Developer(s): EA Tiburon
Publisher(s): EA Sports
Release date(s): NA June 8, 2010
Genre(s): Sports (Golf)
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer, online multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: E
Input methods: Gamepad, Multitouch, Wii Remote/Wii MotionPlus, PlayStation MoveDeveloper(s): EA Tiburon
Publisher(s): EA Sports
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, iPhone OS
Release date(s): NA June 8, 2010
Genre(s): Sports (Golf)
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer, online multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: E
Input methods: Gamepad, Multitouch, Wii Remote/Wii MotionPlus, PlayStation Move
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in North America on June 8, 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and iPhone OS. The game is the first in the series to support the PlayStation Move controller for the Sony PlayStation 3. As with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, the Wii version utilizes Wii MotionPlus.
Features and Gameplay:
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2011 features the Ryder Cup tournament for the first time in the game franchise's history. The game also features for the first time a 24 player online multiplayer mode allowing game players to compete in the Ryder Cup online, representing either the American or European side of the tournament.
The Wii version introduces 2 new swing modes, one being Advance Plus, a mode in which the direction of the swing is tracked, and another being Tour Pro, in which the camera changes to first person and the club is 1:1 controlled (the club is seen as if you were looking downwards). It is suggested that in this mode, you place a real golf ball on the ground so you may see a point of reference while play. The version also adds 36 miniature golf holes and an online disc golf mode.
There are more than 25 professional golfers and a handful of novelty characters on the PGA Tour 11 roster, but while Tiger's near-perfect ratings for power, accuracy, control, and putting make him an obvious choice, it's far more rewarding to play as a custom golfer. That's not only because digital camera support makes it easy to put your face in the game, but also because whereas the stats for other golfers are fixed, custom golfers improve as you earn experience points across several different modes and spend them on stat increases and better equipment. The only downside to playing as a custom character is that, as part of the creation process, you have to choose one of 20 mostly dumb nicknames for spectators to use when they feel the need to yell words of encouragement in your general direction. Nothing detracts from the sense of occasion as you sink a winner on the 18th hole at St. Andrews quite like hearing some moron cheering for Big Dog, Blammo, or Playa.
After creating your custom golfer, you're encouraged to play through an eight-step tutorial that does a great job of introducing you to some of this year's most significant gameplay changes while also rewarding you with a decent number of experience points. The most significant new feature, which comes into play in a number of the tutorial steps, is the concept of player focus: an ingenious system that adds a layer of strategy to just about every shot you play by limiting the use of powerful player aids. You start each round with a finite amount of focus, and you spend a portion of it anytime you hit a ball at more than 100 percent strength, apply spin to a ball while it's in the air, temporarily reduce the size of your targeting circle with the new accuracy boost feature, or use the putt preview. The only way to replenish your focus, which doesn't happen quickly, is to play shots without using any of these things. It's a superb setup, because it forces you to take advantage of these arguably overpowered aids only when you feel you really need them, rather than using them as crutches on every hole.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2011 features the Ryder Cup tournament for the first time in the game franchise's history. The game also features for the first time a 24 player online multiplayer mode allowing game players to compete in the Ryder Cup online, representing either the American or European side of the tournament.
The Wii version introduces 2 new swing modes, one being Advance Plus, a mode in which the direction of the swing is tracked, and another being Tour Pro, in which the camera changes to first person and the club is 1:1 controlled (the club is seen as if you were looking downwards). It is suggested that in this mode, you place a real golf ball on the ground so you may see a point of reference while play. The version also adds 36 miniature golf holes and an online disc golf mode.
There are more than 25 professional golfers and a handful of novelty characters on the PGA Tour 11 roster, but while Tiger's near-perfect ratings for power, accuracy, control, and putting make him an obvious choice, it's far more rewarding to play as a custom golfer. That's not only because digital camera support makes it easy to put your face in the game, but also because whereas the stats for other golfers are fixed, custom golfers improve as you earn experience points across several different modes and spend them on stat increases and better equipment. The only downside to playing as a custom character is that, as part of the creation process, you have to choose one of 20 mostly dumb nicknames for spectators to use when they feel the need to yell words of encouragement in your general direction. Nothing detracts from the sense of occasion as you sink a winner on the 18th hole at St. Andrews quite like hearing some moron cheering for Big Dog, Blammo, or Playa.
After creating your custom golfer, you're encouraged to play through an eight-step tutorial that does a great job of introducing you to some of this year's most significant gameplay changes while also rewarding you with a decent number of experience points. The most significant new feature, which comes into play in a number of the tutorial steps, is the concept of player focus: an ingenious system that adds a layer of strategy to just about every shot you play by limiting the use of powerful player aids. You start each round with a finite amount of focus, and you spend a portion of it anytime you hit a ball at more than 100 percent strength, apply spin to a ball while it's in the air, temporarily reduce the size of your targeting circle with the new accuracy boost feature, or use the putt preview. The only way to replenish your focus, which doesn't happen quickly, is to play shots without using any of these things. It's a superb setup, because it forces you to take advantage of these arguably overpowered aids only when you feel you really need them, rather than using them as crutches on every hole.
The final tutorial encourages you to play a hole using the new true-aim control system, which makes the game significantly more difficult and realistic. The basic controls are unchanged, so you still swing the analog stick back and forth as if it were your club, but most of the aids disappear. A single arrow on the horizon shows where you're aiming; scattered markers that are often dozens of yards away from where your ball is likely to land are the only indicators of range and elevation; and draw and fade are applied by changing where you strike the ball rather than using a second targeting circle. Another neat touch when using true aim is that you watch your shots play out as if your head were following the ball. True aim isn't for everyone, but it's a great addition nonetheless, and since you can use it while playing on any of the four difficulty settings and in almost any mode, there's no reason not to try it.
Last Words:
That Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 improves on its predecessor is impressive. That it improves on it enough to be recommended without hesitation even if you own last year's game is remarkable. Even if you have little interest in the new Ryder Cup and online team modes, and don't anticipate playing with the new true-aim system, the introduction of focus along with a host of other less significant improvements out on the course still make this the golf game to own.
Last Words:
That Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 improves on its predecessor is impressive. That it improves on it enough to be recommended without hesitation even if you own last year's game is remarkable. Even if you have little interest in the new Ryder Cup and online team modes, and don't anticipate playing with the new true-aim system, the introduction of focus along with a host of other less significant improvements out on the course still make this the golf game to own.
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