Tiger Woods PGA Tour '06

Reviewed by David Gonzales
March 2, 2006

Developer: Electronic Arts Website: Click Here Platform(s): XBOX 360, XBOX, PS2, PSP, GameCube, PC Players: 1-4 (XBOX Live Enabled) ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

Tiger on the fairway.

The best-selling golf franchise debuts on the Xbox 360, and the opening theme, "Stand Up" by the Dave Matthews Band demonstrates what EA Sports has done over the competition. The demo that ensues shows in immaculate detail the ocean, fairway, and lighting effects of the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. This is just one of the examples demonstrating the power of the next generation Xbox 360 console. The main menu offers seven different game play modes – Stroke, Match, Skins, Stableford, Ultimate Shot, Best Ball, and Four Ball. These modes not only provide entertaining golf experiences for a single player on such courses as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No. 2, TPC Sawgrass, and the Riviera Country Club (just to name a few), they provide hours of exciting and competitive golf for up to four players. Not all courses and golfers are available at the start; you must unlock them by completing mini-games in Career Mode (now a constant new feature in EA titles). Tiger Woods himself joins the likes of Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, and John Daly as playable professionals. Whether you use the EA Gameface to create your own detail-specific character or choose any of the PGA aficionados, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '06 is a beautiful golf experience and is rendered magnificently on the Xbox 360.

One of the added features is the ability of a player to express themselves verbally and animatedly before or after a wayward slice or a desperately needed birdie. In high detail, I was able to see the ball's topspin as it soared through the air displaying its dimples and Nike logo. Pretty awesome stuff! Another feature this year is the EA Gameface. You can morph your created character to your heart's desire, customize the wardrobe, and choose specific animations. The greens are a little more difficult to read, but just like any course on the PGA Tour, this makes for a more realistic golf experience. With the environmental sounds and crisp graphics, EA debuts on the Xbox 360 the most realistic golf game to date. The numerous game modes and career modes provide excellent replay ability.

EA comes out with a new Tiger Woods PGA Tour each year, and each year its graphics and animation improve. Just when you think they couldn't do any better...they do. With a few tweaks to the putting game and additional courses, EA Sports can continue to hold the title of the Sports Kings of the next generation. I give this game a high evolution factor because this is simply a must-own title for anyone fortunate enough to get their hands on an Xbox 360. It has enough modes and features to provide any golf enthusiast (or gamer, for that matter) with hours of competitive entertainment.