QJ’s own hands on the clubs of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 Demo

If the gameplay in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07Marketplace demo carries on to the final game next month, then it should hit the sweet spot of every console golf player. It still is as close to golf simulation as EA Sports can get it in a console, but it’s surprisingly pick-up-and-playable for the more casual golfer, too – like myself. (There’s even a tutorial video for the inexperienced – but that’s not the GameTrailers video we’re playing right now).

Just remember to get your game up to speed, casual golfer, because while the demo doesn’t feature any competition, the real game will. The demo allows you to play Tiger in four holes from courses worldwide, including Bandon and St. Andrews.

New to the Tiger series, True Aim uses the left stick to control your swing. It feels very natural – though it’s kinda hard to gauge just how far “XX%” of the swing is with a stick, but that’s the limit of all gamepad analogs. Just pull back for the backswing, then push forwards for the downswing. Easy for the beginner, isn’t it?

True Aim also automatically selects the best club to get the ball to wherever you want it to land. For more experienced players, the system also allows you to select the type of shot – such as short chips to the green, or lobbing flops over the trees – and add loft and spin to your shot. It’s all easily handled by the 360 controller. And if you screw up the shot, fret not – hit B after the shot (but before the ball stops rolling) to call a mulligan and retake the shot. A feature that won’t be available when you play for score, I’ll bet.

The hole’s just a couple shots more for the par at the full article!

If the gameplay in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07Marketplace demo carries on to the final game next month, then it should hit the sweet spot of every console golf player. It still is as close to golf simulation as EA Sports can get it in a console, but it’s surprisingly pick-up-and-playable for the more casual golfer, too – like myself. (There’s even a tutorial video for the inexperienced – but that’s not the GameTrailers video we’re playing right now).

Just remember to get your game up to speed, casual golfer, because while the demo doesn’t feature any competition, the real game will. The demo allows you to play Tiger in four holes from courses worldwide, including Bandon and St. Andrews.

New to the Tiger series, True Aim uses the left stick to control your swing. It feels very natural – though it’s kinda hard to gauge just how far “XX%” of the swing is with a stick, but that’s the limit of all gamepad analogs. Just pull back for the backswing, then push forwards for the downswing. Easy for the beginner, isn’t it?

True Aim also automatically selects the best club to get the ball to wherever you want it to land. For more experienced players, the system also allows you to select the type of shot – such as short chips to the green, or lobbing flops over the trees – and add loft and spin to your shot. It’s all easily handled by the 360 controller. And if you screw up the shot, fret not – hit B after the shot (but before the ball stops rolling) to call a mulligan and retake the shot. A feature that won’t be available when you play for score, I’ll bet.

True Aim’s not the only best friend of the golfer in this game. The caddy is surprisingly helpful, giving shot advice and control tips before every shot. You can turn him off, and he’ll still remain accessible in the course information menu (press the Back button), but why pass up free advice? And with a ton of practice over the four available holes – as well as a ton-and-a-half of mulligans – you should be ready for prime time when the game finally ships.

Even with the graphics of a demo, you can see how UCAP works with the Tiger reacting to every shot. He’d concentrate, cheer, call the ball back into the fairway, and my personal favorite, “Oh, snap, that shot could have been better.” Which is what I got everytime, screwed up ball-whacker that I am. Yes, it is also possible to hit the cheering audience with fouled-up shots, and they will get hurt, as will your pride.

Speaking of the cheering crowd, the audio in the game is right on par. Lovers of golf would want to replay the sound of the perfect tee shot over and over again. The commentary’s not bad, as far as commentary in golf goes, though it could be repetetive at times. The pre-game commentary they give as the camera flies over the course though is something worth listening to for additional tips on how to atack the hole. And with the wind, the birds, and the crowd, it’s a perfect day to walk the links.

This demo’s a nice and relaxing four holes of Scotland’s export, as well as a good warm-up for the release game. For any golf fan, well worth the download and play. Of course, if you fancy a more bloody use of the golf club, you could try Dead Rising instead. Of course, the only sweet spot you’ll be hitting in that game is the face of a putrefying zombie.