Tiger Woods and Mario at play
NEW YORK -- The virtual Tiger Woods is still healthy as ever, bombing drives down the middle of the fairway.
The real world one, still on the mend from a knee injury, can still at least hobble down the middle of the "green carpet," which he did recently in the Big Apple to promote the new "Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09" video game, even if he did not take time to talk with the press about it.
The game starts off with an evaluation of your virtual skills by a virtual version of Woods' real world swing coach Hank Haney, who hammers home the point of one of the other new features of this one: your in-game self gets better as your out-of-the-game self does.
The four skills you're constantly being judged on are power, accuracy, short game and putting. Another new feature added: if you find yourself lacking in one of those areas and can't seem to correct matters yourself, you you can head over to the club tuning station and custom set your clubs to help give you more distance or control.
For those who want to play with friends online, this time around offers speedier play since all golfers can hit at the same time. No more waiting around on each hole for everyone in your foursome to play.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
"Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09" is available on every platform and will hit you in the wallet for between $40 and $60.
"Mario Super Sluggers" is pretty much exactly what you'd probably come to expect from any Wii title with Mario in the name: creative, colorful, and easy to master making it fun for even a first timer.
Most of the Wii-mote movements are the same as you'll find in Wii Sports baseball, perform a throwing motion for a pitch and a swinging motion for hitting.
You you shouldn't be surprised to find surprises on each of the baseball fields on which you'll play, like Yoshi Park, set in the middle of an amusement park, complete with rides you have to contend with while chasing down flies in the outfield.
Of course, you'll have access to an entire history of Nintendo-themed characters to choose from.
"Mario Super Sluggers" is a Wii exclusive that'll strike $50 from your checkbook.