Back in the heady days of the Sega Genesis 32X Phoenix Game's Victor Alvarez was known as the Danny Noonan of "36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples." He was particularly fond of the original Genesis version which featured the occasional "Caddyshack" reference when you made a hole in one ('It's in the hole!')
In retrospect, those games were simplistic but endearing. They encouraged a Street Fighter-esque level of smack talk on a more refined scale. You enjoyed harassing your buddies when they shot a bogey, but no one got their feelings hurt.
Oh how things change. Phoenix Games doesn't know if it's them or the games, but the near-photorealistic qualities of new golf games seems to make the smack talk crisper as well. With limitless fine tuning at your fingertips and spot-on commentating by the best in snooty golf commentators, there's no end to the ways you and your friends can criticize each other while getting in 18.
Tiger Woods has done for serious golf games what Madden did for football, and the new "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09" is another fine installment in the series. Phoenix Games thought it would be difficult for EA to top last year's title - which was stellar. For the most part they were right. Unlike a football game that has rosters and endless player options to fine tune every year, golf is essentially golf year in and year out. The fact that EA has managed to convince us to buy a new golf game every year is a testament to their ability to change the game enough to make it worth your green to hit the greens.
Jamie gets teed off with Tiger Woods 2009 as he tries to score an ace in the hole achievement.
David Kenson writes "Tiger Woods 12 manages to squeeze out a few more improvements on Tiger Woods 11's already full rostrum of options. Like last year, MotionPlus allows the game to capture a one-to-one backwards and forwards stroke, but now it adds the Balance board into the swing equation for the first time."
He provides a comparison of the different version of Tiger on the Wii, which highlights the up-and-down nature of the EA franchise.
That's a very thorough look at the last five titles in the series as compared to the latest. I have to say that I'm occasionally addicted to golf games, although I prefer them on the arcade-y side (I loved Sensi Golf on the Amiga!). If I take the plunge again this will be really helpful!
Not 100% sure about using the balance board. I suppose it isn't as vigorous as Raving Rabbids but the board isn't as stable as a golf course. Interesting use of the board though.
Good grief... well I guess if I played golf this could be an amazing teaching tool. As I don't Ill have to play it with features all turned off if I want any hope of success. Still good for EA to at least be trying to make use of the Wii peripherals and iterating on a franchise on a console where most developers just pump out lazy ports.
Teh at Gogaminggiant.com takes a look at the Tiger Woods franchise and its decline of quality over the years. Through the use of facts and cultural puns, Teh brings us an opinion piece that you don't want to miss out on anytime soon.
The last and best golfing game I played was Links 2004 for the Xbox. It was an absolute blast with 3 other friends or through the old XSN leagues. I miss that game.
I've always hated golf games, I just dont see the lure of golfing games since they're both so boring.
Also, yes it would be fun to have the south park tiger woods fighting game. Pre-nup power-up!
This is quite off topic but....
whats absolutely crazy, I feel bad for Tiger, sure, he is a cheating a-hole, but he had to give his wife like 500 million dollars, this is an embarrasment, think about it, his stupid wife get's 500 million for not putting out, what a stain on society.
While some guy's wife who gets the shit beat out of her by his druken worthless ass, gets half a carton of newports and some state paid reconstructive surgery.
There should be a cap for what a woman is entitled to, she does nothing and gets everything.
The limit a woman should be allowed to get in a divorce should be like $50,000
alright lady, go off on you own, heres 50 g's, shiiiiit, Tigers wife would be blowing him right now then giving him a pedicure if she knew leaving only ment 50 g's.