Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003by Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Everyone
ASIN: B00006JN5G
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Features:
• Golf simulator
• 13 different courses rendered to scale, including Pebble Beach, Sawgrass, and Princeville
• Create a course feature
• Speed golf mode lets players race to the 18th hole
• For 1 to 4 players
Manufacturer's Description: EA Sports continues its exclusive partnership with the PGA Tour and Tiger Woods, delivering the most realistic golf simulation for console golf fans. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 takes the fun of Sunday golf with your friends, mixes it with the competitive pressure of the PGA Tour, and adds the exhilaration of gaming to deliver a fast and furious golf experience that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. With prestigious courses, an all-star lineup of PGA Tour pros, and a variety of modes, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 keeps even the lowest-handicapped golfer challenged for months to come.
Customer Reviews:
Worlds above 2002, December 4, 2002
Reviewer: Cotto from Royal Oak, MI United States
Okay. Anyone that enjoyed the 2002 version of this game will go nuts for the 2003. More courses, More golfers, More scenarios, More options, and more of everything that made 2002 the best golf game ever (now the 2nd best).
I can honestly say that I am very happy that they did not go too far in changing the mechanics of this game. I believe the 2002 version perfected the swing mechanics and the ball control. These aspects are still a part of this game. I think they just tweaked it and made it a bit tighter resulting in a little more realism as far as hooks and slices go. It isn't necessarily more difficult, just more realistic.
The Graphics in this game are breathtaking. The golfers look great, and the courses even greater. You will go crazy on The Predator. Awesome.
If you like golf...get this game. You will not be disappointed.
Oh My Word!, November 25, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Lebanon, Ohio United States
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!
The toughest game you'll ever love, November 21, 2002
Reviewer: Nathan Robinson
4 stars for an excellent return to Tiger Woods PGA. I'd give it 5 but...Let's put it this way, the thousands of putts I made on 2002 do not find the Birdie on 2003. I would say it's borderline, but it's not just borderline, it's totally anal. Um, when the ball goes in, it should stay in people. I've literally seen some of the holes on this one get spit back out. I've seen the ball disappear for a moment going STRAIGHT into the hole and then reappear on the side and miss??? Basically what they've done is design it so that no matter how awesome your clubs are, you're still going to miss, even if it's right on. It's the most frustrating experience you'll ever have. You'll know that the same putt in 2003 that you just missed would have been made on 2002. That's with the right angle, speed, etc. Call it an ego trip but I ought to know after actually winning a REAL Championship trophey for PGA 2002 on PS2. Now a new battle for the Championship is on with 2003 and I plan to retain the gold. Just make sure you spell my name right when they're engraving the next one Eric.
The graphics are incredible and the new courses are very nice. Ofcourse, with a new version, new problems arise. The angle you are given on some greens is not very helpful. On 2002, you could eye the hole no matter how close you were, not so here. Many putts are viewed at an angle as well. This seriously takes time to get used to, especially if you played 2002 religiously. Get ready for a touchy club too. The wind has picked up considerably on courses like St. Andrews (19-20mph). You may never be sure how much power to give a particular drive, especially when you are going for the green. Don't listen to Dave and Billy at all, though, if you wanted to make it on 2002, you know that already. However, one definite difference; in 2002, when they called the drive, they were correct every time, not this time around. If Dave likes the drive, it may still go in the rough, or it may overshoot the hole completely even when he yells that "it's right on it." It's like they're not even watching the same game.
The key to winning this time around is to just let go completely. Enjoy the experience no matter how insane it gets and have fun. Every time I just pay attention to the green and not all the eye candy, I win another challenge. After a couple of very difficult weeks, I'm now one away from Tiger.
And one more thing. To be a Champ and get respect, you don't keep your stats from 2002. You start from the ground up again.
