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Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
By: Electronic Arts
More Information
Richards Opinions!
On: 2008-08-01Its great that you can hit hole in ones and eaegles and lots of birdies but the down side is, it takes to long to build your goffer skills to the max and have to win a major to unlock tiger! and bigger drivers!
Awesome
On: 2008-07-20This is one of the best games ever! It is so much fun to have all of my friends over and play everyday!
ea = tigertastic
On: 2007-02-24Ive been playing TW games since the very beginning and this one is quite fantastic. I play mostly with a group of people and we having nothing but fun playing it. The courses are great as usual and I love how you can actually interact with the crowd now (they actually get hit with the ball now). Ive been wondering if its now possible to hit the birds in flight!!!
A step backwards from last year
On: 2006-09-18I really enjoyed Tiger Woods 2005, so I decided to pick up the 2006 version for XBOX 360. Lets put it this way: the only thing better about this game is the graphics. Gameplay has taken a huge step backward. As others have noted, this game contains only 6 courses, hitting the ball has become an impossible task that requires 3 hands to power up, spin and swing, and the in-game achievements (trophy ball case, check your progress, etc.) has been completely removed.
It seems like EA cut too many corners to get this game out the door for 360 launch day. Hopefully the 2007 version fixes these problems.
A step backwards from last year
On: 2006-09-17I really enjoyed Tiger Woods 2005, so I decided to pick up the 2006 version for XBOX 360. Lets put it this way: the only thing better about this game is the graphics. Gameplay has taken a huge step backward. As others have noted, this game contains only 6 courses, hitting the ball has become an impossible task that requires 3 hands to power up, spin and swing, and the in-game achievements (trophy ball case, check your progress, etc.) has been completely removed.
It seems like EA cut too many corners to get this game out the door for 360 launch day. Hopefully the 2007 version fixes these problems.
Great Game, An instant hook-on
On: 2006-07-16This Game is great, when i got my XBOX 360 i frowned upon it, i know alot of people think golf is boring or akward, but once i started getting good, i spent litteraly 3 hours a day playing it.
Pros
Puts in every aspect of golf, such as wind, hieght, hills and it really makes you think hard about what to do
This game has about 108 holes, and about 4 combinations for each so that means 432 combos of holes, what more could you want?
Challenging, this game may look easy and carefree, but when your putting for an eagle on the 18th hole, its extremly tense, the XBOX 360 rumble system works incredibly well.
Unlike Madden 2006, this game barely freezes up and NEVER crashes, which is good if you just beat tiger woods (wouldnt want to not save after that)
Cons
Difficult at start, the learning curve is fast, but most people dont spend the time to get there charcter better and to learn the art of golf. unless you are persistent and patient, you will like this game, if not, go buy call of duty 2 or something, this game isnt for you.
Only 6 courses to play on makes the game a little odd, something EA needs to work on.
Overall. this game is great for beginners and the type of game you would use to learn how to use the XBOX 360. if your an expert on the xbox, the amount of challenge in it will make you work till your thumbs bleed (or until you get carpial tunnel syndrome, did i spell that right?0
Rent this one first!
On: 2006-06-04Unless you are an absolute golf fanatic (or an Accountant!), I have two words for you... BOR ING!
Though graphics are awesome and game-play is okay, I must admit having more fun playing Mario Golf on my GCN!
Bottom line, dont buy this one without knowing what youre getting into!
not as good as the old ones
On: 2006-05-29This game is pretty good, but there are some things that arent as good as the old ones. One thing being is that the only single player thing you can do is the PGA tour. Where is traveling around the world and playing some very weird but cool peaople. Where are the crazy coarses. What about playing the legends. Even without all of those things the game is still pretty good. The live play is fun if you find someone that will actually talk to you. It is also fun to play with a friend at home. Also if you make a bad shot and hit one of the peaople they either fall down or stagger around. it is pretty funney. but one of the things a cant get passed is the graphics. they are barley better than the PS2 or XBOX versions. So it is up to you if you want to spend 10 extra bucks just for a little bit better graphics.
