Golf games are much like their real life equivalent; they are meant to be the more relaxing of the videogame sports simulations. A major series like Tiger Woods PGA Tour is a money maker whichever way you look at it, much like the Madden and FIFA franchises. The real question that needs to be answered however is whether the new edition of a sports series like this is worth the money if you already have the previous year's incarnation. A lot of people see these annual releases as little more than an update or even an expansion of a game that they already possess. I am a fan of golf and of Tiger Woods and have enjoyed the previous Tiger Woods games that EA have produced - but I must delve deep into the game to discover whether it's really worth the purchase if you already have the 07 version of Tiger Woods and his ensemble cast.

One thing to expect from the newest version of any golfing saga is that it retains at least the same number of courses as its previous game. There seem to be only eighteen courses in this game, compared to the twenty-one in Tiger Woods 07. The fantasy courses have been replaced with real locations, such as Cog Hill, TPC Boston and Doral. It's a positive step to have so many real-world courses, but at the same time it's a shame that all the fantasy courses couldn't have been brought over to this version as well. Still, these new real-world courses add to the authenticity of the game, which in turn enhances the simulation aspect, whilst also moving it away from the pitch and putt videogame feel that it may have been accused of in the past.

In keeping with the theme of realism, golfers such as Vijay Singh and Annika Sorenstam are playable, although some need to be unlocked as you progress through the game. The models for these players bear a good resemblance to their real-life counterparts, although the virtual players seem to have had even more effort put into them. The courses themselves are well varied in terms of scenery, although they obviously all look very green! The visuals of a golfing game are never going to be the key selling point, as demonstrated by the old Links games - but they must not detract from the overall gameplay. Are the graphics here better than last year's version? The short answer is yes, but only marginally better because we're at the end of the PS2 lifecycle and I think EA have pretty much squeezed out the last few drops of graphical potential. The same can be said of the sound - I mean, how much sound can you add to a golf game? The random "Get in there" shouts are pleasant enough to hear, but I would have liked a few more individual chants depending on the golfer you had chosen. However, the introductions of the players before they tee-off is top notch and the commentary is enjoyable.

The control mechanics are practically the same as before; there are a couple of new ways to hit a drive or place a putt, but essentially it's a tried and tested formula that we all know works very well. You use the left analogue stick to swing back and then through the ball, whilst the face buttons allow you to move between clubs and shot selection, such as chipping the ball. There is an alternative setup to this, where you use the right analogue stick as well. The D-pad is used to move the direction the player hits the ball left or right, depending on the wind, while the usual zooming in and out of where the ball is projected to land is available, along with various camera angles. You can add spin to the ball once it has left your club too by pressing the X button, which can prove to be a godsend; you see your ball veering off the green but with a little added spin it turns a bad shot into an average or sometimes fantastic one - much the same way as spin can work in the media and politics!

The Tiger Challenge is setup very much along the lines of a honeycomb, which not only allows you to play a variety of golf games but also makes it less linear. You can play every little tournament if you want, but if not then you can head straight for the big man himself. Compared to the previous title, the game modes available along with the main Career mode haven't changed much, which is a tad disappointing, although if EA Sports continue to release games so quickly in succession then undoubtedly there won't be that much time to implement a lot of changes and additions.

The player Career mode seems to have received not little additional development; as with previous versions there are the usual tour events to enter, such as the FedEx Cup. If you have played these previously then you will find after the initial enjoyment of the different game modes, they do become fairly tiresome in the end. This lifespan value is improved by the ability to improve your golfer through the EA attribute system and buying various new equipment though, plus you can use the create-a-face mode to tweak your player's face and body shape to resemble your own, or perhaps the shape you dream of being! Of course you can play against a friend too, which always gives a game like this a more competitive edge.

The Putt Preview is a welcome addition, where you can view what will happen with your putt if you hit it at a certain speed and angle. Although on some courses you won't even use half the preview meter, on others you'll wish you had more. This detracts from challenging your golfing ability but overall it will help you sink those vital birdies or save those par fours. Essentially it feels a little like cheating, but I guess you can't entirely recreate the golfing experience in a video game, so I think it's a good thing and certainly a great tool to improve your putting. Another new concept is the Confidence meter; depending on your current ability, past experience of the hole and form, a particular shot will be easier or harder to perform correctly. This adds a little something extra to the gameplay, but it's not really a major innovation. The explanations of how to perform the shots and play particular game modes are slickly presented and easy to understand; I expect this from EA Sports games, but to expect such high standards is a good thing - just ask Tiger Woods!

Next time around I would like to see more playable golfers and also an increase in the number of courses on offer. I think one very good idea that could be implemented would be based on what is sometimes found in football management games, where you can take over a golfer in a particular high profile tournament - for instance, playing as Van de Velde at the 1999 British Open played at Carnoustie and stopping one of the most famous collapses in PGA Tour history. I think this could add an extra dimension to an already very polished game.

The hardest thing about reviewing a game like this is that you must weigh its overall ability against the previous incarnation. If the newer version is only slightly better than the previous version in terms of graphics or depth but not gameplay, then does it deserve a better score? Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is a very good golf title that's enjoyable to play and if you don't already own a copy of Tiger Woods 07 then it's definitely worth a look - even if you are not a fan of golf. You also have to consider that this same game is being released on the PS3, so any major improvements will probably be found in that version rather than the PS2 one. However, if you're a Tiger Woods 07 aficionado looking for a far superior game then sadly you won't find it here, because this is little more than an update and enhancement on what has come before. It's not a whole new game, but it's still a very good representation of golf, now that you know where you stand, the rest is up to you!

Reviewed by Christopher McNally for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).