Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

[Zlax45]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

Debating whether to pick this up or not...Might wait until it hits 29.99.

[Triggerfish]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

Yes, its just like the lobby in Madden. Its funny that you asked that because I created a room last night under the Tour mode and sat there for 20 minutes by myself before I said screw it and left.

Great news!! Thanks and if i ever see your room ill be sure to join....!!

[Bobolini]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

[B]

The last golf game I've played was Links 2004. What is better or worse in Tiger 06 when comparing the game w/ Links 2004?

Thanks.

Steve can you provide a sticky impression for PC only Tiger Woods since it is a lot different setup and features.

[mjb2124]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

[B]

Steve can you provide a sticky impression for PC only Tiger Woods since it is a lot different setup and features.

I'll setup both as stickies...

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

I have the XBox version (bought it when I went into EB Games to buy the PC version yesterday and all four copies were reserved) and I've played ~100 holes. Overall, I'm finding it not living up to the lofty expectations I had for it based on the press and developer interviews. Even in Tour mode, where power boost and post shot spin are off, it's still waaaaaay too arcadish for my tastes. I don't get a testosterone rush from holing out a long pitch, or even middle iron approach shot every other round, or sinking 5 or more 30 foot plus putts every round.... when I know they've been cooked!

This kind of crap shouldn't be happening in Tour mode difficulty. I'm all for letting the arcade cheesers have their fun in default mode, but how about giving simmers the satisfaction of getting some real simulation value out of the Tour mode!? The new putting interface has its moments, but it's all too forgiving on long putts. Too many putts wind up looking choreographed!

And forget about online... it's a total disaster, a total lagothon! I've played two different rounds online and it's like playing underwater. Everything is slowed to a near crawl, even the controller interface. You have to guess with the gamepad because the feel is gone. I'm hearing the same complaints from PS2 owners about online play, so hopefully that's a server problem that can be fixed. Meanwhile, the game is unplayable online! I honestly couldn't recommend this game to anyone but gamers who like to play with all the arcade frills, ie. power boost, post shot spin, gamebreaker (blech!!), and who only play offline.

I'll be taking it back to EB Games on Monday and applying the trade in value of it for the PC version, which they say they will have extra copies of by then.

[inkcil]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

For the past few Tiger Woods games I have found getting hole in ones far to frequent as well as sinking shots from the fairway happening a little to much, is this the case with Tiger 06? Hole in ones are supposed to be special but if your sinking them every so often it makes it to unrealistic and riuns the experience. Does the ball still have that magnetic feel when going towards the hole especially in gamebreaker mode?

Picked up my copy last night and put about 3 hours in....it's my first time owning Tiger Woods since 99 on the PS One. I did own Links 2004 a few years ago and enjoyed it ok, but I had just started grad school and never really got into it.

Gamebreaker is not a mode, but more like a moment when you can acheive something special, kinda like in the EA BIG hoops game. As far as the magnetic feild of the ball to the hole is concerned, yes, it's there. A day ago I wouldn't have known what you were talking about. But there were times last night where I'd put from way out near the fringe and the cinimatic camera appears and I'd be like, "don't tell me I'm about to actually make this." The hole can be a suction cup at times.

My First Impressions:

It's kinda easy on default mode. I got an eagle on a 4 par with an iron shot off the fairway. I guess that's what people were complaining about with the series. I went on to play the front nine and can't remember what I shot. I was over par, though. Along the way I had birdies of 40 and 50 feet. I really feel like those birdies shouldn't have happened, but oh well. Also, when you are putting, press "A" on xbox and it will show you the trajectory of the ball to the hole. I don't know if this was like Tiger Vision, but it was close enough to make me feel like cheating for using it. I did like using the grid for putting, though. Overall, putting way too easy, especially using a created palyer with low attributes. But it's not just that the puts were too easy, the greens were very straight. I seldom landed in an area that didn't require a straight putt or a putt with just a tiny break. It looks like Tiger Proofing may fix this, though.

I had a gamebreaker moment too, which I think I used at the wrong moment, b/c it didn't seem to do anything for me I wasn't already doing myself.

I then turned off all the extras, which I weren't using anyway (except for the putting grid and the Y button which allows you to look forward to the pin), and played a full 18 in Tour Mode. I was -4 after the front four but the back nine was brutal and I finished 5 over. The course I was playing beat me, compared to the mechanics of putting and swinging providing the challenge, if that makes any sense. So I think the key to finding this game challenging is to play on hard courses.

