Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360*, PS3
Dev: EA Tiburon
Pub: EA Sports
Release: March 27, 2012
Players: 1-4
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

The introduction of the Kinect to the PGA Tour is easily the biggest draw of PGA Tour 13, but there are some new game modes worth noting. The Legacy Challenge is probably the most peculiar mode we have seen in a golf game yet. In it, you get to follow not only Tiger Woods's golfing career, but also his life. The mode actually starts you off by controlling Tiger in his toddler years. Yes, you are actually controlling Tiger Woods when he was no more than five years old. You follow "Baby Tiger" as he hits balls into his backyard swimming pool, and as you complete these almost surreal life-themed challenges, Tiger grows up. You'll follow him through childhood, straight through his pro years, to present day, and then to the future! It's a mode that gets you incredibly intimate with Tiger Woods's life story in an almost creepy way. Still, it's one of the most fun modes in the game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Screenshot

The other much-hyped game addition is the ability to form "Country Clubs" in online play. Country Clubs are essentially leagues or "guilds" for your golfing friends. By joining one, you'll start to earn status for your club whenever you compete in a match. Earning status levels your club up, and leveling your club up gives you massive coin bonuses. Clubs will also give you objectives to complete, which come with coin and status bonuses attached to them, and the best players in a club also receive rewards. Heck, you even get a reward simply for continuing to play the game. For each four consecutive days that you play the game, your country club will give you a bonus. It essentially puts more replay value into the game but focuses it on online play, which will do a lot to bolster the Tiger Woods online community.

Everything else about Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is pretty much identical to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12. However, the addition of Kinect Controls, Legacy Challenge, and Country Clubs certainly make it worthwhile to upgrade. In fact, the Legacy Challenge and Country Clubs are worth it even if you don't own a Kinect. But if you do own a Kinect, you'll be able to experience one of the most well-designed Kinect experiences to date. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is most likely the best PGA Tour game yet. If you are a golf fan, you should definitely pick it up.

By
Angelo M. D'Argenio
Contributing Writer
Date: March 27, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.7

Graphics
The graphics haven't improved much over PGA Tour 12, but they don't hinder the gameplay in any way.

4.8

Control
Though it's difficult to navigate menus with the Kinect, everything else feels completely natural.

3.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The commentators do a competent job and the sound effects are realistic.

4.0

Play Value
It took motion control to make me enjoy a golf game, and enjoy it I did.

4.1

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 support, which allows for motion and voice control capabilities on the course.

Improve your game with a true-to-life golf swing. Experience authentic golf that emulates your swing style as you drive the ball down the fairway or sink a 30 foot putt.

For one week each spring, golf's greatest players from around the world gather on the sacred grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, and now you can take part in one the greatest traditions in sports, the Masters Tournament.

Take on the best of the best on some of the world's most celebrated championship golf courses around the globe, including the St. Andrews Links, Pebble Beach Golf Links, TPC Sawgrass, and many more.

Invite friends to join exclusive online country clubs and team up to gain quicker access to downloadable features or compete against other club members for the coveted Club Championship.