Great Game
On: 2006-05-01Just a fun game with great graphics and EA Sports quality as usual.
power / spin button on the wrong side!!! cant be changed
On: 2006-04-28this ruins the game completely!..the pre-swing power tap button/spin control is the left button...right by the swing stick!...that means while youre pulling and pushing your swing back and then forward you also need to,with the same hand,tap your power button...then if you even get a little power going its so difficult to do that your shot inevitably goes awry.......then to spin the ball a certain direction just takes genius that no one possesses...you cant do al that with one hand...I went into the controller configuration and tried to change the controller to the way i liked it and it wont let you change that button...im not kidding....dont believe me then buy the game and youll see for yourself..the other versions had the power/spin control button on the right side of the game...it worked well...putting sucks as well and the graphics look like the old game....not impressed at all....60 bucks down the drain....
power / spin button on the wrong side!!! cant be changed
On: 2006-04-27this ruins the game completely!..the pre-swing power tap button/spin control is the left button...right by the swing stick!...that means while youre pulling and pushing your swing back and then forward you also need to,with the same hand,tap your power button...then if you even get a little power going its so difficult to do that your shot inevitably goes awry.......then to spin the ball a certain direction just takes genius that no one possesses...you cant do al that with one hand...I went into the controller configuration and tried to change the controller to the way i liked it and it wont let you change that button...im not kidding....dont believe me then buy the game and youll see for yourself..the other versions had the power/spin control button on the right side of the game...it worked well...putting sucks as well and the graphics look like the old game....not impressed at all....60 bucks down the drain....
Make a golf game that will do the 360 justice
On: 2006-04-24Whew! they got it out for xbox 360 release date I think the graphics where as good on the TW 2004 Cmon EA there aint nothin special about this game even in HD save your money.
Great Everything!
On: 2006-04-17I just got my xbox 360 a week ago and I got Tiger Woods 1 day ago and let me tell you it is worth the price! You get to hit people and play golf. My dad says, "This is exactly how a play in real life!" He got a Triple Boggey. The graphics on the game are amazing. I have never played a Tiger Woods game in my life now I wish I were Tiger Woods. It has all of Tiger Woods emotions. Way to go Tiger Woods and EA Games.
Worst Tiger Woods offering from EA Sports Ever.....CRAP!!
On: 2006-03-30This game is the worst EA sports game I have ever played. Everything about this game is sub par compared to the other TW Golf games and is rip off for XBOX 360 owners. Dont bother with this POS!!
Shame on you EA Sports....offer up the worst golf game ever just to be on XBOX 360 console and cash in. I feel cheated !!
Worst Tiger Woods offering from EA Sports Ever.....CRAP!!
On: 2006-03-29This game is the worst EA sports game I have ever played. Everything about this game is sub par compared to the other TW Golf games and is rip off for XBOX 360 owners. Dont bother with this POS!!
Shame on you EA Sports....offer up the worst golf game ever just to be on XBOX 360 console and cash in. I feel cheated !!
So-So
On: 2006-03-08If you love golf games this is a must buy. However, because EA has exclusive licenses for all of sports, you have no choice. I still think Links was the best ever for gameplay. Overall I like this game, but the graphics are not that much better on the 360. I didnt think the word WOW at all. If being Tiger while playing, you cannot be beat by anyone. They made that way too easy. My buddies and I find that the putting is way too easy.
I got mine from the big auction website, so I only paid $40 which included shipping. That makes it ok for me. I would never pay $60 as it is no where near worth $60. Almost anything EA is not worth $60.
So-So
On: 2006-03-07If you love golf games this is a must buy. However, because EA has exclusive licenses for all of sports, you have no choice. I still think Links was the best ever for gameplay. Overall I like this game, but the graphics are not that much better on the 360. I didnt think the word WOW at all. If being Tiger while playing, you cannot be beat by anyone. They made that way too easy. My buddies and I find that the putting is way too easy.
I got mine from the big auction website, so I only paid $40 which included shipping. That makes it ok for me. I would never pay $60 as it is no where near worth $60. Almost anything EA is not worth $60.
So bad, it's an insult to Tiger Woods
On: 2006-01-29This game, especially now that the original Xbox game is $29.95, is complete robbery. The Xbox 360 version sports only 6 courses compared to the 11 courses on the original Xbox and this version is filled to the brim with bugs.
For example, when playing a tournament, on the final hole, the putting line will mysteriously disappear (this actually happens countless times throughout the game, but interestingly enough, Ive noticed it appears most often when youre about to finish a round). Also, as you make your last putt, the announcers will often say "Thats a tie atop the leaderboard!" or "Thats for a share of the lead." when youve actually won the tournament. Announcements will also come late, for example, when youre putting and the announcer calls out that youre 170 yards from the hole. Top that off with the fact that their putting advice isnt just useless, its often totally wrong.
