Golf games require a finesse, a certain je ne sais quoi that encourages patience and foresight. Gamers predisposed to mashing buttons to chainsaw zombies in half may get teed off by the tender golf-clap moments of Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. But if they manage to learn the ropes, there’s a rich and rewarding experience to be found.
In-game chat boxes are filled with (mostly) kind souls, eager to help and encourage you. And it’s a good thing they are--there’s more to Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online than swinging a club. Beginners will need time to figure out the intricacies of wind speed, ball spin, and the feel of the courses, all pleasantly enjoyable challenges to master. And the controls will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s videogame-golfed before, offering the option between a three-clicking swing or shoving your mouse around to mimic a real-life club movement.
Escape for a quick round without leaving your web browser.
Tiger Online features 11 golf links, and additional courses are added regularly. While the graphics aren’t very impressive, they don’t detract from the game. You’ll see occasional glitchiness, such as visible wireframes or instances when trees and other objects render poorly. Each course offers objectives that act as the game’s achievements, such as birdying all par fives. With the completion of each objective, you’ll receive money and experience. If the objectives seem out of reach, you’ll find plenty of other ways to increase your funds and level up, and each day, new tournaments are added for members to compete in. Most feature progressive purses, so even an embarrassingly bad scorecard will net you a couple hundred dollars to spend on upgrades.
Tiger Online also features something called “The Cut.” Every day, players are challenged to beat a certain score on a course of their choice. If you complete that challenge, the next day you’ll be presented with a slightly harder challenge--and a slightly larger reward. Once you’ve made some money, you can go to the Swing Trainer and purchase upgrades to help you drive farther or putt more accurately. These immediately start improving your scores, which enables you to complete tougher course objectives. That’s a smart career structure, and it’s the kind of well-designed approach that kept us coming back for more.
The game features very limited customization options. In fact, there are only four characters, basically boiling down to golfers with different skin tones. But since you rarely see other characters (except in group games), the disillusionment of golfing with dozens of doppelgängers rarely comes in to play. The Pro Shop offers a place for fashionable players to set themselves apart, as well as purchase items with practical benefits. Many of the items can be purchased for in-game money, while some, like fancy putters, require micro-transactions.
The ability to play in a web browser (Safari 3 or later is recommended, and a free Unity Web Player plug-in is required) is absolutely this game’s killer feature. The whole system is snappy enough to open for a quick round between projects or emails. It’s easy to suspend rounds, and if the browser quits, Tiger Online politely saves your data to the nearest hole.
Though Tiger Online is slow-paced, the game is incredibly fun and infinitely rewarding for beginners and masters alike.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online
COMPANY: Electronic Arts
CONTACT: www.tigerwoodsonline.ea.com
PRICE: $$9.99/month, or $59.99/year with 1,500 bonus points. Free account can play one course or purchase à la carte “greens fees” ($1 and up per round).
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4 or later, 1GB RAM (2GB recommended), 768kpbs broadband Internet connection (7Mbps recommended), Safari 3 or later
Rewarding learning curve. Lots of encouragement. Hitting an eagle feels amazing. ESRB Rating: Everyone.
Can get glitchy when too many windows are open. Obnoxious menu system. Limited customization.
