IIf there’s one thing that you can bet cold hard cash on, it’s that when an old franchise comes to a more powerful console it’ll be thrown under the eye of scrutiny. Why is this missing? Where’s that mode? What do you mean I can’t do that? Expectations are always high when a game steps it up to the next level, and it’s a rare occurrence when it’s actually up to the challenge. Well, we are indeed living in an exceptional era, as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 most definitely delivers.

Despite lacking courses that exist in the PlayStation 2 version, it’s more polished, challenging and fun on the PlayStation 3. Obviously the most notable difference is the visuals, and good gravy they look good. The first time you see Tiger up close you’d be forgiven for taking a step back he looks so real. Granted graphics aren’t the most important aspect of a golf sim (and if we’re really nitpicking we think there’s still room for improvement) but UCAP technology is one impressive beast.

The most extravagant change this year is the new True Aim system. Unlike previous iterations – where a cursor showed you where your ball would land – a large circle now indicates the area where your ball could come to rest. Hit a good shot and it’s likely to settle down in this section, but screw it up and your ball could find itself in a bunker… or worse. If you’re using a pro it’s not as noticeable, but when starting off with a create-a-character you’ll soon learn to live or die by it – it’s a fantastic addition.

The rest of the game’s mechanics remain similar to the tried and tested formula but have been tweaked just enough to keep them interesting. If anything, we’d argue that the latest Tiger Woods is the most realistic yet, as everything from chipping onto the green to landing a ten foot putt carries a real sense of achievement. It’s not a title you can dismiss – it requires some serious thought.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s also more than enough modes to keep you occupied. Be it the PGA Tour season, numerous mini-games or online functionality, it’s not likely to run out of steam anytime soon (unless you really hate golf). Although we expect that next year EA will really overhaul the series, Tiger Woods’ first outing on the PS3 is pretty much spot on, and just wait till you see how in-depth and impressive the create-a-character is. Without doubt a great update and one of the best Tiger Woods to date.

Simon Miller