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Golf is a game for patient people. And retirees. And to that degree, Electronic Arts have created
the most authentic golf video game ever in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13. Authentic in that
it requires more patience than Sarah Chalke arouses.
Scrubs joke! And, you know, spelling.
Released in March, Tiger 13 is the latest iteration of EA’s annual golf series. I’ve
often wondered about the market that necessitates an annual golf series, but then again, I’m
not much of a fan. Nonetheless, I’ve really enjoyed recent Tiger games, especially the
Wii versions for their fantastic controls. But that’s where Tiger 13 makes a change.
And believe it or not, it’s a pretty major one. That’s a pretty major pun.
In fact, it’s so complicated, it’s kind of hard to explain. But it starts with this
white arc, which shows up above your golfer. It represents the ideal form you should take
on the swing, and essentially, if you pull the analog stick straight back, you match
it. But the thing is, there are a ton of variables. So the slightest pull to the left, how long
your movement lasts, how fast you push it back forward...it all affects your shot.
Does it work? Absolutely. But it’s a pain in the *** to figure out, and the worst part
is that the game doesn’t give any help. It throws you into the fire with this complex
new scheme and says, “Okay, now don’t forget to create your golfer.”
I guess an adjustable jawline is more important than a tutorial.
Simulation fans who go nuts for complexity will love it, but I think the more unanimous
drawback is the game’s coin system. More than half its 36 courses are locked, and you
can only unlock them with coins. Now, you can either purchase your coins or earn them
in-game, but the thing is, unless you can organize a group with friends, the process
is very slow...and frankly, it does feel like a rip-off.
EA has made some pretty dramatic changes to Tiger, which is welcome for a yearly sports
series, but the results are a bit polarizing. If for you complexity equates realism, which
equates awesome, you’ll love Tiger 13. If not...well, maybe next year.