Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 2005 (Nintendo DS) Preview

The way in which PGA Tour sets itself apart from all the other versions (And there have been many) is the use of the two screens and touch mechanism to line up and hit shots. On the top screen you get a view of your golfer preparing the shot and on the bottom is a 2D representation of the course. To first line up the shot you can either use the stylus or D pad to aim the ball in line with the hole. To then determine the power of the shot you must use the stylus to draw lines on a meter on the bottom screen that is a hook shape leading up to a sprite of the ball. Drawing at the top of the meter generates a powerful swing and drawing at the bottom creates a very light swing. After you have defined this swing power, again the stylus must be used to draw the direction the ball will go in. Finally there is a vertical meter that you can give a quick rub to get some extra power behind the ball. But as if all those meters and rubbing was not enough, you can also put spin on the ball by rubbing the ball in the direction wanted, as you see it fly through the air.

Apart from standard matches, Wi-Fi enables four player matches that take place all at the same time, so no waiting for your turn to putt. Quite unlike the actual game. The match modes vary from short three holes, to the full 18. And even if you are new to the game, Caddy Tips are always present to give you hints on how to tackle each hole, so experience is not always needed.

PGA Tour supports full 3D character models and courses that despite looking a little chunky and bland; do not make it difficult to recognize each and every golfer. The music is a little muted, but then again golf is not exactly a nosey game and overall PGA Tour looks like decent game for the DS.