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Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
Score: 93%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Games
Media: DVD/1
Players: 1 - 4 (Multitap)
Genre: Sports

Graphics & Sound:
I often find myself at the end of each summer, wishing I had made it out to the golf course more than I had. The reason: I can get out and work on my golf game, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. With Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003, I can at least get the second part. The golf links are gorgeous, and mimic real life courses in an incredible fashion. No matter what hole I'm struggling to reach par on, I can sit back and truly enjoy the quality of the environment. Not to be outdone, but the player models look incredible as well. Each golfer has realistic body structures, facial features, and animations. It's amazing the amount of detail that goes into each golfer, real or made up.

I can't complain at all about the audio for Tiger Woods 2003. First off, the soundtrack is great, featuring tracks from Saliva, Paul Oakenfold, Ash, 12 Stones, and others. Secondly, the play by play is creative, funny, and dead on. Last, but not least, the sound effects are the real deal. From the swoosh of the club, to the rattle of the ball in the cup, each noise imitates the real thing.


Gameplay:
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 continues to improve each and every year. With this year's version, play with an actual PGA Tour Pros, a dozen different original characters, all on actual and fantasy courses. But here's the difference between PGA Tour and other golf sims: there's more than just regular golf games. Besides the regular Match Play, Stroke Play, Skins, and Tournament, you can also play several mini-games as well, all of which will make you a more well-rounded golfer (only in the video game sense). Play through a number of different Scenarios, take on a friend in Speed Golf, or hone your skills in the Skillzone. However, the best way to master the game is go through the Tiger Challenge. This is where you use your created golfer, and take them through several different challenging events to earn cash, which in turn helps improve the attributes of your golfer.

The actual golf playing requires you to have knowledge of the game of golf, along with the ability to push buttons. You'll have to play around with your golfer to figure out his/her capabilities on the links. By using the Tiger Challenge, you learn the game and get better with the more dough you earn. The only bad thing I have to complain about is the Caddy's Tips. I really wish my caddy could read the green better, because he's cost me several matches due to fact that he'll say 'Hit it straight in,' but what he really means is aim two inches to the right.


Difficulty:
When you turn on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 for the first time, you'll need to select Play Now, which serves as a tutorial. Another game mode where you can learn more about the game without making a mockery out of yourself is the Practice mode. Besides these two modes, the other ways to change the level of difficulty are by altering where you tee off from, along with how fast or slow the green is.

Game Mechanics:
The last game mode to mention is the Online capability. However, unlike Madden and NBA Live, your competition isn't online playing against you simultaneously. Instead, EA Sports is providing all owners of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 the opportunity to play in an online tournament, where following the 18 holes, you post your score on the EA website. I had some problems setting up my username for this, so that's why I'm deducting points in the review. Meanwhile, the rest of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 is sound. I like the use of the analog sticks instead of a three-click swing for teeing off. Plus, the memory card is barely used, and the loading time doesn't exist. What more could you ask for?

If you have any inkling for a golf game this holiday season, put Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 at the top of your wish list.


-Red Dawg, GameVortex Communications
AKA Alex Redmann

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