Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 : Review : Playstation 3 : Web Wombat

The man that was in the news for weeks for his off course discrepancies is back playing golf and featuring in his latest game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11.

It seems that a string of hookers and a divorce can't hold Tiger down.

So what of his latest game? Lets find out.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is very similar to 08 and 09 with the exception of a few new features for 2011.

True Aim is the latest feature to join the franchise. Basically, True Aim takes away the numerous visual assists that come with the golf-game territory, forcing the player to rely solely on their own eyes, a birds eye GPS view and your own intuition.

Be warned - True Aim has got to be one of the hardest gaming modes known to man, it's almost as frustrating as playing golf for real!

With practice, you can eventually master your playing skills using the True Aim format - that said, I don't see why you would want to unless you were trying to impress a group of friends... and even then, that's kind of lame.

Having said that, this option does bode well for hardcore gamers seeking the ultimate challenge and who felt that previous titles in the franchise were tailored for casual mainstream acceptance.

Another new feature is the Focus system, unlike True Aim this system is more arcady.

Focus is represented by a red circle that wraps around your swing metre. Every time you use an artificial boost during a match this metre depletes.

Mashing the X button for an extra powerful tee shot, target the green more precisely using the zoom and X button, or add spin to the ball in mid-air all cost a small amount of your Focus metre.

The most important and most costly use of the Focus metre, is the use of Putt Preview.

Previously, Putt Preview was restricted to one use per hole - now it's available as many times as your Focus metre allows.

Focus is replenished for every stroke you take without using any of the aforementioned abilities. This new system adds a sense of strategic game-play, do you save your Focus for that killer putt on the last hole, or use some of it at the start to rip a 300 yard drive?

Also the XP currency system has been modified for a more stream lined experience. XP currency is used for leveling-up custom characters and buying gear at the Pro Shop (also for custom characters).

Character customising is relatively easy and the menus are well layed out. However, everything is very expensive so you'll find yourself playing through the Skill Challenges to help speed up the leveling process.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 now has an expanded multiplayer menu that includes a Team Play option, where groups of up to 24 players can go hole-for-hole (Tiger knows about this!) in a Ryder Cup-style challenge.

The Ryder Cup is by far the bread and butter of career mode, offering a welcome change of pace from the usual scheduled tournaments.

Visually, the game for 2011 looks pretty much the same as previous titles, character models are very similar to one another and can look awkward on screen at times. There is also the issue with the cardboard cutout style crowds that looked blurred and downright unappealing.

In saying that, none of the visuals detract from the game-play, Tiger Woods 11 is still a solid golf-game. The interface and control systems work well and provide an easy environment for the gamer to enjoy.

The game as a whole is great and is fun to play for awhile, but, Tiger Woods 11 is more of a reshuffle rather than a new experience, and that's it's biggest downfall.

For newcomers to the franchise it's certainly well worth a look in, and for the seasoned pro, it all comes down to whether or not True Aim and five new courses are enough to entice you for another round on the tour.

Game: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
System: Playstation 3
Developer: Tiburon
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Rating: 70%

(Ratings Key/Explanation)

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