9.1

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

EA continues their "wow" factor not because they are one of the few companies to work with the new Wii MotionPlus controller but they continue to push the boundaries of what sports games are all about and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is no exception to the rule.

Although golf is golf and little has changed in the console world in terms of gameplay with the exception of the previous Wii version which allowed gamers to use the innovative yet flawed control system of this console to hit golf balls, things are beginning to look up for the world of console golfing.

Even though accuracy was lacking in the previous Wii version, with the inclusion of Wii MotionPlus to the Tiger Woods franchise, dodgy shots and poor accuracy can be put away with the Dodo thanks to the new control system. Also add in the ability to engage in the USGA rules of golf and this a dream of many console owners. Did we also mention real-time weather effects where you can almost feel the breeze?

In Nintendo's defense, all I can say is about damn time. The Wii has always been "cute" and generally the motion sensitive gameplay was really a gimmick. Sure, it was fun to play for 30 minutes but anything longer became a chore and tedious.

Yes there have been a few good games on the console but thankfully Nintendo have addressed the "social", "casual" and gamer issue by creating a new innovative control system that actually works and is not just another gimmick which is one of the reasons why Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 soars high above the sports gaming world.

Not only does the game offer a plethora of entertaining gaming modes from short to long sessions but it successfully mimics real-world golf quite well. Add in a variety of off-line game modes such as the FedEx Cup or even verse other gamers in the online mode and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 has a variety of gameplay for all sorts of gamers.

For true fans of the series, most gamers will play the career mode that allows you to create your golfer and play the entire amateur circuit before hitting it out with the big guns on the PGA Tour. The value for money is definitely impressive as you'll be playing for hours upon hours.

There are also a variety of mini-games and challenges to assist in breaking up some of the golfing monotony which is quite fun and as you progress, your golfer is awarded money and skills.

I must admit that the online mode is the bees knees of online golfing which allows the gamer to engage in ranked and unranked matches and even special tournaments which is hosted by EA. This is where the live weather option comes into play and if it's raining and windy in the real-world, it will be rainy and windy in the game.

Gameplay wise, although reminiscent of previous versions, if you have the Wii Motion Plus which we would highly recommend that you do, you still need to hold the controller like a real golf club, however the accuracy is unparalleled.

With this increased realism comes of course increased mistakes which means you really have to concentrate when you are about to hit the ball. The way it mimics hitting a real golf ball is quite uncanny and dare I admit it, the developers have created the "almost" perfect game of golf on any console which is also the most frustrating aspect of the title.

If you are leaning the wrong way, your arm is slightly off or your wrist is turned, this may cause you some grief, however by "hanging" in, the rewards are definitely worth it.

The way the game monitors your power is very impressive and by hitting it gently or hitting it hard, it will in turn react quite realistically. The only downside to swinging is that at times a perfect swing at low power sometimes resulted in a perfect swing at high power and we learned that you can trick the system this way.

When it comes to putting, it has also received a facelift from previous instalments thanks to the precision putting system which had us jumping in glee at how easy and accurate this was. Knocking the ball into that hole is now a joy not a frustration break your Wii and HD TV experience.

Graphically, the title has received a slight improvement over its predecessors, however it's still oozing with Wii graphics and really cannot compare to those high-end consoles such as the PS3 or XBox 360. The graphics will get you by, with decent animation, weather effects and environments, however it's still a little bland which is a shame because the game mechanics are so good. The sound effects are all golf and does assist with the gameplay in immersing you into this entertaining and realistic golf game.

At the end of the day, EA Sports have created a truly remarkable golfing game on the Wii that proves that the Wii is not just for casual or social gamers. The inclusion of Wii MotionPlus adds a truly unique realism to the game and as for now, this is could easily be considered the definitive golfing experience. The only gripe is that the Wii's graphical capabilities lets the game down a little... however putting this aside, the game still transcends another level.