The online version of this game is using EAs own front-end, as they have in the previous TW games. If you havent experienced how bad it is, consider yourself lucky. Game drop-outs (which are tallied on your personal Xbox profile) are far more likely EAs fault then a sour player. EA even taunts us by directly telling us that the only way theyre going to update their 4-question online FAQ is if we send them a question "wrapped in cash preferably twenties."
EA has never offered additional courses for download. There is no "download" menu item in the Xbox Live menu of this game, and I will personally fly to EA and buy every member of the TW06 team a copy of this over-priced, over-rated game, if they ever offer even a single course. It simply wont happen because they dont care.
This game has a "fall-behind, catch up" feature, so bad that, if youre winning the tournament, Tiger Woods will come out of no-where on the 3rd day and score an impossible round. For example, he shot a hole-in-zero (yes, you read that correctly) on a par 3 to catch up to me on the back nine. Hell also take the lead in the tournament. The reason this is done is so that you can do "head to head" against Tiger. However, it also ruins any course records youve worked hard (and fairly) to earn.
The final nail in this games coffin is that the system "cheats." And by that, I mean that the controls on the system will mysteriously pull (left or right) or push (over the green) your shots when youre too far in the lead, or making an early gain at the beginning of the higher tournaments. If you want an example, try making the exact same eagle approach shot in one of the major tournaments when youre ahead and behind. If youre the leader, you wont ever hit the green, if youre the leader, youll never hit the green, if youre a few shots behind, youll -amazingly- land near the pin.
For the price of this game, you should really go out and play a real round of golf. You wont be giving lazy developers any of your hard earned money and youll be playing at a far nicer course than EA has virtually created.
So bad, it's an insult to Tiger Woods
On: 2006-01-28This game, especially now that the original Xbox game is $29.95, is complete robbery. The Xbox 360 version sports only 6 courses compared to the 11 courses on the original Xbox and this version is filled to the brim with bugs.
For example, when playing a tournament, on the final hole, the putting line will mysteriously disappear (this actually happens countless times throughout the game, but interestingly enough, Ive noticed it appears most often when youre about to finish a round). Also, as you make your last putt, the announcers will often say "Thats a tie atop the leaderboard!" or "Thats for a share of the lead." when youve actually won the tournament. Announcements will also come late, for example, when youre putting and the announcer calls out that youre 170 yards from the hole. Top that off with the fact that their putting advice isnt just useless, its often totally wrong.
The online version of this game is using EAs own front-end, as they have in the previous TW games. If you havent experienced how bad it is, consider yourself lucky. Game drop-outs (which are tallied on your personal Xbox profile) are far more likely EAs fault then a sour player. EA even taunts us by directly telling us that the only way theyre going to update their 4-question online FAQ is if we send them a question "wrapped in cash preferably twenties."
EA has never offered additional courses for download. There is no "download" menu item in the Xbox Live menu of this game, and I will personally fly to EA and buy every member of the TW06 team a copy of this over-priced, over-rated game, if they ever offer even a single course. It simply wont happen because they dont care.
This game has a "fall-behind, catch up" feature, so bad that, if youre winning the tournament, Tiger Woods will come out of no-where on the 3rd day and score an impossible round. For example, he shot a hole-in-zero (yes, you read that correctly) on a par 3 to catch up to me on the back nine. Hell also take the lead in the tournament. The reason this is done is so that you can do "head to head" against Tiger. However, it also ruins any course records youve worked hard (and fairly) to earn.
The final nail in this games coffin is that the system "cheats." And by that, I mean that the controls on the system will mysteriously pull (left or right) or push (over the green) your shots when youre too far in the lead, or making an early gain at the beginning of the higher tournaments. If you want an example, try making the exact same eagle approach shot in one of the major tournaments when youre ahead and behind. If youre the leader, you wont ever hit the green, if youre the leader, youll never hit the green, if youre a few shots behind, youll -amazingly- land near the pin.
For the price of this game, you should really go out and play a real round of golf. You wont be giving lazy developers any of your hard earned money and youll be playing at a far nicer course than EA has virtually created.
