Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 1 December, 2005

Cagey.

Version tested: Xbox 360

It's not a port! It's not a port! Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 on Xbox 360 is a new game. A neeew game.

[Goes off to play it.]

Wait, no it isn't!

I don't understand quite what the idea was here. Granted, I was a bit unpleasant about Tiger Woods 2006 the first time (well, strictly speaking I was warmly receptive of it the first time - the issue was that the first time was actually in late 2001), but this 360 game seems to have missed the point. It's different content (about half as much) and lined up in a different way, but the actual game you play is basically identical.

Starting off, you have access to just one course, Pebble Beach. By ploughing through the Career mode's range of tasks, you unlock more, and get to take part in key events (eventually, the PGA Tour itself). The first of these tasks are over quickly and double up as tutorials - chipping closest to the pin, distance-putting closest to the hole, etc. The later ones are more involved and, although sometimes they comment on more advanced techniques like shaping your shot with fade or draw, happier to let you do things yourself - completing all the par-5 holes on a course, for example, or playing a skins match against a pair of fictional golfers, one of whom will be a girl with amply under-shadowed knockers protruding from her fluffier-than-ever sweater.

'Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006' Screenshot wood

That's a lot of... Wood!

Beyond that, you can engage in stroke play, match play, skins, etc. on any unlocked course, do some online golfing, and play around with the Game Face character-designer tool. That is the whole game.

You play the same way you did in the other 2006 versions. The main change there was to putting, which is now based on a grid with moving lines (like most other golf games) and the degree to which you pull the analogue stick back before following through, rather than guestimations based on how far left, right, long or short your caddy specifies. Thing is, once you work out how the "ideal putt camera", which draws a line on the green, relates to the putt length you've selected and the surface you're on, you won't find it particularly difficult. Just hours after I started playing, I would hit A to view the putt line, aim about half as wide as it suggested, give it about 2/3 strength and it would usually go in. I had the Birdie Streak trophy ball without really thinking about it.

And that's kind of the problem with the whole game now: you simply don't need to think about it. Tiger's a lackadaisical kind of experience. You just zoom to a marker and position it where you want the ball to go, zoom back to your golfer and choose a club whose maximum distance (whether affected by wind or the lie of the ball) best fits your goal, you haul the stick back and thrust it forward, and unless the game's decided to pick on you for that stroke, you'll probably manage it to within a reasonable margin of error - a margin that diminishes with each passing round as you garner experience points to plug into attributes like focus, power, approach and so on.

'Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006' Screenshot tigr0r

Look out Tiger! It's a [STOP THAT - Ed]

It's bland, and rather easy for the most part. When it's not easy, it's simply gruelling. The "Q School" for example consists of four rounds of the same course, and the idea is to finish in the top five overall to qualify as a pro and get on the PGA Tour. Completing these rounds is as easy as anything else - most of your slip-ups will be down to outright laziness (rather than just the usual auto-piloting) or the game picking on you by randomly sending your tee-shot wayward - but the process of catching up with those at the top of the leaderboard demands good fortune on both fairway and green. Fortune that as often as not has more to do with the side of the bed the game got up on that day.

Those people you play against, too - they're faceless. Just numbers that you check in with at the end of your hole. For a game that's been around for so long and boasts that ever-so-slightly galling "Exclusive Licenses" stamp EA's started whacking on the front of its sports games, you'll spend a surprisingly large amount of time feeling isolated.

But of course the Xbox 360 is a machine with the capacity to do all manner of new things to the world of golf. Presumably? No? Ok. What it does do is give us lots more trees (some of which still pop in), lots more automatons lining each hole, and water that resembles tech-demo water. The problem isn't so much that it isn't using the Xbox 360's power - it's that the designers don't seem to understand how to build atmosphere, or breathe life into their worlds. Yes, the blades of grass are distinctive, yes, those jeans are pulled tight over Missy Golfer's arse-cheeks in an unerringly convincing manner, yes, the sand kind of kicks up a bit when the ball hits it. But where are the gusts of wind striking the brush next to you? Why is the rough so neat?

'Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006' Screenshot divots

Brilliant sign at my local course: 'Please replace divots.' Prompting: 'Divots! You're fired!'

