Tiger Woods games are games that hold a strong place in my gaming heart. I'm privileged to be able to review these games on a yearly basis and I was over the golf ball looking moon when I got asked to review the Xbox 360 version of the game, having just finished getting my kicks out of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 for the regular consoles. After playing the 360 counterpart, it appears as if my only gripe with the current-gen console version has been fixed in this revamp; however, some of the highly regarded features from the last-gen version are missing.

Unfortunately our beloved Tiger Woods time travel career is missing. Just to remind you, this feature was what made the current-gen version so good. You could go back in time, dress up in authentic-era apparel and then take on legends from back in the day right through to present times. This, along with other less obvious elements such as less golf courses, make the next-gen version of Tiger Woods 06 feel a little empty. However, while most people would be put off and deterred by the missing elements, being a big Tiger Woods fan myself, I persevered to dig up some truly wonderful Xbox 360 exclusive things that slightly make up for the missing features.

Firstly, although technically not a Tiger Woods specific feature, the custom soundtrack option through the Xbox 360 dashboard really fits this game well. Instead of listening to just the scenery and the commentators while playing a jolly good round of golf, I could play some nice relaxing music over the top of these two elements. A bit of Andre 3000 with his wonderful Love Below album really complimented the chirping birds, and the sound of cheering in the distance. Of course, EA Trax is here in case you haven't had chance to rip off your albums and these songs also compliment a laid back round of golf. However, if you've played the current-gen version, the songs on offer here will sound all too familiar. Sounds effects are spot on as usual and the commentators are back on form, with their various innuendos and puns, to keep the older audience smirking away.

If you've read my review of the current-gen version of this game, then you'll know I had one gripe and one gripe only: my complaint was that the game was simply too easy. I'm not going to get all flustered at the prospect that EA listened to my plea, but the Xbox 360 version is bloody hard! Although hard might be a word that many people fear, I would say that Tiger Woods 06 on the 360 offers the degree of challenge that I was originally looking for.

In the Career mode you have to complete dozens of challenges per course. Challenges are described in the challenge briefing before you actually take them on, but they are actually obligatory - you have to complete them before you can move on to the next stage. The current-gen version had quite a few challenges in different time eras, but this game is brimming fuller with testing scenarios that are very diverse. Some examples include chipping contests, where you have to chip the ball onto the green, and the one with the ball nearest the pin wins. Other challenges might have you reading the green and actually putting the ball from a very long distance. With this game you're forced to do what you might have classed as the impossible in the other games. Granted, some of the challenges are near impossible, but you'll continually find yourself playing the same scenario over and over, late into the night, until you actually complete it.

With increased difficulty, the whole of the single player mode becomes a little more slow paced; you'll find yourself studying the shot more before you actually take it. As a result, you'll probably perform better on the whole, despite the game being that little bit harder. The controls are just the same as the other versions; you can adjust where you want to hit the ball with one thumbstick and take your shot with the other, while tapping other buttons for extra shot power. It sounds complex, but it works well in practise. Clever shots earn you points in select areas, points you can spend on your created character, to improve yourself and eventually compete with the big boys. Clever shots also earn you Gamebreaker points, which you can execute by tapping 'A' lots of times on the backswing. As you'd imagine, the Gamebreaker breaks the game for you when you use it - but these are very hard to come by and should only be used under extreme circumstances, when the time is right.

As before, the Gameface mode is here and it's still as fantastic as in other versions; you can easily make a character that looks almost exactly like you. To be able to play as yourself though all these challenges makes it all seem little bit sweeter, but to actually take yourself online to compete with other hopefuls around the globe is something else. Within five minutes I was connected to EA online, and playing some French guy on a 9-hole course. I performed both well and poorly, and so did he. At the end of the course we drew, but the whole experience was a lot of fun all the same. I made him my preferred player, which added to his overall rep. I looked again for more games in the beginner's lobby - but to my horror I couldn't find any games up. I took it upon myself to make my own and within minutes a so-called beginner joined. After playing a few holes with this guy, you could tell that he was preying on the little guys for fun - he was a pro! The moral of the story is that the online mode in Tiger Woods isn't without its flaws, as you're going to go up against beginners and professionals alike - but when you get a good even matched game going you'll have some great fun - especially when you get four evenly matched players!

The graphics in the 360 version are completely stunning. Don't listen to anybody who tells you that the graphics are 'sub-par' - you'll be blown away by sheer realism in this game. The good thing is, you don't need a HDTV to enjoy the beauty either; it looks astonishing on my standard TV. You can see every blade of grass and even the rust on your golf club. Take in the breathtaking water surrounding the golf isle - gaze at the luscious blue skies which span further than the eye can see. It's like being on holiday! The character models in this game also behave completely realistically, as well as looking spot on too. Tiger Woods looks better than some other less renowned golfers, but I suppose this was to be expected, as Tiger Woods is the best golfer there is, you know? You have to see these graphics to love them. And you have to love them to understand why a quarter of the game is missing. I'm sure graphics like these must take up quite a bit of room…

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 on Xbox 360 makes a couple of sacrifices - okay, it makes quite a lot. But we gain from those sacrifices; more challenges, the game is a lot harder and more rewarding for it, while the graphics are out of this world. Arcade style modes are here from the last game, such as the pick up and play Stroke matches, and others that can be played with or without friends. The online mode is the perfect way to kill an hour and playing a relaxing game of golf with a friend can be one of the best gaming experiences ever, if you're both in the right frame of mind for golf. Players who already have and who still play their Tiger Woods 06 might have to think twice before taking a step down, and a step in a slightly different direction, but players who have just purchased a shiny new Xbox 360, who want a change from games like Perfect Dark Zero and Quake 4 should definitely check this out.

Reviewed by Dexter Pearson for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).