Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12

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Despite Tiger Woods' personal woes, EA decided to bring his name back for another edition of the company's golf series. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 brings a lot of the same successful recipe it's used in the past, and combines it with some new tweaks to offer an enjoyable golfing experience on the PS3 console. Will it live up to the hype or leave a black eye on the series? Find out in this gaming review.

Road to the Masters is what will likely attract most purchasers of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12.  As you can probably guess from the mode's name, it's a career mode that will take you from an amateur with dreams of making it big to the biggest stage, which is the Masters.  The best part of Road to the Masters is that it entrenches you in the game and gives you incentive to really dig in.  You begin as an amateur and take part in various low level tournaments.  As you make certain achievements and reach objectives, you will gain XP.  This can be used to help advance your skill and further your career by giving you the opportunity to purchase items and gear up.  It's definitely fun to build your character over time, and reaching the Masters is rewarding.  What is not so rewarding is actually winning the Masters, as it seems like a letdown after all of your hard work.  Then again, if you are just looking for a simulation, that lack of “wow factor” at the end may not bother you so much.

Gameplay in Tiger Woods 12 is not that much different from its predecessor, which is a good thing.  If the gameplay is good as is, why fix it?  Some may find the game to be too easy and unrealistic at times, but it appears to offer a decent simulation experience.  If you are looking for the absolute real thing, you will have to hit your neighborhood golf course yourself.

Using the analog stick to swing is fun and intuitive.  As with most games, the difficulty level you choose will determine your results.  Speaking of difficulty, one great help and a new addition to the Tiger Woods series is that of the Caddie Experience.  This feature puts a caddie at your disposal to help you achieve success.  The caddie will give you advice and options on where to place your shots.  This is obviously great for beginners looking to jump into the game, but those seeking a challenge may find that it cheapens the game's integrity.  Either way, it is a solid feature to the series.



The Road to the Masters mode is not the only part of Tiger Woods 12 that is dedicated to the legendary golf outing.  There are two more modes with similar themes in Masters Moments and Tiger at the Masters.  Masters Moments basically offers you the chance to replay various historic moments in previous Masters tournaments.  There are nine moments to cycle through, and they span through different periods in golf history.  For instance, you can fill the shoes of Gene Sarazen during the 1935 Masters, or you can play as Arnold Palmer during the 1958 edition as he tries to make an eagle on the thirteenth hole to win his first Masters title.  Of course, Tiger Woods makes the most appearances in this mode, as he has three separate moments to relive in 1997 and 2005.  Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson are some of the other participants.  Each moment allows you to either pass it with a birdie, or master is with an eagle.  This particular mode may not be the most in-depth, but it does give golf fans the chance to enjoy some of the game's nostalgia.

Tiger at the Masters focuses on the man himself and his highlights at the event throughout his illustrious career.  You can play through each of Tiger's four Masters wins, with the goal of either matching or beating his actual scores that were posted during the wins.  Again, like Masters Moments, this is not the most in-depth feature of Tiger Woods 12.  Still, it offers a nice diversion off the beaten path as a side game and is also a welcome touch for true golf fans.

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