| Introduction
Knowing as much about golf as I do about flower arranging,
I was a little surprised when this landed on my desk
a few weeks ago. I've attempted to play 'real' golf
before, only to hold up all the other players on the
course and produce a rather large hole where both the
ball and tee used to reside. Electronic golf is a whole
different matter though, and while there are so many
titles out now, game developers have been striving for
some time to produce the definitive version. Tiger Woods
obviously lends a lot of clout to any golfing title,
but is it playable?
GamePlay
There's not much to say about golf as it's quite
a straightforward game, at least superficially. Tiger
Woods PGA Tour Golf 2002 allows you to play this 'good
walk sport' in a range of different gaming modes and
there should be at least one to satisfy your golfing
needs.
'Play Now' throws you straight into golf's most challenging
scenarios and is not for the fainthearted as it really
is quite difficult. 'Shootout' is a kind of "last
man standing" affair where you'll discover who
really is the best with a shootout over random holes.
Finally, there's the Championship Mode (PGA TOUR Tournament),
which has you battling it out over two rounds directly
against CPU players.
Options are plentiful in this title, so selecting
'Practice mode' allows you to sample any one of the
18 holes in a variety of weather conditions. These include
fine, overcast, stormy, or you may even choose the random
option, all of which add an extra edge to the game and
actually change the 'feel' of the hole you're currently
attempting. There's also the question of overall difficulty,
and here you can choose from Amateur or Pro. In addition,
you can also select from twelve PGA professionals that
can join you on the fairway.
The multiplayer options are quite extensive and these
can be approached in two very different ways. First,
you can just use a single GBA and have a golfing tournament
where you take turns using the GBA with the other players;
this works fine except of course for the waiting part
until it's your turn. Then there's also a link-up feature
that remarkably runs from just one copy of the game.
Saving is all done automatically upon the completion
of each hole, which won’t be everyone’s ideal option,
but at least the developers have avoided a password
system. One strange feature here is that link-up multiplayer
tournaments can't be saved, which is a real shame as
this would have added endless possibilities and pleased
many mobile golfing enthusiasts.
Controls
The controls are a little tricky to start with, so
you might find yourself with the instruction booklet
on your knee during your first few attempts. It's all
pretty standard for a golfing SIM though, with the power
and direction of the ball controlled by a 'swing-o-meter'--a
useful visual indication of what your onscreen golfer
is doing. There's also a practice section, which allows
you to try your hand at any of the 18 holes available,
but an extensive tutorial with a virtual golfing coach
would have been a far better option.
Graphics
The front-end presentation in this title is outstanding
and the whole thing is a little like watching a golf
tournament on TV, with the flashy graphics dominating
the stats and leader boards. Things get even better
once you're actually playing the game, as the animation
of Tiger Woods is outstanding. Unfortunately, this is
where the game peaks, and you get the feeling that the
developer’s deadline came into play as the actual fairways
and terrain feel rather flat and uninspiring. This affects
the whole gaming experience, and a little more effort
would have made the game a lot more immersive.
Sound & Music
Audiowise, Tiger Woods matches its visuals and pulls
out some wonderful samples to enhance the overall atmosphere
of the game. You really do get the impression that you’re
playing outside, with various wildlife sounds and the
spectators applauding your more impressive shots. This
is all linked together with some pleasing music between
holes, and it would be nice if all GBA titles would
even closely aspire to sound this good.
Final Comments
Possibly the biggest problem with this title is its
length. With only one 18-hole course available, you'll
find you've exhausted all the gameplay options in very
little time. This is addressed on some levels by the
multiplayer options, but golf enthusiasts will still
be frustrated with the lack of recorded statistics offered.
On the plus side, it does look and sound wonderful,
and it features some of the best presentation I've ever
seen in a GBA title. However, as an 'arcade' golf simulator,
this isn't everyone’s ideal approach to an electronic
version of the game. Overall, it's a pretty mixed bag
and one of those titles that definitely requires a 'try
before you buy'.
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