Downgraded
On: 2006-01-04Tiger woods 06 for the 360 has lost many features (so have many EA titles for the 360, they need to slow down)There arent anywhere near as many gameface options as there used to be. (there is a decent amount know but dont expect to create a similar image of yourself like in the previous version.) They have eliminated create-a-swing, there selections of golf club brands is really decreased, there is also a lack in clothing and misc. items. The graphics aactually didnt deliver as well as you would imagine for a 360 game, they still even have 2-D trees, looks very much similar to the PSP version (I thought they could of done a better job in graphics, like madden for instance). You alos dont have to pay for your items, once you unlock them you may switch between them as you please. The made the game more challenging as putting and chipping go, Its difficult to make an accurate assumption of where the ball goes on the green. You do have putter vision which helps but you still really have to be cautios. Now to mention some of the Nicer additionts to tiger 06 for the 360.
1. Better graphics (they could of done ALOT better for a 360 though)
2. You must physicially earn your PGA tour card by qualifying in a series of mini-games, tournaments, and matches.
3. They have added a "Mental" attribute for your golfer
4. There is an audience (thats right you will no longer actually hear clapping, but you will see it to!) It gives the game a GREAT realistic feel.
5. They have added the classic Pinehurst course.
6. They have added chris dimarco as a playable golfer.
7. The online play is good, nothing bad about it, nothing really new about it.
8. The grass looks fantastic graphics wise (now they just need to get the trees to look like it and were talking BIG TIME)
9. The replay system is excellent as always.
10. Almost no waiting time is required.
Deffinatly a rent, and if you like Golf an easy buy.
Not a Next Gen Game
On: 2005-12-27It appears that EA has rushed its titles to make the 360 launch date, and Tiger Woods 2006 is no exception. Graphically its slightly better than its predecessors (most notably are the trees, which used to be flat pixels...here theyre all polygons).
However the faces of the characters actually look less similar to their counterparts than the previous versions. Tiger, for instance, looks like he decided to get permanent eyeliner tatoo. Gone are the vast customization of the create-a-player feature. One of the goals of this game is to create a player to look just like you, and to get the player to play the same equipment. Last year I got a kick creating a player that looked pretty close to me, with matching clothes, and even a custom built swing to match my flat-plane shorter swingpath. This year, everyone swings the same.
The pro-shop is now irrelevant, since you "unlock" items rather than save up money to buy the ones you really want. Theres a fraction of the available items (clothes, equipment, balls, etc.) than from previous versions.
There is a saving grace, however. I was tired of shooting mid 50s in the past versions. Once I even shot a 49. It reached a point where I played without upgrading any of my abilities, so I was driving it only about 240 (which works for me, because thats as far as I can drive in real life anyway), which made the tournaments at least competitive. I also didnt like how you could dramatically change the spin on the ball so that if you didnt like your approach shot, you could work the ball mid-air so you could get the ball close to the pin. Yeah, pretty realistic. In this new version, thats gone. You have to determine your spin before hand. Also, with analog putting, you could be throwing darts out there onto the green, but could still get a double bogey if you dont putt well (which increases the difficulty).
All in all, however, it felt like a rushed game. Heres hoping that new courses and acessories are downloadable...
Not a Next Gen Game
On: 2005-12-26It appears that EA has rushed its titles to make the 360 launch date, and Tiger Woods 2006 is no exception. Graphically its slightly better than its predecessors (most notably are the trees, which used to be flat pixels...here theyre all polygons).
However the faces of the characters actually look less similar to their counterparts than the previous versions. Tiger, for instance, looks like he decided to get permanent eyeliner tatoo. Gone are the vast customization of the create-a-player feature. One of the goals of this game is to create a player to look just like you, and to get the player to play the same equipment. Last year I got a kick creating a player that looked pretty close to me, with matching clothes, and even a custom built swing to match my flat-plane shorter swingpath. This year, everyone swings the same.
The pro-shop is now irrelevant, since you "unlock" items rather than save up money to buy the ones you really want. Theres a fraction of the available items (clothes, equipment, balls, etc.) than from previous versions.
