G4TV

Mark Twain once said that golf "is a good walk spoiled." EA and its Tiger Woods PGA Tour series have been spoiling walks for years now, and we've been thankful to them for doing it. However, it's gotten to the point that, in order to keep those walks from being too easy, the game is breaking our knees and chopping off our toes. Why, Tiger? Why?

Floppy Wood

The gaming world has happily assimilated the analog swing in golf games; that's what happens when we digest annual sequels. Much like with Burnout, Madden, and other big series, Electronic Arts has nowhere to go but backwards: Tiger Woods 08 is a more difficult, less intuitive golfing experience than iterations past. Its touchy controls and slice/hook tendencies will leave seasoned PGA pros feeling like they're playing with rubber clubs. Straight shots are near impossible to hit and putts are at the mercy of incremental targeting distances. This all leaves your balls -- and your scores -- steeped in the cabbage soup.

To compensate for this sand trap of epic proportions, the game makes other control functions easier. Draws and fades are now relegated to shoulder buttons, rather than requiring diagonal strokes. A putt preview lets you see whether you'll really hit a hole or not. Even the three-click swing of old has returned. But sadly, these are all band-aids over a new gunshot wound that EA maliciously caused.

Face It

These gameplay missteps are unfortunate, because much of the game has taken large leaps. We've all loved the Game Face creator system, and now Tiger 08 allows you to use a picture of yourself for easier and better avatars. A head-on and profile shot uploaded to EA's servers or a USB camera strapped onto your PS3 (unfortunately, it doesn't allow for plain-old .JPGs to the PS3 hard drive) will result in a 3D, digital rendition of yourself every bit as beautiful as the real you.

Stat progression is now more organic, rewarding you for good play rather than deep pockets. If stats are your thing, the new confidence system shows you just how you're hitting them in every conceivable scenario. With plenty of multiplayer options, the robust season mode, and the board game-esque Tiger Challenges, you'll have plenty of time to master the steep learning curve and once again reclaim your golfing glory.

Drive The Net

Last year, internet play ended up being a lost cause, like the ball that splashed into the gator-filled water hazard on the 8th hole. For Tiger 08, online is where it should be. Broadband balls will fly with glee as partners near and far will tee off. The new Gamernet feature allows for saving and sharing of big shots and even entire rounds. Downloadable challenges offer even more to do if you happen to quit your job and shun sleep for a year in order to conquer all the offline content.

While the photo game face represents Tiger 08's best graphical achievement, the game as a whole isn't picture-perfect. Bugs, clipping, and other assorted nasties show up on what should be calm, clear skies, and green grass. The crowds are especially pitiful, scattered randomly and unmoving even in the face of an errant slice. The load times -- around 10 seconds a hole -- are much longer than they should be, as well.

Mulligan?

The new courses, modes and features can't make us forget one simple fact: EA screwed with the gameplay. It's not our fault we were getting really damn good at your game. Don't send it back into the Stone Age with inaccurate swing mechanics and busted-up putting as punishment. Of course, with a flub this big, the developers can simply re-correct it next year and call it an enhancement. So goes the circle of the life for a big-name, annual franchise. Dedicated Tiger fans will get over the intentional inadequacies in a matter of hours - think several rounds rather than a couple of holes. But the point is they shouldn't have to. They deserve better than that. Hopefully next year, EA will give it to them.

Review by: Justin Leeper
Video Produced by: Michael Benson