Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Reviews

  • JoeCool7835JoeCool7835407,488
    09 Apr 2011
    17 0 6
    As lame as it may make me sound, I'll confess. I love golf. There, I said it. I enjoy the strategy, intelligence, and gorgeous scenery. As far as golf video games are concerned, I've been playing them since Great Golf on the Sega Master System. Quality has been up and down on golf games over the years, but I can safely say that the latest edition of Tiger Woods PGA Tour is the closest I've found to perfect.

    After the last couple of entries in the series felt too much the same, I was afraid that the crew at EA had run out of ideas. Fortunately, EA had completely overhauled the game to its benefit. The subtitle on this entry is "The Masters" for good reason. Every bit of this game is about raising your created golfer to the point of competing in the Masters tournament and winning the coveted green jacket. Unlike prior entries where the PGA Season and the Tiger Challenge were two completely separate modes, the "Road to the Masters" mode combines the two to create a cohesive career mode that's easily the best in any golf game.

    The options for customizing your golfer and golf experience are staggering. You could effectively recreate yourself even without touching Photo GameFace (though that's available, too). Gear is unlocked sensibly as you progress in the career. Tiger 12 even took a few ideas from Rock Band 3 by allowing the completion of course objectives and gaining of experience points (both used to improve stats) in any game you play, whether single-player, multi-player, free play, or career. That idea is so ingenious, I'm surprised it wasn't done before now. Both the analog swing mechanics and 3-click mechanics are available and work great, though it sucks that this entry doesn't have Kinect support (the PS3 and Wii versions have motion control).

    The online options are mind-blowing. There are four-player games with simultaneous play as an option. You can upload clips of your best shots and challenge others to match or beat them on GamerNet. There are (to date) NINETEEN more courses for download (that can be pricey for a golf junkie like me)! There are even full online tournaments planned. Too bad this game has that Online Pass that basically punishes people who buy the game used. angry

    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters was the shot in the arm the series needed. Not only is this one a loving tribute to the most intense and exciting tournament in golf, but it's also the best golf game available on any home console. The only thing missing is the ability to create courses from scratch (like PC golf games had been doing for years). However, I'll be enjoying this entry until EA gets around to adding that feature later. smile
    5.0
    Showing most recent comments. View all comments.
    The GlobalizerAgree completely. My gripes are few (clothes are meaningless and champion suits make them irrelevant; some dodgy greens/green reading in spots; the removal of the quit option without saving) and the overall experience is much more cohesive. The Masters stuff is laid on a bit thick, but if that's what it took to get Augusta onboard, so be it.

    For the first time, a Tiger game has a real career mode, and it's a big, big improvement.
    Posted by The Globalizer on 10 Apr 11 at 22:47
    Arcane InsanityA true reflection of the game, something all reviews should be predicated on.
    Posted by Arcane Insanity on 15 Apr 11 at 12:32
    p0iz0nedAgree with everything and I'm with the first commenter, clothes are useless once you have the prototypes. That's about the only thing I think they could fix, maybe by making the bonuses work with whatever your wearing.

    The easiest way to get around the Saving thing is the tried and true by logging out of your Profile (automatically taking you back to the Main Screen) and re-logging back in, as opposed to restarting the game.

    This game is a massive improvement over 11 which I pretty much put away after 2 weeks of getting the game.

    Only things I don't really like are how bad the Caddie's are (they don't put choke, or loft into their equations) even after attaining Gold level. The other being how useless Multiplayer is for achievement hunters, but then, they've never really made Multiplayer achievements with the Tiger Woods series. Sucks because in Tiger Woods they could use more and with every other EA Sports game they could get rid of a couple if not half of the Multiplayer Achievements.

    Good review, had the game and will always get each new Tiger Woods (or whatever they make it if Tiger keeps on sucking up the place).
    Posted by p0iz0ned on 15 Apr 11 at 17:14
    BGMAGS3good review. good game. only thing i would change is to take out the tournaments in career mode that require purchased courses. this screwed me on my number one spot in the rankings so going for the 281 straight weeks is something I have to start over(not cool). other than that I like the game a lot haven't played another game since I bought it 2 weeks ago.
    Posted by BGMAGS3 on 28 Apr 11 at 23:24
    gallzy111Very good review man, pretty much made up my mind now thanks to this about whether I will get it. Haven't had once since 2009, hated the achievement 'BIG MONEY'. The piece of f*** it took so long and I always look to getting one again and this is going to be it, not 13 I'm not paying £36 for a new one when there's a great one for £15.
    Thanks,
    Posted by gallzy111 on 22 Mar 12 at 17:28
Hide ads