Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

The game of golf isn't new to the Wii.  Popularized by Wii Sports, and then attempted by EA Sports, the Wii Remote always felt like a natural controller for the sport.  Alone, however, the accelerometers in the Remote weren't enough to get the job done.

Is that the lighthouse from The Ring?

Now, EA Sports is stepping up their game with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, thanks in no small part to Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus.  The MotionPlus device adds nearly 1:1 interaction between players and their characters, and adds the necessary elements to make the best golf game, and not just on the Wii.

Golf as a sport is very exacting.  Each shot requires precision, and understanding of how the ball will react in different situations. It's no surprise that MotionPlus represents that precision well in higher difficulty settings.  How your wrist is rotated on your swing determines the draw and fade of the shot, an incredibly useful tool for driving in heavy wind conditions, or around a tree.  Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 tracks the movement of the MotionPlus on your back-swing as well as your, uhh, fore-swing?

As I've proven, I'm no golfer, but this game clings to every gamer in terms of control.  Players will find that every bit of your shot is customizable, just like it is in the real game of golf.  Without MotionPlus, the game surely doesn't work as well.  Just like Wii Sports' version of golf, many could get accustomed to it, but MotionPlus makes the game shine.  If you choose to buy it, MotionPlus is the only real way to experience it.

Your movement with MotionPlus is reflected accurately in the game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is an improvement in more areas than control, however.  Gamers have a multitude of options in their golf experience, and can start by building up their own custom golfer in career mode.  Career mode has you fighting your way from tournament to tournament to garner better skills.  More often than not, you'll find yourself far out of even tenth place in each tournament to begin with, so the progression in career mode is a slow curve, at best.

There's a long list of things to customize, primarily centering around your golfer.  All sorts of clothing and accessory options are available for players to purchase with money won in tournaments.  Additionally, more costumes and other goods are available for download and purchase with real money in EA's online store through the game.  More impressive are the options in customizing the actual clubs your player takes with them on the course.

Each club can be fine-tuned to your liking, to account for any natural draw or fade in your swing, as well as how the ball spins and rolls after hitting the ground.  Even the shafts, heads, and grips of your clubs can be customized, for those eager for their own unique "look."

Those people aren't your friends, and neither is that bunker.

If players don't care for this RPG-style of career mode, they can play as one of seemingly dozens of different professional players.  Many of them have to be unlocked through tournament play and other modes, so no Vijay Singh for you right away.  Each player comes with their own set of statistics similar to your career player (except they are much better, and you suck).  Also set up as mostly unlockable are 27 unique, and very real, golf courses, ranging from TPC Sawgrass (a personal favorite) to Bethpage Black, the site of this year's U.S. Open.

Speaking of the U.S. Open, real golf tournaments are playable against real pros as well.  Using EA Sports' online modes, gamers can square off in a number of daily, weekly, and professional tournaments with different rule sets.  For example, during this past U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, gamers could play against the scores from the real tournament on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, experiencing the same conditions that the pros are experiencing.

For those that remember, the U.S. Open had very rainy conditions, and this was no different for gamers as well.  New to the series is the integration of real-time weather conditions for each golf course.  EA Sports tied Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 with the Wii's Forecast Channel, and it comes with impressive results.  Playing alongside the pros during the tournament resulted in the same rainy weather conditions.

Umm... you missed the ball.

Playing online with friends is a bit odd, however.  While EA Sports ditched friend codes for nickname handles, as they have in past titles, there's still a huge "disconnect" in playing with others online.  Instead of being able to see your opponents taking their shot, you witness a colored "arc" showing their shot in real-time.  That way, not only do you not wait for each person to play, you still get to see what conditions they are dealing with in their round as well.  Unfortunately, EA Sports didn't take the opportunity to use Wii Speak for online voice chat, so playing against each others' colored arc shots seems incredibly empty for being an online component.

However, EA Sports did add Golf Party mode, which has over ten different golf-related mini-games from golf cart competitions to target practice.  Plus, other game modes put a spin on the game with match play and best ball, amongst others.  Even a putter-only mini golf style mode is included.

But one of the best additions to the game is only tangentially related to golf.  For those who have played disc (or Frisbee) golf before, they'll know that MotionPlus could prove that throwing a virtual disc feels exactly like the real thing.  Unfortunately, this isn't exactly the case.  While disc golf is quite entertaining, replacing the hole in each course with chain baskets to land the disc in, the only realistic part is driving.  Putting and approaching the basket with your discs take very slight wrist snaps, which isn't entirely representative of the sport.  However, MotionPlus tracks every movement of your on-screen floating hand in 1:1 motion, so the "feel" of this mode is unlike any other game made.

MotionPlus. As an entry title for MotionPlus support, this game demonstrates why every Wii owner should also be a MotionPlus owner.

Career mode. Career mode offers a deep, completely customizable experience.

Tournament play. Daily and pro tournaments are a welcome addition, and keep players coming online.

Disc golf. Albeit sensitive, this is a great addition to the game and seemingly doubles the standard replay value of each course.

Real weather conditions. When it rains, it pours, both in real life and in the game.

Details, details. The game looks great, with all the fine details you'd want in a game all about the environment around your player (minus Tiger Woods, who looks like he got stung by bees in the face).

High replay value. Career mode and dozens of unlockables will extend golf season for a long time.

Faux online play. Playing against another person online feels no different than playing against the computer.

No voice chat. With the hardware now being available and the often-quiet game being well-suited for it, we have to wonder why there isn't voice chat.

Weak throwing arm. Disc golf usually ends in spending five strokes over-throwing the basket due to controller sensitivity.

Ruthless commenting. If you're looking for extra irritation when you miss a putt, let ESPN's Scott Van Pelt and the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman do the talking.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 gives golf a new name for video games.  The fact that it is compatible (and can be purchased packed-in) with Wii MotionPlus makes this game a must-have for all Wii owners.  Experienced golfers and those that aren't too familiar with the sport will find this game fun on many levels.  It may not be the perfect online game, but with weather-affected tournaments and a deep career mode, it will last for months for many gamers.  This is the best EA Sports has offered on the Wii to date.