Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004 – PC – Review

To use a manual or not, that is the question, at least in my house, that is….

My husband’s motto is that game manuals are for sissies, and he prefers to dive right in whatever game he’s currently trying out. My opinion is that the manual exists for a reason, and that reason is for me to read it _before_ I play the game. This made for some interesting conversations around the computer. Suffice it to say, that at the end of the day, we both still kept our former opinions about the matter.

So what, you may be asking yourself? Well, many people who will be playing this game will be already familiar with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 and won’t have to learn how to play, but there will also be some (like ourselves) who’re not familiar with previous versions of this program, and then a good manual is a good thing to own. The manual for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is detailed in some aspects and lacking in others, and the layout is a little confusing in its logic, but for the most part it is an adequate one. Newcomers to this series will be happy to know that all of the game’s basic facts, and many of the more subtle nuances of gameplay, can be found in the manual.

The PC version of Tiger Woods 2004 is truly a simulation, and differs slightly from the console versions in this focus over the more arcade elements. There is quite an RPG flavor to the game, with its incredible Create a Golfer editor that allows for the creation of a golfer who can either look uncannily like yourself, the ugliest player to grace a green, or somewhere in-between. Other RPG elements include the ability to earn money for attributes, golf lessons, cool golf equipment, clothes and other accessories.

On starting, players will first need to create a new golfer. Here, they can choose to modify the physical appearance of a standard golfer to create a unique entity. My husband’s player looked very much like himself, down to the type of sunglasses he wears, but my attempt wasn’t so successful, due to the lack of a height adjustment. My player was a giant, and trying to make her wider to look shorter just made her have a pin-head in comparison to the rest of her body. Oh well…..anyway, this part is quite hilarious and can cause an hour to go by easily before even getting into the game.

There are several different modes of play to choose from when beginning a new game. The main ones are Career Mode and Simulation Mode. In Career Mode, players can choose to play a World Tour, which is primarily a single-player mode that eases players in to gameplay with directed goals and golf lessons; play in Tournaments, which pits players against computer players with directed goals and golf lessons; and Practice, where players can practice for free.

In both the World Tour and Tournaments, players will first have to go through a couple of golf lessons to even begin play. These lessons will add specific swings to the golfer’s repertoire, which can then be used in general play. As the game progresses, more advanced lessons are added, for a total of nineteen in all. Of course, these lessons cost the big bucks, but there’s loads of money to be earned on the fairway! World Tour is an excellent place for beginners to begin in the career mode, as the format is casual and not tournament focused. Money and attribute points are earned for placing in the top three spots in the events, which can then be applied to lessons, accessories for the Pro Shop or more attribute points. The Tournament mode is more structured, with an emphasis on earning skill levels to advance to harder competitions and higher rated levels. In both Tournament and World Tour modes, not all of the courses are available at once and must be unlocked.

In Simulation Mode, all 18 courses are open at once, with 14 different game types available in either a Casual Round or Tournament, which are variations on standard play with different numbers of players, shots and rules. Several of these game types are new, such as Skills, Stableford and Longshot. Season play features PGA tour play, and there is a Practice mode available in Simulation Mode, as well as in Career Mode.

TrueSwing is the recommended swing method, and it is equally satisfying and difficult. I could really empathize with my player pitching a conniption fit on the grass after a particularly horrible shot. 2-and 3-click swing is also available, but just isn’t quite as realistic feeling as the TrueSwing method.

The interface imparts an incredible amount of information on the conditions of the greens, the elevation of the hole as related to your position, the distance to the hole, an overhead map, a Shot Target camera mode which allows users to switch clubs and actually see the visual difference in possible shots (Wow!) toward a hole, and just too many details to list all of them. Toggling back and forth between information on the taskbar and the menus is streamlined, and is one of the best interfaces I’ve had the pleasure to encounter in a software program.

As mentioned earlier, the manual is good, but could be better, mostly in the organizing of the information which is grouped oddly in places. The explanations of the types of swings and the general mechanics of playing a simulated game of golf are very well explained, but explanations of the various modes of play and tours aren’t so well defined.

The look of the game is incredible, even if it is one main color, green. Tiger looks just like he should, and the ability of the Game Face mode to recreate a golfing clone has to be seen to be believed. Short people are underrepresented here, though, as all the body types begin as tall and thin. The thinness can be toggled, but not the height. Adding accessories from the Pro Shop just adds to the fun, and name brand items can be added, as well, by earning sponsorships. Hopefully EA will be adding this capability to all their sports lineup.

The music is decent, but nothing to get excited about. The tunes are pretty run-of-the-mill “techno” sounding arrangements, and most players will probably turn on their own tunes sooner or later, if they desire music with their game. The sound effects are great, and the background noises of the crowd, water, the slap of the club all sound just like they should. The commentators are superb, and impart the exact amount of commentary to be entertaining and informative, without being annoying.

It’s hard to judge exactly how a new edition of an existing series compares when it’s the first one to be played. However, the many new additions of courses, modes of play, and the ultra cool Game Face creator, plus improved graphics, make for a good case to upgrade. In my case, the ability to improve the golfer’s skills, attributes, and style by accessorizing is the ultimate draw to this game; it really gives an incentive to continue playing in Career Mode. My husband likes a more direct approach to golf, and would probably prefer a console version, but he’s still having a wonderful time with this program despite the muted screams of anguish emanating frequently from the front of the house. With so many different modes and game types, there’s truly something here for every type of sports and simulation fan, even if it is a difficult game to play in the beginning. Perseverance does pay off, though, and the gameplay gets easier. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is an exciting golf sim, and has set the standard that everyone else is going to have to reach.

Gameplay: 9.5
This is primarily a simulation game, with golf the mode of play. Gameplay at first is extremely hard with the use of the TrueSwing method, but after taking lessons and practicing, it does get easier. Building up skill levels and attribute points helps, as well. The gameplay is logically difficult, though, as the game of golf is inherently a delicate balance of mostly skill, but sometimes just plain bad conditions, which is a whole ‘nuther cry from being difficult because of bad controls or game design. It’s called “challenge”, baby.

Graphics: 8
The characters are fantastic, and the backgrounds are good, albeit a uniform green. There is some choppiness at times with the trees.

Sound: 8
The music selection on the PC version is different from that of the console versions, I don’t know why. What is here is good, but nothing exciting. The commentators’ voices are well-done, and the ambient sounds are realistic.

Difficulty: Hard
This game is very hard! However, practice makes better, and the manual’s indepth treatment of shot information is helpful.

Concept: 9
A great concept with a great execution!

Multiplayer: 8.5
Playing online as yourself against others is sure to increase the staying power of this game, and the Game Face makes it much more personal. Available only in North America currently.

Overall: 9.2
This is truly a wonderful golf simulation game, and one that deserves praise for its attention to detail and the staggering amount of features. This game isn’t for wimps, though, and only the serious need apply. The RPG elements are fantastic and help with the learning curve, and the Game Face is more fun than can be adequately described. An excellent choice for any family’s software library, and one that is sure to please golf fans everywhere!