Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play Review for the Nintendo Wii

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play box art

System: Wii, X360, PS3, PSP, PS2	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Tiburon	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Electronic Arts	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Aug. 26, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Once you throw in the fantastic multiplayer mode, you've got yourself a seriously awesome game. With Tiger Woods 09 you can play with up to three other people online on a variety of different courses. In my time with the game online, I didn't come across any lag and the way that the online mode is executed is brilliant. The other play modes are great, but it's the online that makes Tiger Woods 09 a must-buy game for golf fans.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play screenshot

There's the standard EA interface, where you can peruse lobbies, send messages, and set up games. Once you actually get online, up to four players can play through a course simultaneously, so there's no boring stretches when you're waiting for others to take their swings. That said, you can see colored trajectories representing swings that your opponents have taken, as well as real-time scoring. It's an addictive system and Tiger Woods 09 easily has one of the most robust online modes of any Wii game to date, including such blockbusters as Mario Kart Wii.

Rounding out the multiplayer package is a set of golf-related mini-games for up to four people. None of them are all that exciting, but some of them do manage to be interesting. Some of them feel pretty lame (for example, driving around in golf carts with a top-down view trying to collect golf balls), but others are clever and fun while they last (for example, a game in which you and an opponent try and spin the ball either toward or away from the hole). Finally, there are several golf-related variations for a single players, from a golf version of Horse to some more basic and boring "hit the ball through the ring" ideas.

If you're a golf fan, you've got to buy Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All Play. It's the definitive game of golf this year, and the yearly iterations to come will surely improve upon an already-great game. Even if you're not a huge golf fan, this game is definitely worth checking out. Between the beefy career mode, distracting mini-games, and insanely addictive multiplayer mode, All Play is well worth the money you'll spend on it.

By Joseph Catalanotto
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.9

Graphics
While they don't compare to the visuals of the PS3 or 360 versions, the many different courses look great nonetheless.

4.8

Control
Sophisticated, intuitive, responsive controls make it easier than ever to immerse yourself in the game of golf.

3.4

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Repetitive "cheering" sound effects with no real music outside of the menus.

4.9

Play Value
A lengthy career mode combined with the endlessly-enjoyable online play makes All Play one of the most enjoyable golf games to date.

4.6

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

All-New Performance Coach: Tiger Woods' real-life coach, Hank Haney, guides you through your career by assessing your performance and providing tips and drills to increase your skills.

Maximize Your Swing: Get the most out of every club with the Club Tuner, an all-new swing-control feature that allows you to calibrate your clubs to fit your personal tendencies and preferences.

All-New Online Simultaneous Play: Compete in a live four person round in the time it takes to play a single-player round. Ball trail visuals indicate your competitors' shots, allowing you to swing whenever you're ready.

New Courses and Golfers: Test your skills on new courses, including Gary Player Country Club in South Africa, Wentworth Country Club in England, and more, while international stars Se Ri Pak, Darren Clarke, and others join the competition.