Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here

[RumbleCard]

Seems as thought all this talk about the caddy could have been a moot point had they included yardage and club distance markers with the true aim feature. The removal of those overlays makes you totally dependent on the caddy. Which is the fatal flaw here. Patching in the markers would probably change my opinion on the game...and possibly a purchase.

Most of us can get past the annual gimmicks. We can't get past the removal of key overlays which make the game's simulation aspect dependent on said gimmick. It's just too much for me to swallow.

If they address this I'll probably jump on board.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Quote: Originally Posted by DivotMaker

Then simply shut the Caddy voice off in Audio options and with each new shot, hit your D-pad left or right to create your own custom shot....

I'm sorry but I don't feel that's acceptably clean. You'll still have the caddy tipping into the screen on shots and I don't see why I have to start jamming buttons just to get back to what should just be there in the first place. The design choices this year have created major interface annoyances, IMO of course.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Quote: Originally Posted by RumbleCard

Seems as thought all this talk about the caddy could have been a moot point had they included yardage and club distance markers with the true aim feature. The removal of those overlays makes you totally dependent on the caddy. Which is the fatal flaw here. Patching in the markers would probably change my opinion on the game...and possibly a purchase. Most of us can get past the annual gimmicks. We can't get past the removal of key overlays which make the game's simulation aspect dependent on said gimmick. It's just too much for me to swallow. If they address this I'll probably jump on board.

They would have to patch in the markers but then they have to change the aiming marker because as it stands now your aim is dependent on what club is chosen and it gives you that random landing area but it's still pinpointed unlike last year. Last year your aim was not dependent on a club selection, you simply looked over the fairway and then independently picked your club based on your carry distance and what the yardage indicators said. So even if they patch that in you are not going to able to play true aim like you did last year.

They have to patch that aiming view first and foremost but now that they have the caddie gimmick in there I think it would be next to impossible to do because that caddie shot box that you're forced to look at, even when it's disabled, is dependent on the new aiming scheme.

[misterkrabz]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gman

This game went from a must buy to I don't know anymore. I cannot stand the caddy feature and feel handcuffed by it. Of all the years to mess with and tinker with the gameplay, EA chooses the year Augusta is finally in it. Last years game was awesome IMO. They should have left well enough alone.

Typical EA...never fixes the stuff we complain about and always has time to add cheesey gimmicks that no one is asking for. Madden is the worst in this regard. Instead of building more flexibility into the game it looks like they're locking us into using this feature. It's unfortunate and like you it took the game from a definite buy to a pass.

[rangerrick012]

After playing the demo for a few days, I think the caddy is an annoyance but not the gamebreaker some made it seem. Still wish that EA would give the simple option to turn him off completely and let you go it your own, particularly on tourney mode. I will still likely get this b/c I passed on TW 11 and need a golf fix, but my excitement has been tempered a bit.

[goalie]

love the graphics - the edges of the fairways in san antonio, slightly worn... really nice...

[rangerrick012]

I have to say after playing a few more rounds on tourney diff and getting some tips from the guys at the EA forums (thx Divot for the link), I am starting to get into true view and really liking it. The caddy isn't as annoying and I've kinda gotten used to it. Also, the caddy does help when you get into some tough situations, though I still use custom shot 9/10 times. Still wish the option to turn him OFF was there...but like I said before, not a gamebreaker at all.

I do have a $20 Amazon credit, which I'll likely use to get this (and another $10 for preordering this one.) Just hope that EA will continue to try and patch some of the issues which gamers had with the demo.

[Phobia]

This is a review my buddy wrote. He is a HUGE golf fanatic and he gave his take on the demo.
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Quote: Originally Posted by Frowdawg

Okay so I have been reading and hearing alot of negative things about the new Tiger Woods. Let me start off by saying I have read in forums, heard from friends, and found out for myself that there are some things that might be unappealing to the sim nation. So here is my take on things..... The big issue seems to be with the new caddy system that EA has come out with, I am not going to trash the system or praise it I will simply give my point of view and let you draw your own conclusions. Allow me to set the scene! Its day 4 at the masters your Tiger Woods standing on the 18th tee box caddy at your side with precise yardages and projected ball flight on screen. In my experience I just pulled back on the joystick smashed the ball 310 straight down the pipe (kinda unrealistic for Tiger nowadays jk). On my approach shot again my yardages and flight path was right in front of me and I pulled back on the joystick (yawn) and put it tight to the pin within a foot. Absolutely a tap in for birdie and the win over Anthony Kim! I am less that excited if you can tell. I tell you I was ready to put the game down and write it off at that moment, and honestly I did, I turned the console off and walked away. Then later that evening I began to think about it more and more. Its a demo, what if in fact they were more focused on the atmosphere (Sunday at the Masters), and graphics rather than ease of play. After all there are tons of non sim golfers that are part of EA market that they do not want to turn away from the game. So maybe we are over analyzing the simple facts about that situation. Your playing as Tiger Woods with a very accomplished caddy and obviously his skill levels are superior to most so you would expect him to make these shots. So I picked up the control and decided to give it another shot. This time with the player profile provided to me by the game, kid had far less skilz than Tiger Woods. Again the caddy system acted in the same ways, mapped shots and projected flight paths. I hit a not so blazing 210 off the tee, still in good shape right. Approach shot ended up 50 yards short and in the second cut. Third shot I hit a flop shot about 15 feet from the pin and two putted for bogey. Now were talking a little bit of hope! So all this being said here is my take on the demo..... The caddy system is not as bad as some of you think. I have played in Golf tournaments with a caddy before and it is there job to provide you with accurate distances to the different placements on the course. They also provide you with accurate distances to various hazards on the course. Distance to carry bunkers, distance to carry over water, also preferred landing areas on greens and layups. This all does no good if the golfer cannot perform the shot properly, so indeed its the golfers skills that are ultimately responsible for carry out there top performance. Just as in real life you can override your caddies advice and hit the way you want and take control of your game. A good caddy will know golfer specific distances with each club as well as higher percentage shots in variation. Ex... Flops, pitches, chips, putts, and also ball flight trajectory. So is this new EA system out of line as far as sim nation is concerned...... I don't think so but that's just one person's opinion. Golf is a game of strategy, any true golfer knows you shoot for par, take the birdies, and play the course. A caddy is a tool used on the course for optimal shot planning and course positioning. The one huge mistake in the caddy system is the percentages I am not happy about that just for the fact that a caddy will not sit there and tell you to hit the ball at 70% to reach the green. However, this feature has been in Tiger Woods since the beginning so honestly I wont complain too much about that aspect of the game. So in closing I would like to say that the feel of the game, the graphics and gameplay of the Tiger Demo are very beautiful. I did get the feel of being back at Augusta National even if just at 18 from what I have seen its going to be a treat. I am hoping to see the difficulty in tour pro mode make the game play more from a golfers standpoint then a spectators standpoint. Meaning less top views and flight paths and landing precision. Cause honestly go watch the pro's and you will see them miss fairways, greens, and end up in bunkers and hazards. What separates them is there ability to get up and down and make putts that make or break there rounds. So this is my take on the Demo for Tiger take it or leave it! Till the game drops in stores. May your read always be center of the cup!