Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
November 27,2006 - EA’s Tiger Woods series has been the default choice for anyone looking for a golf game for any platform. The series has always had solid gameplay and a wealth of features, and this year’s installment is no different. As of last year’s 06 edition, the game has seen a bit of a content split between the various consoles. The Xbox and Playstation 2 versions have changed very little, while the Xbox 360 version has seen a drastic improvement.

The biggest difference between the current and next-gen versions of Tiger Woods 07 is the amount of content included in each of them. The current-gen systems offer up 21 courses as compared to the 360’s 12. Though the 360 may have fewer courses than the current-gen versions, it still has double what last year’s version had. The scenario is similar when it comes to the number of pro players available. The current-gen versions feature 21 Pros and a host of fictional characters, while the 360 version has 15 Pros and a good number of fictional players.

Whichever version you choose, you’ll have no shortage of things to do. You can jump into the Team Tour mode on the PS2 and Xbox, which has you flying around the world, playing against many different fictional and pro golfers. When you win a match against one of these opponents, you’ll be able to add them to your team. The Xbox 360 has the Tiger Challenge, which is similar, but does not have you manage a team. You can take your golfer through the entire PGA Tour season if you like, or you can simply jump into an exhibition event, choosing from one of the many standard and not so standard game types. One of these is One Ball, where you and your opponent share the same ball. The idea here is to set your opponent up for a difficult shot so that you are the one able to finally put the ball into the hole. There are a few rules though, you can’t just hit the ball anywhere and have your opponent shoot from there. You have a large circle that designates the play area, and you must put your shot in that circle. It’s a nice new mode that works well, though it’s more fun to play it online than it is against the AI.

If playing against computer controlled opponents isn’t your thing, then there’s a robust online component for you to jump into. The online mode features ranked and unranked rounds, as well as daily tournaments. You can play any of the standard or more unorthodox match types online as well. The performance online was very good, though at times the swing felt a little slower than it normally does. Overall though, the game played very well online, even with four players.

Tiger’s create a golfer feature has always been one of the highlights of the series. You could easily create a golfer in your own image if you wanted to, or make a totally weird and off the wall character. The creation is deep enough to allow both kinds. This year’s version hasn’t changed very much, though it has streamlined things to make creating a golfer easier. The mode hasn’t been dumbed down, it’s just been streamlined. You can customize just about every aspect of your golfer, including their animations and voice. What is missing is a create a course feature. You can create your own custom course by picking holes from any of the game’s included courses, but you can’t create one from scratch.

On the current-gen consoles, the gameplay is a mix between that of the 05 and 06 versions. You have the option to choose swing controls from either version. The same is true for the putting mechanics. You can select from either the 05 or 06 systems. Both of these systems work well, and it’s just a matter of which one you prefer. The 360 version plays almost exactly as last year’s did, which wasn’t bad to begin with. The swing mechanics are mostly unchanged from last year’s version.

Regardless of the version, the game plays wonderfully. It is very easy to get into for the novice golfer, but will offer a challenge to the more hardcore golfers that want things more difficult. One key difference between the different versions is the way experience is handled. On the current-gen consoles, you earn points as you play, which you can then spend on attributes. The 360 version breaks from this. Instead of assigning points to skills yourself, your skills will improve as you use them. You can train skills by playing various training mini-games, but you won’t be able to simply sit down and max-out your golfer without ever hitting the links for real. Your skills have an initial cap, and in order to raise that cap, you’ll need to go out and actually play some golf. Winning rounds will earn you experience, and with enough experience, your skill caps will be raised.

Tiger Woods 07 is a very good looking game no matter what platform you play it on. The Xbox and PS2 versions manage to look better than they did last year. This has to do with a few clever lighting tricks they used, along with the addition of some small environmental details like birds flying over the greens. The courses look more lifelike than they did before. Similarly, the golfers look great. They have a good bit of detail on them and they animate smoothly. The Xbox 360 version is easily the best looking version, but that’s to be expected given the significantly more powerful graphics processor it contains.

The audio experience is good, but could definitely use some improvement. The ambient course audio is well done as always, as are the sounds of the ball strikes and crowds. What’s lacking is the commentary. After many years of service, David Feherty and Gary McCord have grown a little bit long in the tooth. Their commentary is mostly accurate, but we’ve been listening to them for so many years and hearing much of the same commentary year in and year out. Some fresh vocal talent could go a long way to keeping this series from getting stale. The music isn’t anything to write home about either. It’s mostly electronic music, which feels a little out of place in a golf game.

If you’re looking for a golf game, Tiger Woods 07 is a great choice. It plays well, has a fantastic create a golfer mode, and has a host of different ways to play. If you have an Xbox 360, this version is much improved over last year’s offering. If you don’t, the current-gen versions offer a solid golf game with a ton of content. Whichever version you choose, you’ll be getting a great golf experience.

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