GETTIN IT DONE, November 20, 2002
Reviewer: badfizh from Kings Lynn, England
This game is off the hook. It lives up to every expectation that I had. EA sports seems to have mastered golf as a video game. WOW! I recommend this game to anyone who thinks that they have any skill. Give it a shot I think you will find that you like it
EA Sports hit's a Hole-in-one...FINALLY !!, November 17, 2002
Reviewer: Scott King from Florida
Having played most of the golf games available..this one ranks as one of the best. Great graphics..Great course design..True golf physics. My only complaint, is that the title should be changed to " Brad Faxons PGA Tour 2003 " A computer controlled Brad Faxon is almost unstoppable..it seems EVERY shot he makes is perfection..round after round. When YOU hit a great shot, HE hits one just a little better, it get ridiculous after a while...Brad Faxon WISHED he played this well in REAL LIFE. Anyway, I recommend this title highly..just have some patience playing Brad in the Tiger Challenge Mode..you will need it.
Great improvements over 2002., November 14, 2002
Reviewer: filthathrill from Hemet, California United States
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!, November 8, 2002
Reviewer: Richard Guion from Castro Valley, CA USA
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.
better replay value than '02, November 7, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from St. Louis, MO
I was hoping the gameplay of Tiger Woods '03 would be a little more challenging than '02 -- I really haven't found that to be the case. That's the only thing I've been dissapointed with though. TW '03 definitely has better replay value than '02 as the Tiger Challenge consists of more matches, there are many more tournaments to compete in, the new skills challenge mode, and the addition of several new PGA Tour pros (Ty Tryon, Charles Howell III, and Mark O'Meara to name a few) and courses like St. Andrews, Torrey Pines, and the TPC of Scottsdale make the game worth the "upgrade" from TW '02
Not ready for PrimeTime, November 6, 2002
Reviewer: Brian R Olson from Colorado Springs, CO USA
Let me start by saying that I own all 3 Tiger Woods golf games for PS2. The 2002 release was a huge jump in overall game play and replay value. I may have been looking for the same type of gap-up from 2002 to 2003 and it's just not there. Aside from the bugginess, 2003 is a good game but it's only slightly better than 2002.
BUGS: I can't believe they released this game with the number of bugs I've found so far. When playing an opponent in Challenge mode I'm hearing small music clips every time the club strikes the ball. This happens after I've been playing for about an hour. Then if I continue to play the sounds will continue for the length of the shot or longer...it sounds like a skipping CD and gets very annoying after a while. Along with the skipping music I'll also hear the comentator's voices, "That should play well, David" played about 20-times faster than normal speed over and over again during the shot. In addition to that the volume of the music will increase by 3-4 times it's normal volume for about 2 seconds.
AI: The challenges are more challenging and made tougher by stronger AI and incredibly hard courses (not actual courses but made up ones). While playing Solita Lopez she chipped a shot on to the green about 1ft short of the hole. She stepped up to tap it in and missed. However, the game gave her credit for making the putt. In the same match Solita hit a shot into the water and 2 sand traps on consecutive holes and chipped in each one from approximately 20, 40 and 50 yds. You'll also have to play Cedric "Ace" Andrews on a course called the "Predator". This course has double and triple dog-legs and overhanging jungle material on almost every hole. Oh, yeah..."Ace" shoots under par! Unbelievable!
GRAPHICS/SOUND: The courses look better than in 2002 while the golfers remain the same. The sounds have remained virtually the same. However, the descriptions of the course and each hole as you're playing are nice.
MISC: There are many more challenges and challengers than before. There is also a new "skill" that you can build called LUCK. I'm not sure how much this comes in to play yet with the AI but I've been building it equally with my other skills.
Overall, this could be a very good game. If you can get past the bugs and unbelievable strength of the AI it's enjoyable.
Absolutely The BEST!!!, November 5, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from glen allen, virginia United States
I've been playing the EA golf games for years and I think this one is the best yet! It's a lot more challenging with the joy stick swing and that's okay by me. This is one of those games that you keep playing for hours and everything else is on hold. Buy it for someone for the holidays because it's a must own! The Tiger challenge is absolutely superb.
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