Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

"TW 2005 proves golf is, indeed, a game of patience..."

Introduction

With each new release, the Tiger Woods PGA Tour games strive for better realism, and more options and features. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 has delivered more than any of its predecessors. If you can overcome the aggravation of trying to complete some of the challenges, you will get much enjoyment from this game, and won't find yourself bored with it anytime soon.

Gameplay

Like most games, some of the challenges are outrageously hard, and you find yourself thinking you will never complete the challenge, course, or scenario. But eventually you do, and it's a very satisfying feeling indeed. Some of the challenges on this game are unbelievably simple. You find yourself wondering why they are even making you bother with it. You soon realize the necessity, however, when you make it to harder challenges and are built up enough to actually have a chance at winning.

In addition to a variety of traditional games and practice modes, it has an extensive season mode, which in and of itself takes a good amount of time to complete. To break up any chance of monotony from playing the same thing over and over, the game offers many other varieties of play. There is a Legend Scenarios Challenge, in which you will go up against different golfing legends under a variety of circumstances, with a single objective--to best them at whatever the challenge my be.

There is also a Legend Tour Mode, where you start out against mediocre golfers on different legs of courses, gradually unlocking better golfers to play as you defeat opponents. There is a lot of money to be made, and a lot of unlockables in Legend Tour Mode.

Some of the most difficult challenges can be found on the RTE (Real Time Events) Calendar. You may only play these challenges on the day they are scheduled for, and are reminded of any events when you start the game. Most of these challenges are short, but some are unabashedly hard. So don't be surprised if you find yourself working for 6 straight hours to complete an RTE challenge that consists of 4 holes. Many unlockables are also included in this mode.

As if all this weren't enough to keep you busy, with gold coins you earn from the different scenarios, you can “purchase” courses which can then be altered and even renamed. From these courses you can then build your own “Dream 18”, striving to achieve a perfect prestige rating of 100.

The controls are quite simple, although I wouldn't expect much accuracy if you're attempting to use a controller with a worn out toggle. The slightest lean one way or the other can send the ball shanked into oblivion.

Putting is a learned effort on this game. Using the caddy tips offered, once you have mastered distance measurements, putting is pretty simple. Building up the maximum four Tiger Visions (which give you a “dot” exactly where you should place your marker) doesn't hurt, either. Playing in Tour Difficulty Mode is another story. You receive no Caddy Tip, and this game doesn't really give you any way to read the grade of the green. Some people have found playing without the Caddy Tip quite simple...I haven't.

The CAW mode on the game is average. It has an adequate amount of adjustables, and more options, such as hair colors, which can be unlocked. On the downside, it seems like no matter what you do, even if you make a female, the CAW always ends up still kind of looking like Tiger Woods in the face. The best fix I've found for this is adding facial hair.

Graphics/Sound

I really have nothing negative to say regarding the graphics or sound on this game. The graphics are excellent, and some of the courses look absolutely beautiful. The sound is good, and if you choose to play with commentary turned on, you'll find some quite funny remarks from the commentators and spectators during gameplay. I've only found a couple of very minor glitches in this game, which is pretty respectable compared to a lot of games on the market.

Play Time/Replayability

I honestly don't know how long it would take to complete all the challenges presented in this game. I've been playing it regularly for quite some time now and still have much more to go through. That's probably what impressed me most about Tiger Woods 2005. It has probably more features to keep you occupied and free from boredom than any game I've purchased. If you like golf games, you won't be tromping to the local video game reseller to swap this one out any time soon.

Final Recommendation

I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys golf, golf games, or is just looking for something with a lot of variety that you won't have mastered two days after you bring it home. I have little doubt that I won't have this game completed by the time TW 2006 is released...and that's a good thing.

I give Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 a 9/10, only skirting a perfect 10 because let's face it, there's always room for improvement.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/05