club and using the "Esc" key to your advantage.) Eventually you'll get good enough to take on the Tour pros themselves, which is when things really get interesting and you'll need every bit of the experience you've built to beat them.
You can also take one of the pros in the game through several seasons, but the career mode is where the best treasures lie.
The graphics in the game really shine as well. Of course, you'll need to have a top-of-the-line graphics card in your PC to enjoy absolutely all of them, which I don't. I'm told every detail of the course comes alive, with moving tree leaves, reflecting water hazards, moving clouds, wind, etc...Maybe I'll save up and get that Radeon 9600 I've had my eye on. Still, with 1024 x 768 resolution, the game is gorgeous. The golfers have amazing detail and fluidity, and the ball reacts just like a real ball would whenever it's struck. EA Sports goes to very great lengths to ensure the most realistic experience, whether it's golf, football, hockey, or any other sport, and they spared no expense with their golf game either. (On the other hand, it's just as frustrating as real golf when you screw up...you'll know what I mean when you miss your first 32-inch putt by half a hair and the ball ends up 10 feet from the hole, or get your first 12 on a Par 5.)
The realism is enhanced by the True Swing feature, where your swing is all in the wrist and the movement of the mouse. "Tiger Woods" has had this for a few years, but old schoolers like me can still choose the 3-click swing. There's even a 2-click swing option for absolute beginners.
Of course, there's also online play available, which makes the game even more absorbing. Taking on anyone in the world is always fun, although you may have a hard time finding folks to play with since 2005's been out for a while.
The commentary, with Gary McCord and David "Fairway" Fehrty on the mic, is decent for the most part, but as with most EA Sports games, the phrases get repetitive after a while. (I'm starting to hear "David...the angle of the dangle?" in my sleep.) Not only that, it misfires once in a while. More than once, I've sunk a wicked right-to-lefter from 30 feet and heard, "Oh, that'll make you want to stick your head in the sand." Wh-huh?
It's a very small detractor, though.
Overall, this is golf's total package for the PC. The arcade elements in the game add to the fun factor, and there are enough modes and unlockable features (courses, golfers, equipment, etc.) to keep you occupied for several months. You won't find a more fun and realistic experience. Yes, 2005 is out by now, and it's probably got a few extra features that hardcore PC golfers can't live without, but this game costs less than $10, and is probably just as enjoyable. For the money, you simply can't go wrong. You don't really need the latest and greatest to have fun with this title.
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Excellent with a few wierd quirks
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| Review Date: December 6, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| This PC game far exceeds anything ever done with Links of which I was a fan since the original Links 386. I do have a few complaints, and none of them have been enough to degrade my opinion of the game. Auto caddy sometimes hands me a wedge when I'm ready for a 10 foot putt. The announcers can get irritating when they say things at inappropriate times, like "looks like he'll be on the front of the green" when the ball is at the back or 3 feet away from the stick. I wish that some of the cliches could be turned off or if the game had more variety in the commentator statements, but the play value, tournaments, variety in your golfers appearance make up for the other small problems. Lastly, some of the matches you have to play, match you up with terrible players who look like geeks playing golf at places like Pebble Beach. Maybe their looks will improve as I progress further in my own status level. Over all, the game is worth having in your collection. Promises many more hours of unique fun. |
As good as that other golf game
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| Review Date: February 23, 2004 |
| Reviewer: , |
I have not been a big fan of EASports game for a long time now. They ruined every game they make except for Madden, especially the hockey and the golf. However, this is a very good game. I have the the last couple of Links games, and think they are excellent. But the good reviews for TW interested me, so I got it. Compared to Links, the course graphics and animations are superior. The trees blow in the wind, the water moves, and the sceneary is very realistic. It looks far better then Links. As far as the game physics are concerned, they are also very good. The golfing experience is just as good Links. The one thing about Links that is far better is the golfers animations. The swing on TW does not look real good. Its not terrible, but it needs works. Also, the flight of the ball off the club doesn't give you a very realistic feeling. Links has the edge there.
If you are deciding whether to go with TW, or Links, you can't go wrong with either, both have it where it counts. But TW is without a doubt, better looking. The graphics on Links haven't improved in years. In fact 2003 went backwards. |
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