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Jun 15, 2009 2:21 pm US/Central
Review: Get Into The Swing Of "Tiger Woods 10"
By Phil Stauskas
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
So, you've been playing bowling and tennis and golf on Nintendo's Wii video game console for years now, and thinking that the system's Wii Remote has been responding to your every move. Right? Guess again. The Wii Remote, as you may have noticed, only tracks certain kinds of movement and even then not with perfect precision. Enter the Wii MotionPlus.
Nintendo has been hyping the Wii MotionPlus device for about a year now. It's a little box that snaps into the bottom of a Wii Remote and allows the system to pick up on every move you make with your game hand, no matter how minute. The company's first game to utilize the new device is "Wii Sports Resort," a sequel to their popular system pack-in. It won't be released until the end of July.
But EA takes advantage of Wii MotionPlus in their latest edition of "Tiger Woods PGA Tour," just released for multiple systems. I've chosen to focus on the Wii version because of the Wii MotionPlus integration, which honestly, makes the thought of tapping buttons to recreate a golf swing seem kind of silly.
I've been very skeptical about the Wii MotionPlus box since it was first announced. Does it really make a difference in gameplay? When I first tried "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10," I didn't notice the controller being any more responsive. It wasn't until I played without the box that I noticed a difference. A
huge difference.
With Wii MotionPlus, putting is much easier, specifically when you need to tap the ball into the hole with a really light shot. No more overshooting the hole because the controller isn't recognizing your incremental movements.
Driving the ball and chipping, on the other hand, are now more difficult. But in a good way. It takes some skill to land the perfect shot. (Golf takes skill? Who knew?) Due to the super-sensitive controller, you'll need to put some extra
umph! behind a shot if you want 100 percent power. Keep a straight wrist or you'll be fading off the fairway. And don't forget to follow through with your swing.
With "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" for Wii, in conjunction with the Wii MotionPlus device from Nintendo, EA has created an extremely realistic at-home golf experience. Popular PGA courses have been recreated, with real-time weather conditions pulled the system's Weather Channel. An extensive character creator lets players put themselves in the game. Gameplay options seem limitless, and a collection of mini-games help take your mind off the pressures of the Tour. (The new Disc Golf game really shows off how effective the Wii MotionPlus device can be.)
A new edition to the "Tiger Woods" franchise is released annually. This is the fourth one to see release on the Wii. Each has had it's share of problems, but I think EA has finally nailed it this time with a little boost from Nintendo's latest device. Finally, we have a golf video game that does the actual sport justice, while not being too difficult for non-golfers to really enjoy.
"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10" is available in stores now. The game by alone retails for $50, and the Wii MotionPlus device retails for $20. However, you can buy both in a bundled package for just $60.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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