Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

[ComfortablyLomb]

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.

Having a three year old laptop makes it hard to want to ever buy a video game for it.

[Pratt75]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

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

This is a bit off topic as well but I could've sworn that Microsoft was promoting this at E3 that every game on the 360 would have custom soundtracks. I need to find a link for this somewhere.

[dbrandon]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

"However online, I havent seen too many people play under the tour difficulty which bums me out."

Can you set your own room up and make the settings default for everyone?
Thanks for the impressions and answers...most appreciated!

I play under tour difficulty. My gamertag is brandon.

[dbrandon]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

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

$$$$

[fishepa]

Re: Tiger Impressions Thread

I would also get the PC version, however my Pentium 1.5 probably couldn't handle it. So...

[toychri]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

The right stick controls the spin pre-shot. Depending were you place the marker, you will get back spin or top spin. I turn off the post shot spin and power boost. The game is not easy if you play that way.

[shermas]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

I've been playing this series for years... I can't even remember the first year I bought the game. This is just my .02:

The menus are worse... the interface is worse. There's a useless "auto zoom" feature when you're looking at items in the Pro Shop. You're asked to save after everything that you do (fortunately it only takes a few seconds). Even "Create a Face" has some slowdown issues where you can't see the changes you're making right away... difficult to explain, but you'll see...

I would LOVE an option to skip the cutscenes, too. I wonder if EA Execs have visions of us sitting around laughing when Montague (or whatever his name is) misses a putt and dances around for 12 seconds.... lame. I just want to play golf - I don't need to be entertained by the guy I'm playing against.

When I was playing the game last night, I couldn't find a way to access my stats (I'd earned some points and wanted to improve my golfer) unless I played against a Rival, then hit "x" to go to the "My Stats" page... unless I'm missing something, you can't "buy" more stats unless you you've just completed a Rivals match... that's moronic. I hope I'm missing something.

Like someone stated earlier, the atmosphere is nothing special, but it's never been a major factor in the TW series. I've never complained about sound before, but when you're teeing off, there's no "Ping" or anything when you smoke a drive. If I bomb a 275+ yard drive, shouldn't it sound different than a Lob Wedge out of deep grass? It's a minor issue, but, again, it seems like EA took a step back on portions of this game.

It IS harder, though. I tried to jump right in and play the first event of the season with my scrap created golfer and I got WORKED. I was +3 after 4 holes - something that NEVER happened to me in the previous game. The putting takes some getting used to, but it's not as bad as people are making it out to be... the distance meter isn't 100% spot on, though. I've hit some putts that should have been short (using a 50% swing), only to have them speed by the hole.

I don't think it's a major step up from 2005 at all, but the new courses are nice. The Rivals mode is fine (it's yet another version of the same putting, chipping, match play, etc challenges that we've had for years), there are new RTE's to play, online tourneys and a new PGA Tour season.

Plus, it seems like it's going to take longer to beef up my player. I played for a few hours last night and my guy is still pretty bad.... On some of the longer holes, I could barely hit my drive to the fairway and I was scrambling to save pars.

If you're a big fan of the series, you're going to get the game and play it. If you're new to the series, 2005 is probably a better game.... overall, I'm happy I bought it. The game is tougher and it's going to take a while to max out my player... the tourney scores should be closer and, if you're playing without all the aids, it's NOT easy (at least at the beginning).

[dave360]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

A few more impressions after lots more online and offline play

-Four player matches take a loooong time online. Our four player match took about 2 1/2 hours where in Links it's an hour and a half at most.
-Online is getting better each day. The first day the lag and slowdown made the game almost unplayable, now it's getting better.
-Online interface is utter crap. Why can't I set a password or set approval on a game. I've got four or five quits on my record where I tried to setup a game for me and 3 folks on my friends list, only to have total strangers come in and the game start.
-Why can we not setup a 3 player or 4 player game thru our friends list? This would make the above problem avoidable as well
-I'm pretty pleased with the scores I'm getting. Upper 60's to low 70's on all courses.
-The putting is much better this year and much harder
-Irons for me so far have been unpredictable like they are in real life.
-Rivals mode is still a lot of fun

Overall, if I were to score this game right now, I'd give it a 4/5. It's a lot of fun to play online with friends, and does hold your interest offline. The only downsides to the game are that it's still too easy, online interface is crap, and there's no widescreen option. Tiger is still a game I purchase every year simply because it's one of the few games that my wife and I can play together and have a good time. I still would love to see sliders to help with gameplay, but I won't hold my breath.

I have one question about XBOX live and this game. Is there anyway to have a guest play with you online. My wife would like to play in a four player game with us, and as of yet, I haven't figured out how to do it.

