Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008
Reviewed by Jimmy Blaze
jblaze@sportsbyline.com

After playing a very mediocre version of this game last year, I was less than enthusiastic about sitting in front of the console to play EA’s latest installment of Tiger Woods ‘08 PGA Tour.  After I turned my Wii on, last year’s game was a distant memory.  There are three new features that really make the new version a golfer’s dream: Gamer Net, Game Face, and Shot Confidence.

 “Gamer Net,” which allows you to save your game locally and watch it later—or, if you should manage to hit one of the unbelievable shots that no one could possibly believe, you can upload your game for view and bragging rights among other players in the online community.  Fellow gamers can also review your online clips and try to beat your accomplishments under the same conditions that you faced.  Through “Gamer Net” you can also challenge the records and feats of producers that play only to create challenges for online gamers to beat—a real testament to EA’s commitment to network technology.   

“Game Face” allows you to import digital photographs of yourself, line up strategic points on the digital face provided by EA, and become a ‘real’ part of the game.  Before this feature was extremely lacking in that most of the uploaded photography looked quite fake and unrealistic when in motion.  EA’s 2008 Game Face is—to put it simply—sweet!  I looked like I could actually play golf, which—of you’ve seen my game—is an amazing accomplishment.

“Shot Confidence” is by far the best new feature.  It is sort of like a digital caddy, which is one of the benefits that rarely translates into golf video games.  If you’ve ever had the privilege of playing with a caddy, then you will certainly appreciate this feature.  As you plan your shot and are considering fade, draw, and other approach options, “shot confidence” comes in extremely handy and allows you to think all the way through the shot, the quintessential requirement in this game (and a real game of golf).

Remembering the days of Arnold Palmer Golf on Sega Genesis, an incredibly fun game that tried little to meet the challenges of the sport, I am happy to see that EA has gone through such great lengths to produce a game that’s not only exciting, but one that captures well the many nuances of the ever-challenging game of golf. 

For pure fun, you simply must play this game on the Wii.  It’s all the fun that comes with the Playstation and Xbox systems, with an added physicality—a must in the growing age of couch potato gamers. 

Learn more about Game Face on You Tube | See The Tiger Woods Big Drive Ad on You Tube

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