With the official endorsement of Tiger Woods himself, you might expect PGA Tour 2006 for the Xbox 360 to be the best thing to grace the game of golf since, well, Tiger Woods. And, in some ways, it is.Graphically, PGA Tour 2006 on the 360 is just shy of a hole-in-one. Tour players like Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh are certainly animated with life-like attention to detail. Golf courses such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No.2 and Turnberry are reproduced beautifully (and I do mean beautifully). Sound is also used perfectly, striking the right balance between ambient sound effects and in-game commentary. Frankly, this is the best audio I've heard in a video golf game.
Gameplay wise, things are nearly identical to Tiger Woods 2006 on the PS2 and the original Xbox. There's just less of everything. Fewer courses, fewer options and fewer licensed players. The "dual-analog" swing control does keep things interesting and challenging. We've come along way from the early days of swing control.
Despite excellent visuals and solid gameplay mechanics, Tiger Woods 2006 has one critical flaw: a serious lack of replay value. With only six courses, eight other tour players, and very lacking multiplayer options, the game certainly leaves you wanting more. Sometimes feeling more like a super-huge game demo than a complete package, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 for the Xbox 360 may have better luck in 2007. For now, it is just a bit short of the green.
Pros: Beautiful graphics, challenging gameplay
Cons: Lackluster online multiplayer, too few courses (and too little of lots of other stuff as well)
Verdict: Rent it!
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