Cross dressing...the best new feature?
I already thought that Tiger Woods 07 was an enjoyable golfing experience so, in my opinion, there was only so much EA could have done to improve the Tiger Woods franchise this year. But, like they have done with the FIFA series this year, they've obviously gone away, examined every inch of the game and added a few bits and bobs here and there in a bid to encourage us to pick it up again this year and convince us that they've improved it in someway.One of those new features is face mapping. Don't you think there’s something really creepy about seeing a virtual representation of yourself in a game? Anyhow…using either the Xbox 360 webcam or through the uploading of a digital image from your PC to EA sport's website you can now put your head on the shoulder's of a golfer.
It's a great addition to the series! I've managed to put my head onto a ladies body…I've always wanted a pair of breasts for the day. My previous experience of face-mapping was on Rainbow 6: Vegas and personally I thought it looked nothing like me, but in Tiger Woods 08 it really does look uncannily like me and thanks to some extensive customisation options I've been able to amend some of the features slightly, adding a few crow's feet and slightly adjusting my nose to give a true representation of my face. Of course, it doesn't help my backswing or my skill at putting, but it's nice to be able to play through the game with my new gender crossing identity, and it always freaks out my wife when she sees it.
Click for larger image
Click for larger imageBefore I get onto the actual golf itself, there are a number of other additions that I feel obliged to tell you about. In addition to the training mode and nine of the traditional game modes from TW07, such as Skins and Stroke play, there's a new game mode called 'Bingo, Bango, Bongo.' If the name isn't enough to slightly irritate you, then the game probably will.
It works like this: The first player in the match who gets his ball on the green gets a point (bingo). The player in the group whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green gets a point (bango). And finally, the player in the group who is first to putt his ball gets a point (bongo).
It's not the most thrilling addition to the series and the skill of your opponents seems to constantly change depending on how you play yourself. They'll hit dreadful shots off the tee or from the fairway, but if you get on the green in one shot, they'll then pull of an amazing shot from the rough or the bunker to land right next to the hole. The erratic nature of the AI unfortunately seems to be a feature in many of the game modes and challenges throughout Tiger Woods.