It’s been almost eight years since EA Sports gracefully exited the virtual golf arena with the half-baked Rory McIlroy PGA Tour on PS4, ending decades of dominance from the publisher and handing over to 2K Sports. I was. But after several commercially successful PGA Tour 2K titles, the Redwood City juggernaut decided he wanted to return to the clubhouse. The all-new EA Sports PGA Tour is the result. The big question is, is it cleanly connected or, uh, below face value?
well it looks absolutely extraordinary â By far the best golf game ever made, and if you want it to match what EA Tiburon has achieved here, 2K Sports has the job done.Powered by the Frostbite Engine And designed exclusively for new-gen systems like the PS5, every hole is informed by state-of-the-art photogrammetric scanning, featuring lush natural foliage, painterly lighting, and incredible attention to detail. is painstakingly rendered here.
From a presentation standpoint, there has never been a golf game like this. With waves crashing against rugged cliffs, Pebble Beach and the rustic surrounding architecture of St. Andrews feels distinct and unique, rather than a course created using copy and copy. – Paste assets. Meanwhile, of particular interest to fans considering the Masters in progress, Augusta National Park is adorned with unique plant features and vibrant greenery.
This level of quality extends throughout the game and all 30 meticulously realized courses. From the large lake of Bay Hill to the idyllic scenic backdrop of Talaithi, an officially licensed course doesn’t get much better than this. There are also several fantasy locations specially designed by EA Sports, with more to be added after release, including the beautiful countryside of Oak Hill.
Note that each course reacts realistically to EA Sports’ lighting engine. This means that the time of day changes subtly as you go through all 18 holes, and the weather also plays a big part in the presentation as you progress. However, as we make our way up the back nine, the clouds part and a beautiful sunset appears. It’s really dramatic and wonderful.
It should also be emphasized that sound plays a big part in the overall presentation. 3D audio is used to great effect, capturing the sounds of birds circling overhead and swirling water nearby. Honestly, you can sit and drink in the atmosphere while you roll up your shots. EA Sports has captured just enough of the matchday experience to make the competition exciting and engaging without losing the calm stillness that makes golf such a relaxing pastime.
But such quality comes at a price. The game is capped at just 30fps on his PS5, a surprisingly unorthodox choice for a sports game. Golf is generally more subdued than basketball or football, but the slower frame rate affects the smoothness of the swing mechanics. To simulate hitting a real club, you need to move the analog stick back and forth. I have a bit of trouble timing the mechanics because it works with a small amount of lag, and I think the framerate is useless.
You can get used to it, but be aware that the PGA TOUR’s greens and fairways play faster than you’re used to in other simulations and require a deft touch to control the ball. This is where the RPG mechanics of this release come into play. Because as you progress through your career with the created player, you will earn XP, which you can use to buy skill points for him and unlock new shot types for him. Perfecting a perfectly lofted approach so that the ball lands perfectly on the green instead of rolling dangerously in the rough gigantic Part of the learning curve.
There are hundreds of coaching missions that can be completed to perfect the game, but they lack the kind of feedback new players need to truly understand the nuances of shot selection, so the goal is not really there. If you are looking for many However, some of the content is here. There are a variety of missions based on iconic real-life golf performances, all with their own reward tracks and unlockable items.
There’s actually more meat in this game than it first appeared. Specs can be installed on different clubs to fine-tune performance. You can also customize almost every aspect of your character, from the straps he uses on his golf bag. Even the shoes you wear on the second day of the tournament. You can unlock a lot by purely playing the game, but of course you’ll also find EA Sports’ usual microtransaction currency. This can be used to purchase items from the spinning in-game shop when you run out of virtual currency.
Daily tournaments update every 24 hours, with the best players unlocking unique loot packs. There are even more expensive leaderboards that you can enter using virtual tickets. Then there are both casual and competitive online options that span a variety of modes, from traditional styles like Stroke Play to more quirky alternatives like Skins. The density of releases and the number of ways to play is impressive, and goes beyond what first impressions might lead you to believe.
Aside from perhaps framerate-induced swing issues, our biggest criticism is that the game’s pacing is a little hindered by how great it looks: EA Sports hope Thanks to every hole, staying on long flyovers, commentary preambles and celebrations can feel like you’re horribly jamming the skip button. It’s hard to find the groove if you’re stuck.
Conclusion
The EA Sports PGA Tour proves what a publisher can do with glitz. This is a stunningly beautiful sports game with a sublime selection of sanctioned courses and incredible depth. Demanding Swing His mechanics are a little underwhelming with low framerates, but the single player is boosted by a strong sense of progression. It’s a very strong effort overall and a sign of good things to come ahead of the company’s other anticipated comeback, EA Sports College Football.
