Customer Reviews
Oh My Word!
There's just something about golf that lends itself to video game translation. I've played and loved numerous translations over the years: NES - Mario Golf; GENESIS - PGA Tour Golf, PGA Tour Golf II, European PGA Tour; SEGA 32X (I know, I know) -Golf Magazine Presents 36 Greatest Holes of Golf Starring Fred Couples; PlayStation - Hot Shots Golf 1 & 2; Dreamcast - Tee Off, Nettou Golf; PS2 - Hot shots Golf 3, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002, and now Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003. I state my history with video game golf not to try to establish some kind of credentials, but to establish my love for the genre. Some people are RPG fans, some are FPS fans, some are old school shooter fans...I'm a video game golf fan.
Having said that, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 (henceforth TW 2003) is the best console golf game ever. What makes it so good? In a word - game play.
To me, the game play of TW2003 begins and ends with the analog swing. To my knowledge, this series was the first to use this method, and it is so brilliant that it has revolutionized the entire genre. When I finally succumbed to the PS2 dark side (leaving my beloved Dreamcast), the first game I purchased was Hot Shots Golf 3. And MAN did it rock. For exactly 2 days. Then a friend of mine brought over TW2002. Given that all things new are inherently evil and must be mistrusted and hated, I dutifully despised the game and it's analog swing. Give me back my meter and 3 clicks for crying out loud! And what, no grid for putting? ... Except by the 10th hole, it didn't. Suddenly it dawned on me that the genre had finally moved forward, rendering the 3-click swing meter games an archaic yawn fest by comparison.
TW2003 brings the analog swing back, and refines it at the same time. I've read many reviews and seen comments that the swing is much more forgiving than it was in TW2002. I COMPLETELY disagree. It is much harder to nail that perfectly straight drive or approach in TW2003 than it was in TW2002. That is a good thing, as it offers that 'possible to do' - 'impossible to master' type of game play. On the analog swing method alone, I give TW2003 a 10/10 for game play.
As far as game modes, options, and replay-ability - I'm going to score all of those under a Value heading. TW2003 affords a plethora of ways to play, an unprecedented number of courses, a random course generator, and the ability to peace together your own courses from the existing courses. Simply put - TW2003 gets a 10/10 for Value.
Graphically, TW2003 is an improvement over TW2002, but not a leap. The graphical quality of the courses is the same (the courses brought over from TW2002 look exactly like there TW2002 counterparts, save for Black Rock Cove), but the player models are far superior. Some of the faces (Parnevick comes to mind) are so life-like they are scary. Still, the graphics sometimes show seams on the putting surface, the backgrounds sometimes blur, the jaggies are annoying, and the foliage heavy "Predator" course can be a pain to navigate because the trees are so pixilated. Even though it is not graphically flawless, it is generally excellent. My score: Graphics 8/10.
TW2003's sound is decent. I've noted some 'clips' in the audio - particularly the commentary, from time to time. Aside from that, the sound content and quality are good. From the roar of the crowd, to the sound of a well-struck ball, the sounds you'd expect (and some you wouldn't - no, I won't spoil it for you) are in there. However, the music though good, seems out of place. The 'I Am Number One' theme from TW2002 seemed to fit the game better than the EA Trax found here. Sound 7/10
For all of the scores and commentary above, I can bottom line this as such: TW2003 currently stands as the pinnacle of an addictive genre. It is a game without peer, and is a must have for any fan video game golf. Purchase and enjoy!
Great improvements over 2002.
I love this game, it's a very nice improvement to 2002. Graphics are great the sound is great and there are more courses to play. The Tiger Challenge is much longer and is much more challenging with tournaments and skins games added to it, rather than straight match play. Finally EA brought back the two player game, this drove me nuts in 2002. You can finally play against your friends, instead of playing that dumb speed golf option. The graphic detail of the players' faces is much improved also. If you liked 2002, buy this game, you'll love it.
Even better than Tiger Woods 2002!
I thought the previous Tiger Woods 2002 game for the PS2 was already the best golf game ever made. I was doubting whether to get this new edition, but I am glad I did! It's got more golf courses (all superbly rendered), more graphics, better sound effects than the last game had. One of the fictional golf courses, the Highlands in Scotland, is not only well designed, but while you are playing it you'll hear the wind howling like in a gothic horror story. Some of the new fictional golfers are challenging and funny. If you like golf games, you won't be disappointed.
