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I don't have much to compare PGA Tour 13 to as I haven't played a game since 04 back on PS2 and don't remember a whole lot about it. Regardless, as a golfer I can say, the game is some serious fun! I tried the demo back a few weeks ago and was turned off, everything seemed off and unbalanced. Luckily the final game turned out better than I expected.
This review is mainly for the Kinect version of the game, as that is all I have used to play and is the main reason for me finally diving into another Tiger Woods game. There are 3 sides to Kinect controlling: The actual fairway and green play, the menu system between these shots and the voice controls. First off, one of my favorite aspects of most Kinect games is the voice control abilities. Just saying "change club...4 iron" is so fluid and intuitive, it seems almost slow to choose with a controller. This is also the preferred method of doing things as whoever designed the hand-controlled Kinect menus must have been sleeping most of the work day as they are atrocious. Trying to select a menu item is pulling teeth using motions, always use voice controls until they patch this.
As far as actual gameplay once setting up your shot, the Kinect shines bright. You face your TV and swing parallel to it so that Kinect can read your full swing instead of limit side view by the device. This is the first use of Kinect by the PGA Tour team and there are some subtle movements I do as a golfer that it will not pick up on, twisting your wrists to change club-head angle does not seem to have any effect and occasionally Kinect will stutter a bit when trying to recognize what you are intending to do with your hands, as well as stutters in your avatars actions when you swing. However, you won't notice those much if you keep your head down and eyes on the imaginary ball at your feet as the game replicates what you are doing with your swing very well. It takes some getting used to, ghosting golf swings, but I found a stick to hold that gave me a better feel of really holding a club, which translated into more confident shots.
Aiming is something that takes practice and can be daunting for some at first. You raise your right hand out and make a fist that you can then move left, right, up, or down to dictate direction and depth, then clasp your hands together and the game will instantly recognize you want to hit the ball. One final aspect I will touch on is the Online Country Clubs. You join a group of other people (random or friends) and start a team that can garner you extra bonuses for you and your teammates based on how well you and they play. It also makes setting up Xbox Live matches with teammates pretty easy and adds to the overall feeling of being on Tour.
Overall, I am impressed with the Kinect controls. I have wanted a true Golf simulation using Kinect, and this is a great first entry into the PGA series for the device. The immersion offered is almost as good as being on the links (except no cart fees!). The online features are pretty good, and Xbox Live play is a mostly lag-free experience. Also of note; I am from and live in Augusta, GA. The Masters is seriously big time around here. Getting to virtually play on the Augusta National is a thrilling thing for me. I think every golf fan alive wants to take 18 holes on that course!
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I skipped Tiger 12 so this review is in comparison of Tiger 11. First off, the game is much more challenging right off the bat. The new "Swing Tempo" kicked my butt in the first round I played. On the first hole I exceeded my shot limit and shot a 50 on the front nine! I was cursing EA and telling myself I was going to immediately sell the game. Things got better on the back nine with a 34. On my second round I shot a 27 on the back nine ... so it appears that maybe I will have a chance to succeed and get used to the new swing system.As others have noted, putting is much more difficult to gauge but the hardest thing for me is the chipping. I think once I get used to the tempo things will go better. The setup is really nice and the overall physics seem to be much improved over Tiger 11. The graphics are much improved over Tiger 11 and were much better then I anticipated. And not having Scott Van Pelt as an announcer was worth the price of the game itself.
EA is getting docked a star for taking outright greed to the next level. In fact, it's quite impressive on how they have decided to blatantly gouge us. I went with the Master's edition because the five "extra" courses for $10 was cheaper then paying around $7 each on DLC. The fact that EA dangles the DLC courses during your career by making them events is downright shameful. At least you can earn coins to temporarily unlock them, but I'm sure they are making millions off those that don't have the time.
In the end, I went against my morals and bought the game knowing full-well how greedy EA is mainly because they finally decided to break the mold and introduce a new swing system and game style. However, this will be the last Tiger Woods game I will buy until they give us all the courses from years past and only charge for "new" DLC courses. I've already abandoned the Madden series due to EA's push for greed instead of innovation. I really hope the NHL series does not fall prey to the greed. Imagine only getting the Western conference and having to pay for DLC to unlock the Eastern conference ... oh, crap ... I hope EA isn't reading this review as I may have given them a new idea!!!
Pros:
* Graphics
* Sound
* New swing style
* A better golf sim then years past
Cons:
* Putting system
* EA greed
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If you notice the people giving this game bad reviews are the ones that want this game to be easy and much more "arcade" like, if that is what you are looking for then this game isn't for you and maybe EA should have included an "arcade mode." But they did not so it is a golf simulation game and as a golfer of 20 years, this game is great. It is as close to real golf as you can get. Playing on "TOUR Pro" difficulty, which means no putt preview or adding spin, puts you into a real golf simulation. You have to actually plot your way around the golf course, execute different shots and use some strategy to succeed. To me that is great, I get no joy out of the old version of this game where shooting 50 for 18 holes is standard, I enjoy playing a tough round and grinding out a 70 after paying for some bad drives and scrambling for some bad decisions to attack tough pins, makes for a rewarding experience. That is what makes this game great because you have to play the golf course and every situation it hands you, not just take dead aim from everywhere. The swing mechanic is great because you can't load up at the top and get your swing right, you must have tempo to hit good shots. If you want to hit it further, you must swing the club faster by moving the stick faster all why maintaining the proper swing plane. Mechanics can be difficult to grasp but with a little practice at the Augusta Practice Facility in the Collectors' Edition, you will be hitting the shots you want in no time. It's also great to have to create shots by changing ball position and the strike on the ball rather than pushing the x-button like past years. The putting mechanics can be difficult to grasp as well and was the and still is the weakest part of my game but I am improving by putting in time at the Augusta Practice Facility as well. So if you are truly an avid golfer this is a game you will absolutely enjoy as it tests your strategy and skill and hard work practicing will pay off with a very enjoyable simulation of real golf, if you are looking for an "arcade game" to try and shoot an obscenely low number go play Tiger Woods 10.Honest reviews on Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13: The Masters Collector's Edition - Xbox 360
I bought this game for my son and he loves it apparently it has extra courses on the special edition which he loves.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13: The Masters Collector's Edition - Xbox 360
Been playing this game regularly for about a month. The longer I play it, the more enjoyable it is. Moreover, it is looking as though the new swing methodology is cramping the style of those who have the modified controllers. there are not as many scores more than 30 under par.About the only thing that is less than great is that it is often hard to see the top of the swing meter due to background coloring. There have been some "freezing issues", but not so many that it is a problem.
I'm likin it.
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