Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition Review for PlayStation 3

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Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition, the 16th release in this game series, offers players an in-depth, rewarding golf experience.  This high quality golf game features  improved graphics, PlayStation Move controller capability, real-time weather system, and Legends of the Majors mode. Players can now create their own unique experience facing Tiger Woods or his fellow golfers, past and present like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Bubba Watson.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition includes tournament practice facility, extra content, online pass (broadband connection required), The Masters’ green jacket ceremony and five additional courses in additional to the 20 base courses available, which are also in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 (increased from 16). Most activities (online and offline) help players earn coins used for leveling up/improving golfers while providing enough variety and customization for an immersing overall experience.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition includes all the elements in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 including the Legends of the Majors mode, which replaces the previous Legacy mode where players compete in each golfer’s era with unique gear, visuals, and playing style. Players progress by winning against each player and can learn a lot about the sport and its’ rich history beginning in the 1930s.

This unique experience combines with the main gameplay, options and settings to benefit any player ranging from beginner to veteran. The experienced players can still find high challenges like a fifth difficulty level called simulation, which represents a highly realistic experience.

The tournament practice facility includes a world-class practice tee, short game area, and putting green where players can practice with any golfer and/or earn extra experience advantages. In the Quick Tournament mode players can try any of the four major tournaments at any time. Hit a “Grand Slam” by playing historical events in all four majors: The Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Extra gameplay incentives including unlocking legend players for use in the main game modes. Players also unlock apparel, clubs, gloves, outfits, and other gear that increase talents and abilities.

NightDay

The “Live & Dynamic Time of Day” features lets player enjoy some night golf for the first time. These new time of day settings allow a player to experience the time setting exactly occurring on that course in real-time. For example, a player playing the Sheshan course at 10:00 a.m. EDT would experience night golf since it would actually be night-time in China.

Gear upgrades in the pro shop help player boost power, accuracy and putting. Visual improvements add more texture in the environments and player clothing. Game developers even factor the weather into player movements with details like wind and other weather elements.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition feature 32 golfers total – nine Legends golfers and five female golfers as this game series features the LPGA for the first time. The nine Legends players are Arnold Palmer (in two eras), Jack Nicklaus (three), Gary Player (two), Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Boggy Jones, and “Tiger Slam” Tiger Woods.

FemaleGolfer

In the present day, Electronic Arts represents a total of 35 players from the PGA…and the LPGA including Paula Creamer, Suzann Petterse, Natalie Bulbis, Lexi Thompson, and Stacy Lewis. The male golfers include Tiger, Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Ben Crane, Paul Casey, Hunter Mahan, Ross Fisher, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Bud Cauley plus celebrity golfers Kevin Love, Andy Roddick, Marshall Faulk, and fantasy golfer Scott Ratchman.

Playable golf courses include Augusta National, Atlanta Athletic Club, Crooked Stick Golf Course, East Lake, Ocean Course at Kiawah island, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, PGA National, Royal Birkdale, Spyglass Hill, Torrey Pines, PTC Sawgrass, and Valhalla with new course including New Royal Troon, TPC Louisiana, Mission Hills, Muirfield Village, and Oak Hill Country Club.

TW14Swing

The flexible game modes offer customized choices….the environments and playable golfers are plentiful…now for the action. The icons and meters help you measure and estimate those perfect shots. It is very easy to succeed and customize your character. A meter accurately measures backswing and ball contact, requiring players to concentrate to achieve the correct rhythm with every stroke. Players can choose among standard, advanced or draw and fade using the traditional controller or PlayStation Move controller.

Golfers now have different strengths and weaknesses according to selectable abilities. Players can easily customize a player in their aesthetic likeness then select from more than 25 detailed Swing Styles with skills that match with special gear to create their ultimate golfer. Swing style option types include power vs. control; draw vs fade (how the balls travels off the club), trajectory (low, med, and high); and finally right or left-handed. Each ability affects another ability. For example, choosing power helps drive the ball, but players lose some control/accuracy. Tempo (rhythm of gameplay) is an important game changer that mainly affects control.

CountryClubs

The country club experience offers great teamplay, social enhancements (mute chat option), and special events. Players can check leaderboards and, most importantly, achieve team loyalty coins/awards like the streak system that rewards successive daily play. Leave to a country club to put the focus on the game currency. Players can definitely advance quicker in an active country club membership.

Not sure where to go for membership? Players can choose automatic placement after playing through their first round of golf. Each country club can now accommodate up to 100 players (an increase from 25). The Connected Club tournaments lets players measure up against other country clubs. The extended Country Club Tour features five events.

Players always have access to essential gameplay information plus a real-time sports ticket at the bottom of the screen. This installment decreases the caddy and announcer involvement though announcer Jim Nantz provides nice introductions.

Season ticket members can get a 20% discount on downloadable content like 18 additional courses including The PTC Boston, River Highlands, San Antonio, and Scottsdale 4-pack and the remaining Banff Springs, Celtic Manor (2010), Costa Navarino, The Els Club, River Course at Blackwolf Run, Royal County Down, Royal Melbourne, Sheshan, TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Wolf Creek Golf Club and new Colonial Country Club plus four fantasy courses named Emerald Dragon, Greek Isles, Highlands, and Predator.

An outstanding all-ages sports experience with great flexibility and customization. Also available on Xbox 360 (both regular and The Masters Historic Edition).

Review: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition

Where to Buy: Amazon and other stores

Price: $69.99 (Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 sells for $59.99)

What I Like: Legends of the Majors game mode, Grand Slam (all four major tournaments) mode, LPGA inclusion, historical/learning elements, nostalgic visuals, night time golf options, expanded competition with Country Club option, expanded competition online as single player, low learning curve for veteran players (mechanics similar to previous installment)

What Needs Improvement: menus/options occasionally overload the experience with too much information, more commentary options/availability, limited ways to expedite game currency accumulation for upgrades (mainly through country club membership activities)

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