Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002

"Golf Game of 2002"

When it comes to console golf sims, EA has always been the leader (or at least near the top of the leaderboard), whether their titles were great, good, or average, since the competition wasn't so great. It's different today, with the very competent Hot Shots Golf franchise. As HSG won over fans who tired of the PGA Tour (now Tiger Woods) franchise, EA took a step back, producing the lackluster (yet still enjoyable) Tiger Woods 2000 and 2001. Hot Shots Golf has been running the show the last couple of years, but that could be over now.

GRAPHICS

These are some of the best (if not the best) graphics to be found in a console golf game to date. Everything is so clear. You can easily see the shapes and sizes of the fairway and the green, and make out the deep rough from the rough. This makes it much easier on the user to manage his shot, since you can tell where exactly you want the ball to go, and are less surprised if it ends up in the sand or rough.

Character Models are very nicely done and resemble their real-life counterparts nicely. There are also fantasy characters (not nearly as outlandish as in HSG, and thats probably a good thing) who add a nice touch to the game as well.

Animations are smooth and done well. EA has opted to keep the arcade animations for when you hit a drive perfectly. This is a welcome touch though, and doesn't detract from the overall sim-stlye of the game. The Happy Gilmore swing animation is a must-see!

SOUND

Crisp and clean sound are all you really ask of a game like this. Birds chirping and far-away galleries cheering are a staple of most golf franchises, and EA is on par here (pun intended). The sound of the clubs hitting the ball are accurate. EA has kept the arcade-like swoosh sounds when you hit a ball hard, which is fine. EA wants to present a sim game in a lively way, and it makes the game more enjoyable to have these ''arcadey'' touches.

The two-man announcing crew is a nice touch, and makes the game feel a lot like a TV event, with the nice camera angles included. The announcers will run out of things to say, but their lines don't become so grating that you'll want to turn them off. They are actually helpful, and will point out if your ball may go into the water or if it is near the stick so you can adjust ballspin accordingly.

The menu music is nice as well, consisting of instrumental renditions of a couple Nelly songs. I'm not much for rap, but the inclusion of the song ''#1'' was a nice choice IMO.

GAMEPLAY

Here is where it counts. You can have all the pizzazz, but without good gameplay, you'll fall flat on your face. Whats great about Tiger Woods, is that it is so easy to get into, challenging and fun to master, and you feel like you have complete control of what you are doing. If you want to go aggressive at the pin, it feels like you really are. It's more than just lining up a shot and hitting it straight to that point. Shaping your shots is key here. It's easy to do, but hard to master. As your shot-shaping skills improve you can go after eagles on Par 5's, or go for the green in 1 on Par 4's. It's a really satisfying feeling.

The analog swing is the new trend in golf games, and you better get used to it fellow 3-clickers, because this is the future. I must say, after being a bit hesitant at first, the analog swing is the way to go. Since it simulates the natural swing of the club, it's the best way to accurately control a golf game. Golf is a game of swinging, not clicking. The one drawback could be the controller itself. I've heard sob stories of analog's wearing out and malfunctioning after two to three weeks of heavy play in this game, that's not a good sign.

Putting is really not as difficult and confusing as it has been made out to be. When you get on the green there is a line that shows you where the putt would travel if you hit it straight. Your caddy gives you an estimate in an on-screen box (for example, the box might read, 2 in. left, 10 inches long). It takes guesswork to line up the putts, and it is difficult at first (since you don't have any idea to what 7 inches equals in the game). But you'll definitely get a feel for it after a day or two. The only tough putts are the downslopes, where you have to putt short so it naturally finds the roll.

REPLAY

This is an important category to judge games, especially sports games. The more modes available in a game usually means more replay. Tiger Woods 2002 delivers on this front. Not quite as deep in the modes and unlockables as HSG3, TW2002 still offers plenty. You have your regular Stroke play, Match play, Skins, and Tournaments. You also have a scenario mode which rewards you with cash to build your created character depending on how you medal in the scenarios. For example, one scenario might be to get a -3 under on the toughest Par 4's in the game. If you get a -5 you get a Gold and a lot of cash. If you get a -3, you get the Bronze and some cash. All modes reward you with cash to build your created golfer. Maxing out your golfer's stats will take a lot of work, but it is rewarding. The main part of the game is the Tiger Challenge, in which you go one-on-one in matchplay contests, which unlock the characters in the game and new holes to Tiger's Dream 18 course, as well as supply you with the most money to build up your character and unlock new courses. Other replay incentives include course/overall records, player stats, and trophy balls (which also reward you money for accomplishing certain tasks, like back-to-back eagles).

OVERALL

Tiger Woods 2002 is the golf game to get this year. I own both this game and HSG3, and Tiger Woods wins hands down. Both are very competent golf games, but EA has found what it takes to make a fun and challenging game of golf.

SCORE 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/18/02, Updated 03/18/02