Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters

GAME OF THE WEEK:3 cert, EA, PS3 (also Wii, Xbox360) ****

Tiger Woods may not have topped the scoreboard at Augusta last weekend, but there’s no reason why you can’t put him back there yourself, with the latest instalment of his golf franchise taking to the Masters course.

This time out, you can play pivotal golf moments, take over as Tiger, or choose to build your own career, working your way up from the amateur tournaments to the greens of Augusta.

The career mode is incredibly satisfying. As in real life, you can’t just walk on to the course as an amateur player and go straight to the Masters. Playing at Augusta has to be earned, and the green jacket is something to focus on throughout your career.

There were several changes to the franchise last year that ramped up the reality – and the difficulty – factor. True Aim, the mode that gives you a first-person viewpoint of your ball, makes a return.

You also get your own personal caddie instead of a coach. The caddie can also be an invaluable source of advice and guidance, pushing you towards the right club, the right power level and ultimately, the right shot. He’s not infallible, but his advice is pretty spot on. It’s a helpful addition for new players who may not be as familiar with the Tiger Woods series or golf games in general.

There are some variances between the three platforms. The Wii version allows you to use the balance board to get a more accurate representation of your movement. The PlayStation version’s use of the Move controller is good enough to make you feel like you’re actually playing a real game, forcing you to tweak your swing to get the best shot possible. Button mashing is, for Move players at least, a thing of the past.

A more exciting, more satisfying addition to the world of golf games.