There is a saving grace, however. I was tired of shooting mid 50s in the past versions. Once I even shot a 49. It reached a point where I played without upgrading any of my abilities, so I was driving it only about 240 (which works for me, because thats as far as I can drive in real life anyway), which made the tournaments at least competitive. I also didnt like how you could dramatically change the spin on the ball so that if you didnt like your approach shot, you could work the ball mid-air so you could get the ball close to the pin. Yeah, pretty realistic. In this new version, thats gone. You have to determine your spin before hand. Also, with analog putting, you could be throwing darts out there onto the green, but could still get a double bogey if you dont putt well (which increases the difficulty).
All in all, however, it felt like a rushed game. Heres hoping that new courses and acessories are downloadable...
Great realism for the serious golfer
by: lisashea-dot-com On: 2005-12-25
Tiger Woods 2006 brings the glorious realism of the XBox 360 to the game of golf. You get quick games, planned out career mode, plus live play and minigames.
First, the characters you can play. By default you are Tiger Woods of course, but you can also play Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Chris DiMarco, tons more, or create your own character from scratch. The creation screen is rather impressive, so you can really create a golfer that you can relate to. We had a ton of fun playing with the precise level of detail. Unibrow? Freckle density? Its all here.
You start out with six extremely detailed courses - but EA lists the following courses as the ones supported for this version of the game. I imagine that it means the rest of the courses will be able to be downloaded in the future. You can only fit so much information on one DVD! Ive marked which ones come on the game DVD.
Bethpage Black
Carnoustie - INCLUDED
Central Park
Cog Hill
Doral
Greek Isles
Kapalua
Pasatiempo
Pebble Beach - INCLUDED
Pinehurst #2 - INCLUDED
Pumpkin Ridge
Red Rock Creek
Reflection Bay
Riviera - INCLUDED
Sahalee
St Andrews
Troon North - Pinnacle
TPC at Sawgrass - INCLUDED
Turnberry - INCLUDED
The game is definitely not an "arcade" easy style button masher. Theres no swing-o-meter to hit the X button on. You have to really "swing" the joystick properly to hit your shot. I found this really natural to do, and my boyfriend, who is an avid golfer, was playing extremely well in only a few holes. That being said, if youre not into golf and dont understand the club choices / ground slope issues, you can have problems.
I really loved how the power shots go into slow motion if you hit them right on, and how the crowd roars out its approval for the great shots. It really gives you a visceral sense of reward. I also love how the crowd cringes if your shot goes too near them, or they actually double over in pain when you hit them. I admit to aiming for them a few times :) It was just too funny.
The graphics are quite nice. The shadows ripple across the green, the ball kicks up debris, the clouds roll across the sky. The birds chirp, you can hear the wind rustling in the trees. The characters still arent quite photorealistic, but were getting quite close. I remember as a kid playing the Atari Golf with little pixel-characters - this is amazing how far weve come.
The sounds really draw you in, from the commentary to the crowd noises to the ambient sounds. I didnt even mind the background rock music in the character screens and such.
Theres a ton of items to unlock - better clubs, better shafts, and so on. There are always new challenges to try for and items to strive for.
For quick arcadey fun, were big fans of the PSP Hot Shots Golf, and we finished that game all the way through. But for a serious challenge, where our golf skills are tested and honed, we really like this one. Its both very challenging and very relaxing at the same time.
If I was going to pick on the game, perhaps Id say it was too hard for beginners, or those who dont really play golf. However, there are tons of games out there that are deliberately arcadey or just "fun". Casual players have plenty of options to choose from already. If someone is a serious golfer looking for a game to have fun with during rainy days and winter season, I really recommend this one.
Tiger on 360: A tough but nicely played shot
On: 2005-12-22As the only golf game on the Xbox 360, EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 has a distinct advantage. There are no other games to compare it to, and if youre going to buy a golf game this year on your Xbox 360, there isnt another game that is more worth your money than Tiger 06. However, if you own another console and youre looking to hit the links, youll want to look elsewhere--Tiger 06 is a good game, but like most of the Xbox 360s sports games, its not quite worth the $60 sticker. This is even more appropriately put when one isnt ready for an immense golf challenge.
