The first time you load up TW07 you are given access to a fairly in-depth training mode. While most gamers who have played through a Tiger Woods golf game or two will simply skip this or have a quick peak at the items with "new" next to them, it is probably best for everyone else to go through and get used to a control style that really has changed the way golf games have been played.

The Tiger Woods series has proven that you don't need a power bar and a triple tap of a button to ensure your ball carries its way perfectly onto the fairway. Pulling back on the left thumbstick emulates the golfer's backswing. Holding the stick back long enough reach your full backswing enables you to hit the ball at full strength, and by pushing the stick forwards you send the club down to drive through the ball.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well it is, and it isn't, and thats mainly because it is hard to get a perfect swing back and follow-through. By pulling back diagonally and following through at the opposite direction you allow your golfer to hit a fade or draw, but this is where the difficulty comes in. Even once you get used to the control scheme, quite often you will accidentally veer left or right. While it is cumbersome, it definitely challenges you to focus on what your thumb is doing. The new additions to control come in the form of changing the angle of your club to relocating the power/spin button to the A button.

The only thing that makes TW07 an arcade title is the fact that you can add spin to your shot after you've hit it, but this can be turned off. After the ball has been hit you can tap away on the A button or left bumper to increase the spin and choose the direction with the left analogue stick.

The other use of the A button - or left bumper - is during your backswing. In the small time between 0 and 100% power you can spam the button to add a little extra power to your shots. Do well and you'll get fancy camera angles and effects on your shots. Nothing too over the top, but definitely enough feedback to let you know you've done well with the power boost.

Speaking of which, presentation is downright amazing. The menu systems and on-screen displays during the game are what you would see if golf broadcasts were interactive on our televisions. Very professional, and for the sports enthusiast you can even turn on an ESPN sports ticker which - as long as you're connected to Xbox Live - will update with the latest scores from your favourite sports.

You can also turn on ESPN Radio which - during menus only - will update every 20 minutes and streams flawlessly. While these two features are really only for gamers who follow American sports, they are a great addition that helps bring the presentation of this software to life.

Tiger Woods 07 manages to look nice but at the same time can be vastly improved. Aliasing issues make trees, hole flags and grass flicker and, on certain camera angles, distort. Cameras sometimes forget to change leaving a lifeless golfer stuck on the last frame of his animation, and sometimes spectators pop from animation to animation.

The only good thing about these issues is that while they remind you that you are in fact playing a video game, they do not detract from the actual gaming experience. The spectators don't specifically look good, but it's great to have each hole of every course surrounded by moving 3D fans which can be injured or knocked out should the ball accidentally leave the play area. The players look nice, and they animate even better thanks to EA Sports' motion capture facilities.

The one aspect of the title that is almost impossible to flaw is brought to us from the sound department. Every course and individual hole is explained in detail, and the commentators will be the first to let you know whether or not you're worthy of playing. Hitting the ball on target will see you receiving praise while shots off target will see the commentators taking pot shots at your skill level or the clubs you've chosen to use. Even the spectators will shout out your nickname - selectable from a list - in anticipation of your shot, or in excitement of what you managed to hit.

So it's controlled well, and presented perfectly, but how will we be playing golf? The single-player mode is broken into a few different modes; Tiger Challenge mode sees you going head to head in matchplay matches against the cast of TW07. After every win your attribute potential increases, allowing you to increase your character's attributes even higher through training. If you don't win the challenges you can train all you like - it won't do you much good. Once your stats reach their potential they do continue to increase, you just don't have access to the extra power. This way definitely improves on the previous system of buying attributes with winnings.

After you've finished all the Tiger Challenges, and unlocked all the characters and golf gear to last you a lifetime, it's time to take on the PGA Season. This mode offers you what seems an indefinite amount of tournaments, and if you find yourself struggling to stay in the top five you have hundreds of other chances to regain.