Admittedly, it's not a bad-looking game. It's no FIFA Zombie Horror Show Apocalypse. Tiger's relatively distinct almost Pixar-leaning character rendering saves it from the embarrassments therein. It doesn't look realistic - the branch-of-a-tree ponytails, polished tarpaulin-wrap clothing effects and peculiar facial make-ups can't evade ridicule completely - but the main likenesses don't push things too far and since all the golfers here really do is walk and swing clubs, you can rely on the animation to look convincing. It's just the world that aggravates you. It's so full and yet so empty.

Tiger Woods has been redeveloped specifically for Xbox 360. Yes. But it's more like the team got to the end of the other versions and called a mulligan, and then just did the same thing again until someone walked in and yelled, "Release!" It'll soak up plenty of your time, but it's a real trudge, and rarely presents anything new or exciting - you've experienced most of the good by the time you've qualified for the PGA Tour itself, and indeed most of us will have experienced it all by, er, well, had experienced it all by 2003.

It's probably worth making it clear that Tiger Woods PGA Tour is built on mechanics that initially satisfy - particularly with friends around. But then... if you haven't played it yet, you might as well buy the real 2006 version, because it has loads more content. A confusing release.

6 / 10

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Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • onyxbox #1 6 years ago

    another 'meh'

  • burns #2 6 years ago

    ha has the xbox 360 got any decent games?

  • Dizzy #3 6 years ago

    I am sure you mean "Has EA got any decent games?"

    The answer is NO.

  • Perry #4 6 years ago

    Damn, this was going to be the game that decided whether I got a 360.

    On well, PS2, PC & eventually PS3 it is then

    Although must admit that the DS is tempting at £90. PSP is good, but I've damaged it!
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/05 @ 13:24

  • onyxbox #5 6 years ago

    I’m sure there's a chart on EA's wall showing a 6 month incremental release schedule which eventually ends with each of their franchises being as fully featured as the current PS2 titles.

    it stinks really doesn't it.

  • Stickman #6 6 years ago

    Like golf? Got a 360?

    You're going to buy it anyway, aren't you?

  • Razz #7 6 years ago

    Tom Bramwell:

    We couldn't figure out how to get extra power on our shots when we we're playing this... did you figure out what button it was?

  • JonFE #8 6 years ago

    No embargo on this one ?

  • caligari #9 6 years ago


    I still sense something rather strange with the looming 360 Perfect Dark review.

    I...I sense a 10 out of 10 to satisfy the 360 zealots.

    No really...keep your eyes peeled (this will also make you look GORGEOUS).

  • caligari #10 6 years ago


    How have you damaged your PSP Perry?

    Did your big fat sausage fingers ruin the console's screen? ;)

  • space_ace #11 6 years ago

    pdz is way too shiny for 10/10

  • Dizzy #12 6 years ago

    >Damn, this was going to be the game that decided whether I got a 360.

    ROFL.. you buy a next gen console for a golf game???

    Dude.... that is soooo wrong.

  • smelly #13 6 years ago

    ROFL.. you buy a next gen console for a golf game???


    Well if he bought it for anything other than racing games, he's hardly spoiled for choice is he?

  • Eldritch #14 6 years ago

    Did anybody seriously expect an innovative game using the Xbox 360's full potential?

  • smelly #15 6 years ago

    Looks at screen shots to see where the extra 360 power has been put to use...

    Well they DO have a nice grass effect. But that's about it.

  • tengu #16 6 years ago

    "Well if he bought it for anything other than racing games, he's hardly spoiled for choice is he? "

    Not true! There's first person shooters as well.

  • gamingdave #17 6 years ago

    The 6/10 is for the whole package. If I didnt care about the solo game (apart from unlocking all the courses) and was only going to play it as a 2 player game, would the score increase much? I havent got an updated since I think 2004 on the Cube, but maybe it was 2005.

  • Furbs #18 6 years ago

    ROFL! Yeah lets only review the good games!
    Fanboy comment of the year! :p

  • SgtJericho #19 6 years ago

    Do you think this will go the way of the FIFA review and be ordered to be taken down? Well maybe not, this got 6/10 and FIFA 06 Xbox 360 only got 2/10 :D
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/05 @ 14:21

  • Furbs #20 6 years ago

    Sgt, it wasnt ordered to be taken down due to the score. EG broke the embargo on the review. Cos they're hardcore rebels. No grand conspiracy. It'll be back up tomorrow.

  • Dizzy #21 6 years ago

    >Do you think this will go the way of the FIFA review and be ordered to be taken down?

    Well I am sure a bunch of trained EA mercs are on their way to take down EG.

