Tiger Woods is in the midst of his comeback, so we figured we’d pay him homage by taking a look at his upcoming PGA Tour installment. As we all know, the sport of golf simply isn’t the same without Tiger, and fans are delighted that he’s finally making his return to the links. And the good news is that, as expected, there will be more than a few upgrades and enhancements; added details that avid followers of the franchise are guaranteed to appreciate. The standard stuff will be headed our way – updated visuals, a bit more depth (if that’s even possible), more courses and players, etc. – and a few refinements to existing gameplay mechanics. Oh, and let’s not forget: authenticity via atmosphere and drama. The crowd size will be doubled , there will be scoreboards found on crucial holes, and yes, updates concerning other players and how they’re faring in the tournament. It’s the kind of presentation that should immerse the gamer even further into the experience.
As for commentators, Kelly Tilghman will return and ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt will make his Tiger debut. Van Pelt, like so many of the colorful guys on ESPN, has his own style; it’s this flair and panache that will once again serve to increase the quality and appeal of the overall presentation. And if you think they’re going to stop there with the realistic atmosphere upgrades, think again: as you’re standing there, lining up your putt, you will have to deal with the added pressure of USGA officials with pen and paper standing at the ready. If for whatever reason you’ve got a question or aren’t quite sure about the rules, you’ll be able to bring up the official rulebook for perusal. A first look conducted by IGN also tells us that the soundtrack will be brought more to the forefront, and with so many more members in the crowd, the corresponding roar that goes along with an unbelievable shot ought to be stimulating. Oh, and let’s not forget that you will actually have tee times (well, new golfers will, anyway), so there’s gonna be all sorts of added pressure!
Now, as far as ambient effects go, you can expect all kinds of neat little additions, and one of the upgrades is that weather changes will come in real-time. If you’re familiar with past installments in the series, you’re aware of the altering weather, but it only changed from course to course…not from hole to hole. In PGA Tour 10 , it can be sunny one hole, and if a storm is coming, the day will begin to cloud over and you’ll start seeing a darkening sky and raindrops. For the record, the weather could change from hole to hole in the last few Hot Shots Golf series, but it would be entirely random; it could be sunny and fair on the 12th hole and then snowing on the 13th. It’s far more realistic here, as the weather will perform as weather should . And obviously, you video game golf experts out there are well aware of how the changing weather changes the physics. The ball rolls slower, your accuracy rating will likely fall, and the tough shots get even tougher.
IGN also turned us onto one of the more prominent gameplay tweaks, which focuses on the Precision Putting system. Before, you had a bunch of different putters for different distances, but this time, you’ll have one putter for anything between 0 and 120 feet. The game will boast a “new graphical overlay” that dictates how far you’ll pull back on the analog stick before pushing forward to execute the putt. In this way, you’ll not only have to judge the slope of the green, but success will require more “precision” in terms of your distance assessment. As for the analog control we just discussed, we may also find the inclusion of the HSG three-tap mechanic in the game; new golf titles (like Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds for the PS3) are starting to feature both systems. For our part, we’ve often preferred the traditional method to the analog style, but that’s only because the latter started off badly in the early days of the previous generation. Analog use in golf titles has gotten much better with time, and we expect nothing but excellent control the whole way ‘round from the newest Tiger entry.
Tiger Woods: PGA Tour 10 is the first entry for a new decade, and our anticipation is high. For golf aficionados, there is only one option ever year, and you can bet that Mr. Woods will give you exactly what you crave come August.
meh, im fine with hotshot golf 😀
yeah same here. I hope they stop patching HSG5 and make the sixth entry already! And maybe a few extra online players wouldn't hurt either!
Last edited by Daedusian on 3/13/2009 5:03:35 PM
not a huge fan of golf. one of the most expensive sports to play ever, and for what? just to hit a freakin ball into a frakin hole. sure to be pro you need talent and a brush up of physics but why be paid so much for hitting a ball into a hole?!!! no sense to me.
You can also argue why anybody should be paid so much for any sport not just golf. Nascar especially!!
I didnt "get" golf either until about a year ago. All of a sudden it clicked, and now i love the game.
I play golf as well, but it's been awhile. It is fun once you get into it. But I can't stand to watch it on TV lol.
I love golf and the Tiger Woods games but I usually don't get them every year. It's usually never a big enough difference. I have 09 so I might skip this next one, but I'll have to see what this year brings. And is it just me or is the whole 2010 year with sports bothering anyone else? It doesn't sound right trying to say Tiger Woods 10 cause I feel like it's the 10th one made, or Tiger Woods 2010 cause it's always been 2 digits. I wanna say Tiger Woods 010, haha 🙂
They say you either get golf or you don't…
I get it and I'm psyched about this year's effort! I need something to relax with after getting my a$$ handed to me in KZ2.
Here in Australia, its a pretty cost-effective option to play golf, so I do. I've always enjoyed console golf when its raining outside.
Thanks for the Preview, bring on August!
great, so they're all gonna be ____ 10, it should be 2010, that sounds so much better
Last edited by dlte on 3/13/2009 12:39:56 AM
Bah. When's the next Hot Shots coming out?? Though if you want a more realistic looking golf game and golfing experience, this is the one to choose. But Hot Shots is still the premier golfing title in my opinion.
I'll wait for the demo to decide. They need to steal some ideas from the old Pro Stoke Golf and let you modify your swing for the shot. Also, they need a Pro mode for online. Too many people are able to successfully swing for the downs from the tee.
no offense ben, but your article was posted on ign yesterday:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/961/961551p1.html
why not just link the reader to there. or at least credit your source at the end.
That's hardly "my article." And I sourced IGN twice in the preview when it was relevant.
LoL. its the same topic but different articles man.
Played a beautiful and knows how to play
Played a beautiful and knows how to play