It seems as though
only a decade ago the sport of golf was reserved for retirees in pants hoisted
up to their navels in sunny Florida. Play the front nine, have a Manhattan or a
Glenfiddich on the rocks, and stumble through the back nine while living off of
a 401k. Then word got out about a kid from Southern California who could tame
18 holes like Crocodile Dundee could a wildebeest. It took only one man, a
Tiger actually, to completely turn the normally conservative sport of golf
upside down and breathe new life into it.
Much like Tiger
Woods saved golf from the mires of Cardigans and plaid pants, Electronic Arts
has saved the sport’s video counterpart with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003. The
latest edition of the number one selling golf franchise is the best yet,
retaining everything that made the previous versions great and adding features
to push it beyond.
Much of the time
spent playing Tiger Woods 2003 will be in the Tiger Challenge Mode. In this
mode, golfers tackle progressively harder challenges to unlock golfers, both
real PGA tour pros and outrageous fictional characters, and golf courses, nine
official PGA courses and three fantastically designed courses. Most of the
challenges are match plays versus one other CPU-controlled golfer, with the
winner taking home cash and unlocking courses and golfers. Other steps in the
Tiger Challenge ladder include Skins matches, Tournaments, and Scenario modes,
where golfers are playing in odds-against-them challenges. There are five
rounds, each culminating with a difficult challenge to attain a Tour Card that
will boost your money earnings.
Returning from
last year’s edition is Speed Golf, a rock n’ roll version of traditional golf
that awards golfers on speed as well as accuracy. This mode is especially fun
when playing head-to-head against a friend. Various cash prizes are awarded for
getting the first strike, longest drive, fewest strokes, and finishing first.
Once gamers tee off, it becomes an all-out first-person sprint by rapidly
pressing the L button. It’s a much different take on the sport, and a blast to
play with a buddy.
A new addition
this year is Skillzone mode, which is akin to Madden 2003’s Minicamp mode.
Skillzone challenges golfers in mini-games by placing targets in picturesque
driving ranges. Golfers will need the accuracy of a plastic surgeon in
Hollywood to successfully hit all the targets in each game which range from a
single-player timed target challenge to a game of head-to-head Horse,
appropriately renamed T-I-G-E-R (is there enough room on the disk for Tiger’s
ego?). Unfortunately, each game in Skillzone is basically the same: try and hit
the targets with approach shots from 30 – 300 yards. There is no putting or
chipping mini-game (hopefully something to look forward to in next year’s
version).
Scenario mode
returns with 50 various situations (versus last year’s 26) varying from a pitch
n’ putt par-3 challenge to salvaging an 18 hole score on the back nine in
typhoon-like conditions. Certain goals are set to complete each scenario, with
the gold medal goals requiring perfect play. Scenario mode offers an excellent
diversion once the Tiger Challenge is completed.
Rounding out the
game modes are the obligatory Match Play, Stroke Play, Skins, Practice, and
Tournament modes. Winning each hole is the key to the one-on-one Match play,
lowest number of strokes for the round wins Stroke Play, and each hole is
assigned an amount of dough in 4-player Skins competition. In practice mode,
pick any hole on any unlocked course, place the ball anywhere you want, and
start hacking away and refining your touch. Tournament mode throws golfers
right onto the tour to earn some extra coin. There are 26 tournaments to
compete in, some real, like the British Invitational at the hirsute St. Andrew’s
course across the pond, and some home to the EA-created courses such as the
Mayan Classic.
What makes Tiger
Woods the best golf game available are the controls. While most golf games
still use the three-button-pushes control (once to start, once for power, and
once for accuracy or spin), Tiger 2003 uses the analog control stick to simulate
a backswing and stroke. Pulling back on the joystick initiates the backswing,
and power can be adjusted by pulling back more or less. The golfer on-screen
will be right with you to help you gauge how far back the swing is. After
setting your back swing, pushing forward on the joystick begins the swing. The
faster and straighter the joystick is pushed forward, the further and straighter
the ball will fly. Effective draws and fades can be accomplished by altering
the plane of the joystick stroke, and really come into the game at higher levels
of play. In order to attain maximum power and accuracy, the backswing and
foreswing should all happen in one smooth motion, just as in real golf. This
control gives video golfers a feel for the swing, and eliminates much of the
quick-math associated with the three-button-push control. It’s also much more
accurate to a real golf swing, and is less likely to result on an 8-iron smashed
over your knee in frustration. Shots can be powered during the backswing by
frantically pressing the Z button, and spin can be controlled mid-flight with
the Z button as well. Flop shots, punch shots, and approaches are included and
can be selected with the B button when you’re feeling crafty.
