Tiger Woods Pro Tour 2001

Overall: A
Violence: A
Sexual Content: A
Language: A
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Sony PlayStation 2
Publisher: EA Sports
ESRB rating: E

Since the box cover promised things like "the most true-to-life golf simulation game ever" and "no other golf game delivers the realism and playability of Mean 18," I willingly forked over the 50 bucks required to purchase Accolade's highly touted software. Even though I had recently upgraded my PC to EGA graphics (the latest and greatest at the time) players were rudimentary two-dimensional characters, the ball was square, and scenery looked as if the average five-year-old had drawn it. But that was 1986, and I was one happy virtual golfer. Indeed, when compared to others in the genre, Mean 18 fulfilled every promise.

Videogame technology has improved drastically over the years, and as a result, our expectations have increased accordingly. So when the folks at EA Sports guarantee players of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 that--"You won't feel like you're watching golf, you'll feel like you're in the game"--people tend to take them literally.

And you get in the game as PGA pro Mark Calcavecchia, Stewart Cink, Robert Damron, Brad Faxon, Justin Leonard, or the wunderkid himself--Tiger Woods, competing on three of California's toughest courses: Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills, and Pebble Beach. Game modes include Practice (any hole, any course), Stroke (basic round of golf), Match (head-to-head competition with a point awarded for each hole won), Skins (a monetary prize, or skin, is up for grabs on a hole-by-hole basis), Tournament (the lowest score after 72 holes wins), and PGA Tour Challenge (start as an amateur, earn a pro ranking, and play as long as it takes to become champion). If you don't have time for an entire round, the Play Now option adds a nice twist by randomly dropping you into one of 21 pressure-filled scenarios.

Stepping up to the tee, your accurately rendered, fully three-dimensional character is presented with a view of the current hole. At the touch of a button an elevated camera angle gives a bird's-eye perspective, revealing the location of bunkers, water hazards, trees, and where the ball should land (if you hit it right). Information regarding things like total yards to the cup, height difference between ball and target, distance potential of selected club, and lie of the ball are also presented on screen. Novice golfers can choose to go along with the computer's pre-selected choices, but seasoned veterans are free to make whatever stance, club, and shot adjustments they deem necessary. Keep in mind however; the weather is no respecter of persons, so regardless of experience you'll want to compensate for wind conditions.

Hitting the ball is simple: Pull the analog stick back to start your backswing, wait until the swing meter reaches the desired power strength, then push the stick forward to commence your downswing. As is the case with real golf, these motions must be executed in a straight and fluid manner if you plan on staying out of the rough. Advanced techniques like fade, draw, topspin, and backspin can also be applied to the ball, and for those (like me) who aren't co-ordinated enough to control these effects while swinging, they can also be taken care of while the ball is in the air. Yes, I know it sounds like cheating to you purists out there, so you'll be happy to know this in-flight ball steering and spin control can be toggled off (but wouldn't it be nice to have that capability in an actual game?)

Arriving at the green, your ability to read terrain and adjust shots accordingly will be put to the test. An alternate view (shown from the perspective of a golfer crouching) covers the turf with a grid, providing a better analysis of surface contours. Now, with the old adage "drive for show, putt for dough" echoing in your head, all that remains for you to do is convince that little ball to fall in the cup.

I'm sure we still have a few years to go before someone develops the fresh-air equivalent of standing on a tee box and experiencing the rush that comes from whacking those Topflite dimples with Big Bertha's sweet spot--but in the meantime, thanks to the realism provided by high quality visuals and a context-sensitive soundtrack--Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 is a content concern free, first-rate substitute for virtual golfers whose only hopes of playing like Tiger exist in their dreams.

Jim Fleming

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