Then I played for a few minutes in rivals mode, which was very easy. I beat the first 3 challengers with ease. Not only that, but then on my 4th challenge I was sent back in time. I beat this old man in a chipping contest where we chipped out of the sand and stuff like that. Man, I was chipping out of the sand and getting the ball right in the hole. Beginners luck? I dunno. But now I see why people complain about the difficulty of the game. It's so weird, it's like, one hole I double bogey, the next I birdie. Then I hit it off the tee into the trees, but on my fourth shot from the edge of the green I sink a 50 foot put for par. I don't get it. The greens are waaaaay too forgiving.

Well, is the game fun? Yes, and no. It's cool now b/c it's new and I haven't played TW in over 2 years and haven't owned it in 6. But once I get good, I might have problems with it. It is very engrossing and addictive to be in rivals mode though, b/c although it was easy, you're just curious to keep going and playing to see if it will get tougher and it really shines a light on the competitiveness of the game of golf.

Last I will say that the atmosphere in this game is horrible. The EA trax are ok, and don't get in the way. There is no custom soundtrack, but you can select what EA trax you want to play and where you want to hear them, either in-game or menu. But the announcer is horrible. He isn't even announcing golf, IMO. He's like my little brother in my ear. He's always saying something dumb, especially if you are having a bad hole. I can't beleive more people haven't complained about the announcing in this game. And where are the fans? If I am playing in a PGA Tour event, where are the people on the other side of the rope? Am I missing something? Even TW on the PS1 had the cardboard cutouts clapping on the sidelines. Why are there no fans and no galleries, and no decent announcing. This really takes a whole lot away from the game, IMO. The lack of TV style presentation is very, very, disappointing.

I don't know if I like the game yet, I need a few more days with it.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

I've gotten two holes in one so far. Not a good sign. I will note that both were hit on very short par 3s with easy pins, no wind, soft greens, the white tees, but on tour difficulty. I've noticed with the tougher pin placements that it's actually very difficult to get approach shots close to the cup, which is a good sign. Still enjoying it though... rounds in the mid 70s with my relatively unskilled created golfer on tour difficulty with pretty much easy all around settings. I will say that this is the best of the PS2 Tiger games... and by a bit. Whether or not it's your cup of tea is another question.

[jmood88]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

I have never understood why they need to have a new golf game out every year.

[mjb2124]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

I have never understood why they need to have a new golf game out every year.

Same reason they do for every sport (although to a lesser extent).

Courses change, different courses are added, golfers change, new golfers to the pro scene are added, different equipment from year to year etc...

Granted they could probably just supply add-ons from year to year, but really, that could be said of any sports game. Just update rosters from year to year and supply different add-ons.

[WhiskeyD0G]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Does money talk THAT MUCH?? Why is it that there are no custom soundtracks in this year's version, there have been custom soundtracks every year except for this one. I can only hope that the 360 version will have them as I will be trading this game in for credit.

[mjb2124]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Does money talk THAT MUCH?? Why is it that there are no custom soundtracks in this year's version, there have been custom soundtracks every year except for this one. I can only hope that the 360 version will have them as I will be trading this game in for credit.

You're trading it in because of custom soundtracks?

I'm not sure if the 360 version has custom soundtracks, but my guess is no. From what I understand, the 360 version will have even less courses than this version. So I have a feeling that version will be slimmed down quite a bit.

[Pratt75]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Every game on the 360 is supposed to have custom soundtracks I thought, right?

[Badgun]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Thanks for the impressions guys, you definitely saved me $50. I fall for it every year, but this time I'm not. I'll go back and finish Hot Shots Fore as it presents far more of a challenge than this game. Maybe one day, EA will realize the same thing they finally did with their Nascar game...that while a lot of people like making 2 holes in one per round and seeing flames behind their ball, most people are just looking for something that at least resembles the sport in some way.

I'll just wait for my free copy of the pc version to get here...I already know it's a great game/

[mjb2124]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Every game on the 360 is supposed to have custom soundtracks I thought, right?

I don't know. I would think that the developers for each game would have to allow for that to happen.

[sbmnky]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

This is a bit off topic, but provides some validity to my madness! I was really debating picking up TW'06 this year for Xbox. Based on the articles I've ready and impressions on this thread, I finally decided that golf games are useless on the console! Why not pick up a golf game for the PC where you can download and create custom courses? It really adds to the playability of the game, plus you don't have to get a new golf game EVERY year. There can't be that many features on a golf game to update it every year...right? I'll be sticking with TW for PC and the rest of my sports gaming for console.