Of course, the gameplay itself isnt where Tiger 06 falls short. In fact, this is the opposite; this is where the game excels beyond most titles. Tiger 06 is the first golfing game where my real-life inexperience played a part in how much I absolutely sucked in the video game. On the course it is required for gamers to know what theyre doing, whether its adjusting their shot placement, shaping their shot or simply knowing what club to use. The controls in Tiger Woods 06 add to this difficulty, and if you havent played a current-gen version, youll be as lost as I was when I first picked up the game. Rather than using the rythmatic button-tapping that has been used in golfing games for years, Tiger 06 forces you to hold back on the left thumbstick for a backswing and smoothly push forward for a foreswing. Any slight movement inbetween the down-and-up motion will result in a shank, which is extremely irritating at first. Once the feeling is there, though, youll be pounding the ball down the fairway without trouble. Well, that is true only if you remember the shot shaping and adjustments. Driving the ball 300 yards doesnt mean a thing unless you can hit well after that, just like in real life. You drive the ball in real life far fewer times than you chip or putt it, and as a result, chipping and putting are a practice that golfers have to master in order to succeed. In Tiger 06, this is recreated perfectly. Taking in elements such as the wind, the lie of the ball, and the placement of the shot are all extremely crucial in landing on the green, let alone saving par or sinking a birdie. Similar to hitting the ball anywhere else on the course, putting can be extremely difficult and it requires a realistic touch. Reading the green is difficult because the guidelines dont give you the best idea of the geometry of the green. The cup is sometimes impossible to see, also. Overall the putting is accurate and feels real, despite some of these gripes. In fact, I can say that about hitting the ball as a whole--Tiger Woods 06 is extremely realistic. Its difficult at first, and there were times where I wanted to give up, but after I learned the ropes I couldnt stop playing.
This replay value is evident in the Career mode, which is where most of the time will be spent. Career mode piles up dozens of golfing challenges in each of the six real-life courses found in the game. Long drive contests, par 5 challenges, skins matches, and chipping challenges are just a few of the many different games youll have to play in order to learn the game and increase your created golfers attributes. Each challenge can be passed for experience points or mastered for more experience points as well as bonuses like new gear. Some of the challenges had me swearing in frustration (especially the long drive ones) but they pay off and certainly made me a better player in the game. Completing these challenges eventually lets you get your PGA Card, which allows you to play in PGA tournaments and events that earn you more money, skill points, and recognition as a PGA golfer.
Visually, Tiger 06 is absolutely breathtaking. The realistic shadow effects of each course and the particle effects that come from hitting the ball out of heavy grass are just two examples that come to mind when I think about how amazing this game looks. Theres only one gripe. Every player looks like they could melt like plastic if left in the sun for too long while having a bad hair day to boot. Besides this, Tiger 06 is a visual treat. The commentary is done pretty well, and the ambience of golf is captured beautifully when the crowd isnt roaring after a 300-yard blast.
As I said earlier, there are only six courses, and this is where I have to stop praising Tiger 06. I can understand six courses in a game like Hot Shots Golf. I cant really accept it with Tiger 06, especially when the current-gen versions have twice as many locations. Sure, you can still hit the beautiful coast of Pebble Beach or the super-difficult TPC at Sawgrass, but after six courses, there isnt anything else. It also doesnt help that theres only the Career mode to play in the Xbox 360 version. You can play online, which is nice and works out well without much holdup. But between career and online gameplay modes, there isnt much to do here. Because of that, I dont know how to recommend this title. I mentioned at the start of this review that Tiger 06 is a great game, and Id like to repeat that. If youre looking for a good golf game and you dont have a PSP to play Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee or an Xbox to play the current-gen version of Tiger Woods 06, this is the best golfing game you could possibly buy. Like the rest of the EA Sports Xbox 360 lineup, I hope next years version of Tiger is fleshed out and features more while continuing to improve on the great gameplay.
Tiger on 360: A tough but nicely played shot
On: 2005-12-21As the only golf game on the Xbox 360, EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 has a distinct advantage. There are no other games to compare it to, and if youre going to buy a golf game this year on your Xbox 360, there isnt another game that is more worth your money than Tiger 06. However, if you own another console and youre looking to hit the links, youll want to look elsewhere--Tiger 06 is a good game, but like most of the Xbox 360s sports games, its not quite worth the $60 sticker. This is even more appropriately put when one isnt ready for an immense golf challenge.
