Print this article E-mail this article More articles by this author

Rating: Release Date: August 26, 2008 Distributor: EA Sports Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360 Grade: A-

It seems fitting that Tiger Woods’ image perennially graces the cover of EA Sports’ golf offering. Much like Woods, EA Sports is the master of its profession. Woods is unrivaled on the links, and EA Sports is the inimitable champ of sports video games. With “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09,” this gaming giant has once again created a title that people of all levels of interest and ability can enjoy.

“Tiger Woods 09” builds on the solid foundation of past “Tiger Woods” titles but makes enough improvements to create an enhanced gameplay experience worthy of your $60. This time, virtual golfers have Tiger’s coach, Hank Haney, there to assist them as they progress through their careers. Hank provides feedback to help you build your skills and reach your full potential. While this is a nice addition, it only scratches the surface of its potential. The advice Hank offers is sometimes useful but often restates the obvious.

You won’t be complaining too much, though, because the gameplay is absolutely addictive. The controls are responsive, intuitive and easy to master. Additions as simple as the instant feedback meter and the club tuner take the gameplay experience to the next level. My only complaint is that, even on standard difficulty, putting seems much too difficult. Turning potential birdies into double bogeys can become commonplace if you’re not at your very best.

This can be a problem, because “Tiger Woods 09” rewards performance with its Dynamic Player Skills. Consistency is key, as your golfer’s performance affects his skill ratings. Therefore, just as in real life, you must continue to prove your worth if you want to remain the cream of the crop.

This year, the online experience benefits from simultaneous online play. Now, instead of waiting for each person to hit the ball, everyone can play the hole at once. Ball trails follow the progress of your online opponents.

Additionally, this latest edition in the “Tiger Woods” franchise boasts 5 new courses and 11 updated courses. The terrain on these courses looks better than ever, though some of the player models could still use some work.

“Tiger Woods 09” also seems to have cornered the market when it comes to building true-to-life created players. Even if you don’t use the Photo Game Face feature, creating an accurate representation of yourself takes only a matter of minutes.

Yet, perhaps the best thing about “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09” is that your score on the game will likely be a whole lot better than the real thing. Just like its namesake, “Tiger Woods 09” a winner.