[wawasman]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Good to hear that the online play is improving. I played a bit last night offline and, to me at least, it is a lot harder than years past. Maybe I'm just out of sync with the controller, but I had a hard time with putting and with distance control overall. Granted, my player is a talent-less hack.
My gamertag is "wawasman", if I'm on, I'll be happy to play. Tour mode is preferential, but it's all good.

[inkcil]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

I must chime in with more gameplay thoughts:

The putting is harder if you don't use the "A" button to preview the putt angle. I really, really am kinda dumb for using this feature earlier, when Iknew I wanted a more challenging game on the green. So right now, putting is a bit harder. Also, if you tee off from the "hard" area, getting from the fairway to the green is more challenging to. As I play more, and tweak it, the game is becoming more challenging. It seems the hoel in ones and eagles on 4-par courses are going to be less frequent now. I may even leave "Gamebreaker" mode on if it things keep going this way. (One good thing about the gamebreaker that must be mentioned is this: it takes a loooong time to fill up - maybe once every 18 holes. So your'e not going to have a gamebreaker shot every 3 or 4 holes. It's pretty cool that they gave us an arcase feature that is so, so, "not in-your-face.")


My main concern now is that my created player may get too good one day. I may just refrain from continuing to use earned points to boost his skills if it comes to that. For all those avoiding the game b/c it may be too easy, at least rent it, turn of all assists, don't press "A" while on the greens, hit off the "hard" tee, and give the game a few hours. It's becoming more and more fun every hole I play. And I'm just playing by myself.

In a perfect golf game, you would never be able to "master" the game. I think to prevent yourself from mastering this game and it becomign too easy, is to not keep boosting your created player's attributes. Get him to a point where you know you CAN shoot a good round of golf with him, then stop boosting him up. That way, you're more likely to struggle at times, and when you DO have a good round, it's more likely you'll feel like you earned it.

[Flightwhite24]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

Accurate review as far as I am concerned. I think the key is getting your created golfer to a level where he/she can shoot a decent score as you stated in your review and the game will stay fresh, plus a cold ond

I must chime in with more gameplay thoughts:

The putting is harder if you don't use the "A" button to preview the putt angle. I really, really am kinda dumb for using this feature earlier, when Iknew I wanted a more challenging game on the green. So right now, putting is a bit harder. Also, if you tee off from the "hard" area, getting from the fairway to the green is more challenging to. As I play more, and tweak it, the game is becoming more challenging. It seems the hoel in ones and eagles on 4-par courses are going to be less frequent now. I may even leave "Gamebreaker" mode on if it things keep going this way. (One good thing about the gamebreaker that must be mentioned is this: it takes a loooong time to fill up - maybe once every 18 holes. So your'e not going to have a gamebreaker shot every 3 or 4 holes. It's pretty cool that they gave us an arcase feature that is so, so, "not in-your-face.")


My main concern now is that my created player may get too good one day. I may just refrain from continuing to use earned points to boost his skills if it comes to that. For all those avoiding the game b/c it may be too easy, at least rent it, turn of all assists, don't press "A" while on the greens, hit off the "hard" tee, and give the game a few hours. It's becoming more and more fun every hole I play. And I'm just playing by myself.

In a perfect golf game, you would never be able to "master" the game. I think to prevent yourself from mastering this game and it becomign too easy, is to not keep boosting your created player's attributes. Get him to a point where you know you CAN shoot a good round of golf with him, then stop boosting him up. That way, you're more likely to struggle at times, and when you DO have a good round, it's more likely you'll feel like you earned it.

[blacklover]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

I have a quick question.

Have they added Titleist equipment?

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

No, of course not.

[Shamrock_11]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

-Online is getting better each day. The first day the lag and slowdown made the game almost unplayable, now it's getting better.
-Online interface is utter crap. Why can't I set a password or set approval on a game. I've got four or five quits on my record where I tried to setup a game for me and 3 folks on my friends list, only to have total strangers come in and the game start.
-

That's what has me pulling my hair out in utter frustration right now. If I do have to play some random person online then I want to set approval to on so I can approve who I am going to be playing against. Why the hell does'nt that feature work? I create a match and end up playing some idiot using Tiger every single time. (Not good when you are using your created player) It never even asks me if I want to play this person, the game just starts up. Also, what is up with the disconnects? I've got 2 disconnects on my record, and I've never quit a game. I had one person quit on me after the 2nd hole, and I finished the second game out. Yet, both are listed as disconnects on my part.

[dave360]

Re: Console: Tiger Woods Impressions Thread

I've got like 6 disconnects and quits for the simple reason above. I'm not playing random folks in any game, much less a game of Tiger where I'm using my created guy, and they're using Tiger.