Of course, the gameplay itself isnt where Tiger 06 falls short. In fact, this is the opposite; this is where the game excels beyond most titles. Tiger 06 is the first golfing game where my real-life inexperience played a part in how much I absolutely sucked in the video game. On the course it is required for gamers to know what theyre doing, whether its adjusting their shot placement, shaping their shot or simply knowing what club to use. The controls in Tiger Woods 06 add to this difficulty, and if you havent played a current-gen version, youll be as lost as I was when I first picked up the game. Rather than using the rythmatic button-tapping that has been used in golfing games for years, Tiger 06 forces you to hold back on the left thumbstick for a backswing and smoothly push forward for a foreswing. Any slight movement inbetween the down-and-up motion will result in a shank, which is extremely irritating at first. Once the feeling is there, though, youll be pounding the ball down the fairway without trouble. Well, that is true only if you remember the shot shaping and adjustments. Driving the ball 300 yards doesnt mean a thing unless you can hit well after that, just like in real life. You drive the ball in real life far fewer times than you chip or putt it, and as a result, chipping and putting are a practice that golfers have to master in order to succeed. In Tiger 06, this is recreated perfectly. Taking in elements such as the wind, the lie of the ball, and the placement of the shot are all extremely crucial in landing on the green, let alone saving par or sinking a birdie. Similar to hitting the ball anywhere else on the course, putting can be extremely difficult and it requires a realistic touch. Reading the green is difficult because the guidelines dont give you the best idea of the geometry of the green. The cup is sometimes impossible to see, also. Overall the putting is accurate and feels real, despite some of these gripes. In fact, I can say that about hitting the ball as a whole--Tiger Woods 06 is extremely realistic. Its difficult at first, and there were times where I wanted to give up, but after I learned the ropes I couldnt stop playing.
This replay value is evident in the Career mode, which is where most of the time will be spent. Career mode piles up dozens of golfing challenges in each of the six real-life courses found in the game. Long drive contests, par 5 challenges, skins matches, and chipping challenges are just a few of the many different games youll have to play in order to learn the game and increase your created golfers attributes. Each challenge can be passed for experience points or mastered for more experience points as well as bonuses like new gear. Some of the challenges had me swearing in frustration (especially the long drive ones) but they pay off and certainly made me a better player in the game. Completing these challenges eventually lets you get your PGA Card, which allows you to play in PGA tournaments and events that earn you more money, skill points, and recognition as a PGA golfer.
Visually, Tiger 06 is absolutely breathtaking. The realistic shadow effects of each course and the particle effects that come from hitting the ball out of heavy grass are just two examples that come to mind when I think about how amazing this game looks. Theres only one gripe. Every player looks like they could melt like plastic if left in the sun for too long while having a bad hair day to boot. Besides this, Tiger 06 is a visual treat. The commentary is done pretty well, and the ambience of golf is captured beautifully when the crowd isnt roaring after a 300-yard blast.
As I said earlier, there are only six courses, and this is where I have to stop praising Tiger 06. I can understand six courses in a game like Hot Shots Golf. I cant really accept it with Tiger 06, especially when the current-gen versions have twice as many locations. Sure, you can still hit the beautiful coast of Pebble Beach or the super-difficult TPC at Sawgrass, but after six courses, there isnt anything else. It also doesnt help that theres only the Career mode to play in the Xbox 360 version. You can play online, which is nice and works out well without much holdup. But between career and online gameplay modes, there isnt much to do here. Because of that, I dont know how to recommend this title. I mentioned at the start of this review that Tiger 06 is a great game, and Id like to repeat that. If youre looking for a good golf game and you dont have a PSP to play Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee or an Xbox to play the current-gen version of Tiger Woods 06, this is the best golfing game you could possibly buy. Like the rest of the EA Sports Xbox 360 lineup, I hope next years version of Tiger is fleshed out and features more while continuing to improve on the great gameplay.
Really, not that bad.
On: 2005-12-06The fact is that this is a golf game. Its not going to be easy and not going to be the most fun youve ever had. Its tough. This game is made a little tougher by the fact that its more difficult to hit a ball straight. For some reason I hit the ball off to the right much more often than I think I should. The hit feels ok to me...but bam it shanks. Ill bet thats why most folks are complaining. However, It really doesnt happen that often if you concentrate. There seems to be no way to calibrate the stick either.
The graphics are pretty darn good. You can actually see veins and muscles on the golfers arms. However, again, its golf, there arent special effects or magical creatures which will make the graphics really stand out. The courses look pretty, the golfers look realistic, and the shading effects are nice. The announcers say some pretty clever stuff and the ambient sounds and water looks good.
