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Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001
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Score: 90%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Sports
Media: DVD/1
Players: 1 - 4 (Multitap)
Genre: Sports
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Graphics & Sound:
Ever since the PlayStation 2's debut, the graphics from EA Sports have, for the most part, delivered. This hasn't stopped with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001. In fact, the graphics from the previous PlayStation version improved drastically for the better. Each course has been recreated with amazing reality and detail, and it really looks like any mishaps from the first have been fixed, such as the smoothing over of the courses after a long drive, instead of blocky, rectangular shapes like the earlier version. Although, I still found some 2-Dimensional trees on the courses, which I felt to be a letdown since we all know the PS2's capability is much better. However, the player model graphics looked more realistic, and the animations impersonated the actual look of a golfer. Plus, the television style presentation really worked well with the graphics laid out on the courses. The sounds for Tiger Woods were for the most part, same old. The music was decent, and the gallery crowd followed the ball well with a cheer here and some heckles there. Also, player's emotions come through with little tidbits of audio, including Tiger's voice, whether they are in disgust or content. But again, the same old wind, water splashes, and pings from your swing sounds all the same. Then again, there's not a whole lot more you can do with it. |
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Gameplay:
Truthfully, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 is a good golf game, but it could have been better. Much like from the previous series, long drives and thick rough make it a good simulation of the real thing. However, not everything is 'up to par,' like the fact that you can only be six different golfers, and only play on three different courses. I was really hoping that EA would expand from the previous PlayStation version, but I guess they weren't interested in those little 'mundane details.' The same games from many golf Sims have been packed into TW 2K1, along with some extras. The modes consist of Practice, Tournament, Stroke Play, Skins Game, Match Play, PGA Career, and Play Now. With the Practice mode, play on any hole on any course until you get the feel of it. For the Skins Game, win a hole, and win some money. Match Play is the same, except there's no prize money on each hole, only at the end for the golfer with the most holes won. Tournament and Stroke Play are like regular rounds of golf, only Stroke Play is for a small group, not the entire tour. With the PGA Career, start out as an Amateur, advance to pro status, then work to become the EA Sports PGA Tour Challenge Champion. The new feature, Play Now, has you play 21 different scenarios that will prepare you for regular rounds of golf, which sometimes tend to be more fun than the rest. Plus, once you complete it, you unlock Tiger's red shirt! Whoopee!!! The gameplay itself is inconsistent, and I basically mean the chipping and putting. I can't count how many times I'd be 30 yards from the pin, yet my shot would either fall short or way long every time, no matter which way I lined it up. The putting can be just as bad, which is due in part to the fact that you can't see what the green looks like unless you morph it by pressing a button. Don't get me wrong, I like that feature because I think it's needed at times, but I would like to see the green a little better in the first place. The other thing, which is back after a year on hiatus, is the ability of Spin Control after you've hit the ball. Some people like it, others don't. I find it will help your game, but it's not very realistic. |
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Difficulty:
Besides the levels of Novice, Amateur, and Pro, TW 2K1 seems to be much tougher than before, which I like as an added bonus. Some of those games in the Play Now mode are really tough, such as beating Leonard down 3 with 4 holes to go in Match play. That game itself took me over an hour, although maybe I just suck (but I don't think so). The golfers' AI is at a level worthy of the pros, and they won't let up either. Just when you think you're in the clear, someone knocks down a 30-foot putt, or chips in for an Eagle. Also, you can change the variables around to increase the difficulty, like taking off the spin control. That way, it's just you and the ball, and no love is given for your mistakes. I think the best thing about the difficulty though, is when you reach the Pro status, the emphasis is really on you to determine which club to use, and to choose an approach you should take on each hole. So basically what I'm saying is, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 is different from the earlier PlayStation One release, so you're not buying the same game.
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Game Mechanics:
As golfers know, control is a major key to victory. Believe me when I tell you that it is the same for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001. The Analog stick allows you to hook and slice when needed, but note that it is very touchy, so make sure you're pushing in the right directions, otherwise your ball will be be in the drink faster than you can say 'Fore!' Also, with the Spin Control adapted in, it might take a little time to figure out when to use it, but your game will improve by a few strokes after time. Saving games takes the smallest of chunks, but nothing too damaging. Plus, you can basically save when you need to, so you can stop in progress and pick it up later. However, the loading took a little time, but it was bearable. It's just another price to pay for the PS2 graphics. Like I said earlier, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 was decent, but it definitely could use some more work. It really came down to the lack of golfers and courses, which I think is a jip to golfing fans that play the game. However, Tiger Woods is fun, and you're not getting the same thing as before. |
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-Red Dawg, GameVortex Communications AKA Alex Redmann |
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