Well, I was waiting for this bad boy for months. I rushed down to Gamestop to grab my copy the day of release. I was ready after missing out on 2004's version. Am I satisfied?
Kinda.
First, I don't believe that much seems to have been added from 2004, as I understand it. The two things I was looking for were Gameface, where I get to make myself (my game self is a bit more chiseled than I am, but he's close enough), and Tiger Proofing, where you can alter courses. Game Face lives up to the hype. Tiger Proofing... not so much. What you get to alter that affects the gameplay are the fairways (size, undulation, wet/dry, upkeep), rough (grass height, upkeep), bunkers (depth, wet/dry), green (size, undulation, wet/dry, upkeep), and environment (foliage density, wind). Which is fine. But wait until the first time you try to alter the bunker size or anything about the water. Or hole length, or pin placement, or amount of foliage, or any other obstacles you want to place. Then it hits home that Tiger Proofing needs some work before it can be something big.
The other main feature is the group of Legends modes. Thing is, you only get 5 legends, and... Seve Ballesteros? Huh. Okay. The amount of current playable golfers looks to have actually been reduced, and I think we can get rid of some or all of these fantasy golfers so we can add in more. I don't really need a plumber golfing in an EA title. Nintendo covers that just fine, thanks.
Otherwise, the music's a bit downplayed the time around, and my personal favorite track is only available in Gameface mode for whatever reason. But enough about the demerits. What's good? Oh, the graphics, the music (it may be a downplay, but it's still EA Trax), the realism, and you haven't cussed a blue streak until you've tried to play a round in Paradise Cove. Everyone needs their ass kicked by a video game every now and then. (On the other side of the difficulty slider, just today I managed to pop off a 60-under tourney in Coeur D'Alene with my guy only halfway up the attribute scale.)
So there are the usual huge advantages an EA Sports title usually enjoys, but it inflicted a bit of damage on itself. It's still a very enjoyable game, but I'd wait for a price drop or, if you have 2004's version, see what they can do with 2006. A 4... out of 5.
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