The create your own face thing is very detailed. But it seems that it was easier to make a golfer "look like me" in the older version. They have a ton of sliders but are missing some very important ones it seems, like forehead height and a general lack of hairstyles/haircolors.
But the golf is pretty solid. You can make some pretty amazing shots and compete with the pros. The Golfer gets better a little more gradually than in the past. In fact, you basically start as a rookie. Instead of jumping into tournaments right away, you compete in a good number of small challenges which you can try to pass or master. Passing would be like getting the closest to the pin in a chipping challenge against a computer player, or mastering would be getting the ball to drop. It varies based on which type of challenge it is.
I cant say much about the online. Ive only played a match and I was beating a guy but he disconnected halfway through (which I gave him a bad review for because I knew it was intentional.) But you can play online in multiple different tournaments and contests.
To me, the biggest downside of this version of tiger is the old courses which are missing. The black lava rock course, the wallaby/outback one, the emerald dragon one, the polar one. Sorry I forget their names, but they were on Tiger 2005. In my opinion, those were the best ones to play. Hopefully they will become available for download, or introduce a course creator.
Overall its a good solid golf game. Its not as good as the last one I played, but its worth having a game like this to play when COD2 or PDZ become too intense and you want some relaxation.
The last game was better....
On: 2005-12-05The graphics in this game are pretty unimpressive, and the game play is ackward. Me and my husband both dont like it, expected a LOT more!
Really, not that bad.
On: 2005-12-05The fact is that this is a golf game. Its not going to be easy and not going to be the most fun youve ever had. Its tough. This game is made a little tougher by the fact that its more difficult to hit a ball straight. For some reason I hit the ball off to the right much more often than I think I should. The hit feels ok to me...but bam it shanks. Ill bet thats why most folks are complaining. However, It really doesnt happen that often if you concentrate. There seems to be no way to calibrate the stick either.
The graphics are pretty darn good. You can actually see veins and muscles on the golfers arms. However, again, its golf, there arent special effects or magical creatures which will make the graphics really stand out. The courses look pretty, the golfers look realistic, and the shading effects are nice. The announcers say some pretty clever stuff and the ambient sounds and water looks good.
The create your own face thing is very detailed. But it seems that it was easier to make a golfer "look like me" in the older version. They have a ton of sliders but are missing some very important ones it seems, like forehead height and a general lack of hairstyles/haircolors.
But the golf is pretty solid. You can make some pretty amazing shots and compete with the pros. The Golfer gets better a little more gradually than in the past. In fact, you basically start as a rookie. Instead of jumping into tournaments right away, you compete in a good number of small challenges which you can try to pass or master. Passing would be like getting the closest to the pin in a chipping challenge against a computer player, or mastering would be getting the ball to drop. It varies based on which type of challenge it is.
I cant say much about the online. Ive only played a match and I was beating a guy but he disconnected halfway through (which I gave him a bad review for because I knew it was intentional.) But you can play online in multiple different tournaments and contests.
To me, the biggest downside of this version of tiger is the old courses which are missing. The black lava rock course, the wallaby/outback one, the emerald dragon one, the polar one. Sorry I forget their names, but they were on Tiger 2005. In my opinion, those were the best ones to play. Hopefully they will become available for download, or introduce a course creator.
Overall its a good solid golf game. Its not as good as the last one I played, but its worth having a game like this to play when COD2 or PDZ become too intense and you want some relaxation.
NOT Bad. Not Bad at all.
by: theshawconnection On: 2005-11-29
Ok here is the bottom line. THis is a much harder Tiger Woods than the previous entries in the series. THis is a good thing. When was golf ever an easy game. Pretty much if you lose your concentration while your swinging you are a goner. Some people will love this, some people will hate this. Here is some bad news. there are only 6 courses on this game. that is about half of the previous games. You will love the 6, but it will still get a little old. The good, is that this is a very pretty game. You will love the look of everything.
NOT Bad. Not Bad at all.
On: 2005-11-28Ok here is the bottom line. THis is a much harder Tiger Woods than the previous entries in the series. THis is a good thing. When was golf ever an easy game. Pretty much if you lose your concentration while your swinging you are a goner. Some people will love this, some people will hate this. Here is some bad news. there are only 6 courses on this game. that is about half of the previous games. You will love the 6, but it will still get a little old. The good, is that this is a very pretty game. You will love the look of everything.