The golfers in the
game come in all shapes and personalities. You can choose from one of many tour
pros, like Vijay Singh, Ty Tryon, or Lord Tiger himself, or opt for one of the
wackier characters such as mob boss Dominic “The Don” Donatello, the kilt-clad
Hamish McGregor, or sexy Val “Sunshine” Summers. Each golfer has their
strengths and weaknesses, so even if you out drive ‘em, they may still knock
them in from 50 feet on the green with consistency. Unfortunately, customizing
your own golfer is limited. The only player models available are those that are
already unlocked. There are no faces or shirts to choose from (aside from
customizing the shirt’s color), which really limits the extent to which a user
profile can really feel like it’s your own. Once a created profile is taken
into the game, prize money can be used on stats to beef them up.
The courses are
all true (as far as I can tell) to life. Pebble Beach is as gorgeous as ever,
Scottsdale sizzles in the desert heat, and St. Andrew’s is patchy and deep. The
three EA-created courses are purely ridiculous. With 600-plus yard holes,
gaping golf ball-eating chasms, and more bumps than a teenager’s acne-ridden
face on prom night, these courses are both challenging and frustrating, but
mostly frustrating. Each course is both grandiose and gorgeous. Mark Twain
once said “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” Mr. Twain obviously never walked some
of these beauties.
The graphics on
Tiger 2003 have been improved over last year’s version. Tiger 2003 boasts some
of the best character animation of any game, sports or itherwise. Golfers
replace divots, size up drives, and pout in frustration with all the fervor and
realism of Chi Chi Rodriguez. The close ups on the faces are a step below the
graphics in the Final Fantasy movie, but the clothes could use a bit of work at
times. Each course looks fantastic, with the exception of some of the poorly
textured hills. The minor gripes don’t intrude on the easy-on-the-eyes visuals,
making Tiger Woods 2003 one of the best-looking sports game out there.
The new breed of
golfers and golf fanatics have cultured sounds beyond the prissy golf clap of
yesteryears, and the whoops, hollers, and “Get in the hole!”s widely associated
with today’s game erupt on nearly every shot. Similarly, shank one and be
riddled with a chorus of groans. Ambient noise, such as waves crashing or
seabirds calling, bring the courses to life and really throw golfers into their
environments. There’s nothing like the cool sound of a Titanium head crushing a
golf ball off the tee or the satisfaction of the PLUNK as a ball caresses the
bottom of the cup, and EA nails these on the head. And what would golf be
without a Scottish fellow commentating on your game, be it commendation or
complaint? Real life commentators Bill Macatee and David Faherty run through
the lines in the game, but never really steal the show. Just like other EA
titles, EA sports tracks plagues Tiger 2003. More thrash-metal abounds with
Saliva, and Paul Oakenfeld and brit-rockers Ash are thrown in for good measure.
Consider yourself
a scratch golfer or just a hack? Tiger Woods 2003 won’t disappoint.
Tiger Woods PGA
Tour 2003 is rated E for everyone.
Gameplay: 9
The controls in
the game are excellent. Skillzone is fun, but could have been expanded more.
One major flaw in the game is the inability to save a game mid-round, meaning
once you start a round, you need to finish the whole damn thing or get no credit
at all. Other than that, it’s the best golf game out there.
Graphics: 8.5
The character
animations and close-ups are fantastic. Everything that is either close or far
on the course look great, but objects in mid-range, like the poorly textured
surrounding hills, look plastic.
Sound: 8
There is only so
much that can be done with sound in a golf game, but Tiger 2003 does it well.
Commentary is simpler than most EA games, but then again, golf is a simple
game.
Difficulty: Medium
There are some
options to adjust to make the game more difficult, such as caddy advice. Once
players get the hang of the controls, they’ll be getting more birdies than a kid
with a beebee gun.
Concept: 9
EA has done an
excellent job incorporating some creativity with simulation in the game. The
created characters are colorful and the created courses are treacherous.
Skillzone and Speed Golf are excellent modes which keep the game fresh.
Multiplayer: 8.5
There’s nothing to
do on-line with Tiger 2003 for the GameCube except compare tournament results.
The head-to-head modes in speed golf and Skillzone are incredibly entertaining,
while the alternating 4-player match play, stroke play, and skins modes are a
hoot and make for great drinking games (John Daly would be proud).
Overall: 9
Just like the real
thing, except you can be good at Tiger Woods 2003. Great graphics, great
presentation, and excellent controls make this a must for anyone who tangles
with 18 holes regularly.