    "That's enough boys.... put down those keyboards".

    After giving EA drivel good marks for many years, it looks like hating EA is not *the* thing to do for gaming press. Things they liked for years they now suddenly hate. Amazing...

    >Lol!
    it's official, there are no good Xbox 360 games available ^_^

    Oh f*ck off blackdog.

    Let's have a look at top 10 games of last 30 days (the super end-of-the-year season):

    http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/simpleratings .asp

    Oohhh..... 4 360 games??? Amazing!
    Edited by 3 at 01/12/05 @ 14:55

  • SgtJericho #22 6 years ago

    I hope so Furbs - will it receive the same review score do you think?

  • Furbs #23 6 years ago

    It'll be the same review. Theres no hope so about it, thats straight from the guy who owns the site!
    As I say, no conspiracy. You'll notice the Sims Exp. review is still up.

  • Furbs #24 6 years ago

    ROFL

  • octo #25 6 years ago

    If people stop buying it, EA will stop making it.

  • Dizzy #26 6 years ago

    >Dizzy i'm picking up a PS3 ^_^

    Great blackdog!!!

    I am also picking you for my ignore list.

    /waves bye bye

    >Only 4?

    >So the sucky PSP beat it then?

    Dude.. there isn't even a PSP game in that list.
    Edited by 2 at 01/12/05 @ 14:55

  • caligari #27 6 years ago

    I hope the 360 does well (errr, not that I will be spending that amount of cash until I've seen the other 2 'next gen' consoles).

    At the moment though, I think it is nothing but a glorified fan heater.

    £300+ to stay toasty?

  • caligari #28 6 years ago


    Oh my gawd, people actually USE the ignore list?


  • Dizzy #29 6 years ago

    >I thought it was just the last 30 days.

    Yeah just last 30 days (but it has been big push for xmas now), so it is a pretty good launch lineup by the standards of new games that have appeared on other consoles. (3 on PS2, 1 DS, 2 XBox and 1 PC)

    Don't think 360 has all time top 10 material yet ;)

    We need to wait for second wave I guess.
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/05 @ 15:03

  • SgtJericho #30 6 years ago

    EA's presentation isn't bad and seeing as the casual gamer market is larger than the hardcore gamer market can you blame them for being a conveyor belt?

  • vane101 #31 6 years ago

    From what I've read elsewhere this seems like a fair review. Good looks but less content than the current gen consoles. Don't see how such a derivative game though could beat Kameo - more evidence that it was scored wrongly.

    And let's not forget the PS2 launch titles sucked. I expect the PS3 ones to as well.

  • tengu #32 6 years ago

    "And let's not forget the PS2 launch titles sucked. I expect the PS3 ones to as well."

    Based on what exactly? The fact that a console released more than 5 years ago had an average launch line up?

  • Genji #33 6 years ago

    "From what I've read elsewhere this seems like a fair review. Good looks but less content than the current gen consoles. Don't see how such a derivative game though could beat Kameo - more evidence that it was scored wrongly."

    Comedy gold! Especially the bit about Kameo being "scored wrongly".

  • Perry #34 6 years ago

    Caligari:

    How have you damaged your PSP Perry?

    Did your big fat sausage fingers ruin the console's screen? ;)

    Nah, damaged by a stray indoor cricket ball that hit my bag in the wrong spot. My sound is slightly damaged - damn

  • EvolutionSkippedUSA #35 6 years ago

    Blackdog:

    I have awful memories of my CPC 464.

    Why Alan. WHY???!!!!

  • Feanor #36 6 years ago

    It's funny. The Game informer magazine I got in the mail yesterday gave this game almost the same score and made similar critcisms. But on the next page they gave FIFA for the 360 8.25/10. Made me want to cancel my subscription.

  • Talha #37 6 years ago

    Don't intend to sound like a snob, but some comments have been 'comedy gold' in words of Genji. One person is actually asking for someone else to review the X360 games. Several people are on their usual half-wit bandwagon of EA slagging.

    First of all the game deserves this score - simply because they could have waited for six months and come up with a more fleshed-out experience. EA has sure STUMBLED BADLY on X360 launch titles - but every company has its clunkers and you are free not to buy them. IMHO, Need For Speed MW shows that someone is listening to criticisms at the company.

    Secondly, if anyone thinks these reviews are overly harsh or worse, just slagging off the X360, please be my guest and go the mindless gushers like Official XBox Magazine where you will get your fix