The Tiger Woods PGA Tour series has been remarkably consistent from year to year, adding minor enhancements here and there to an already solid gameplay experience. This year introduces Total Swing Control, which is being touted as the “most significant leap forward in swing mechanics in over a decade.” Will this revamped gameplay mechanic make Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 a hole-in-one, or will it rest in the bunker?
| Release Date | March 27, 2012 |
| Genre | Sports |
| Platforms | PS3/360 |
| Developer | EA Tiburon |
| Price | $59.99 US |
| ESRB Rating | Everyone |
| Players | 1-4 |
| Review Copy Provided by | Electronic Arts |
Country Clubs
The first thing I noticed when I booted up the game disc was the brand-new menu, which gave each tab a more connected feel. The menu is a new left-to-right tab with a clean and organized look. Everything is straightforward to find, and navigation will be easy with a Move controller. Among the latest additions to this menu is a section for Country Clubs. This option is a fascinating new concept in the game this year, mimicking a clan feel similar to that found in first-person shooters or the EA Sports Hockey League from the NHL series. While I couldn’t do too much with this since there weren’t many active clubs compared to the ones I tried to join, I could see the enjoyment in it.
As you play the game after you join one of these Country Clubs, you’ll start earning Status Points with each round you play anywhere in the game. These Status Points are used to rank up against your teammates, ranging from just a simple member to the Club Champion. The nice perk about being the Club Champion is that you can go into a special tournament (you can also set up club tournaments to compete against your teammates) against the other Club Champions from the various Country Clubs. It’s a great idea that can only be expanded upon.
Graphics
As you step on the course for the first time, you notice how much the visuals have improved. Everything looks so much better. The lighting seems to be the main focus, with the sunlight reflecting beautifully off the water, and the vegetation has never looked so lifelike. The golfers look better than ever, and even the crowds seem to have more polish. My only negative feedback about the visuals is a noticeable stutter on some drives. It isn’t consistent enough to be a detriment, though. I sense from Tiger Woods as I play that EA Tiburon focused on the polish without having to add a ton to the game.
Total Swing Control
The most significant gameplay improvement this year is Total Swing Control. At first, I disliked this new mechanic because I felt it was too sensitive, but after playing a few rounds with it and getting a good feel for it, I can honestly say that this is a massive step in the right direction for the series. It does give you total control over your swing. The distance of your ball now is focused on the tempo of your swing, which you can see on your Swing Meter, gives a great understanding of exactly how the ball was hit and what could be improved upon and also allows you to set your sweet spot exactly where you need it to be to get the best possible shot. Players can also set up their shots by dragging the aiming marker forward or back to create any shot they can think of. It’s incredible that this has just been introduced to the game; it’s a great new way to play.
Tiger Legacy Challenges
Do you ever want to play as Toddler Tiger? Now you can with the Tiger Legacy Challenges. I’m a bit mixed on this mode. It’s different and a nice side challenge to the other modes in the game. However, I do feel that it’s mostly Tiger promotion. You get each Tiger from the 10 different eras to play with after you complete each event, along with Toddler Rory and Toddler Rickie when you complete the game mode. I’m sure players would have much rather had some other golfers from today or even legendary golfers. Instead, we get a whole lot of Tiger. Sigh.
Coins
Coins are another new feature of Tiger ’13, which is the in-game currency and are earned as long as you’re connected to the EA servers. The great thing about these coins is that you can purchase rounds at downloadable courses instead of shelling out cash for each. You can buy 1, 2, or 3 rounds on a course at a time. You can also purchase boost pins, which give you, you guessed it, boosts. Each boost pin has a level that can be leveled in three tiers. The first level is bronze, followed by silver, and then gold, with the boost ability increasing each time.
Final Thoughts
Tiger Woods PGA Tour has undergone significant improvements, both visually and in gameplay. There’s a lot of content for golf fans to be excited about, and the entire feeling of the game is positive. The presentation looks better than ever, making you feel like you’re on the course. Total Swing Control will be around for many years and will be an excellent improvement, and Country Clubs will only improve in time. I recommend Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for golf enthusiasts. I genuinely believe it’s the best golf simulator available.
