With all the hype surrounding the graphical prowess of the Xbox 360, I was a little let down with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 when I first popped it in. To me, it almost looked like the same version for the first Xbox or PS2. That is, until I played it on an HD-TV. Man, was I blown away! The courses are basically similar to the other console versions as far as layout goes. However, little things like individual blades of grass and veins popping out of forearms are what make the Xbox 360 version so much better. Something also not seen with the other consoles are fans hanging out on the course. The followers aren’t in the best of detail. Still, they’re 3D and move around in a lifelike fashion. Here’s a tip: Try to hit someone with your ball. They’ll react to it. Can anyone say golf ball in the groin?

As far as the audio goes for Tiger Woods 06, things ARE just the same as its console predecessors. You can pick and choose a voice for your created golfer, and the commentary is fairly dead on. The soundtrack lacks a little variety as far as EA Sports music goes, mainly featuring one Dave Matthews Band song.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 doesn’t have much difference in terms of game modes, although what it does offer is top notch. You can play against the computer or your buddies (or both) with games like Stroke or Match Play, Skins, or Best Ball. The main mode is My Career where you create a golfer, both in looks and attributes, and then try to advance onto a PGA career. You first start out as an amateur playing through several skill challenges that earn you a little money, but more importantly, skills to improve your all-around game. Once you’re able to compete on the professional stage, you’ll take on the likes of Woods and the rest of the PGA crowd.

Xbox Live offers up a few modes that you can play alone or with someone online. The online matches are either ranked or unranked, and you can customize the settings to filter out the competition. If you only feel like playing a quick 9 on a certain course, you can do so with ease. Also, try and post the best score with the online Tournament that day, using golfers you’ve either created or unlocked.

As it is with the other systems, the difficulty for Tiger Woods 06 mainly rests upon the green. If you haven’t played this year’s version, here’s what you can expect: a grid that deciphers the highs and lows on the putting surface. In addition, use the putting preview to see the exact path that leads to the bottom of the cup. However, it’s up to you to figure out the direction and the power to use on your putts... and that’s where things can get a little tricky. I blew many a close-ranged putts, which definitely led to some heated moments. But then I’d come back and knock down a 40-footer to ease my pain.

The controller configuration is very comparable to the PS2 version, using the left analog stick for your back-and-forth swing control and the right stick for where on the ball you hit it, also known as the Shape Stick. The Shape Stick lets you maneuver about the course by hitting the ball lower to avoid wind, or on its side to hook or slice around obstacles. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m still getting used to the 360 controller or not, but I ended up slicing and hooking a lot of my shots not by design. As far as switching around the controls, you’ll only be able to switch between the left and right analog sticks.

The rest of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 runs smooth as saving and loading times are very short.

If you’re one of the lucky few to own the new 360 and don’t have your hands on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 yet, I’d recommend it for purchasing. However, if you already have this year’s version for another system, you may want to see if that $60 can be used elsewhere.