I don’t spend a lot of time playing video games where difficulty is their selling point.If it’s anything like Soulslike, I’d avoid it. PGA TOUR 2K23 I have I am not proud that one of these instances happened when I hit my tee shot and her wife came downstairs to check on the situation. Perhaps for the 50th time? I lost count at this point – to a thicket of trees on the left side of the fairway.
From intoxicating whimsical drives to barely dropping putts, the analog stick swing mechanics PGA TOUR 2K23After all, swinging is the main thing you do in this game. On average it takes him 60-80 shots to complete an 18-hole round.
But even after thousands of swings on hundreds of holes of golf, I still can’t believe I’m good with my virtual club. PGA TOUR 2K23In other words, you don’t feel like you’re improving — this problem is exacerbated by not getting a meaningful sense of progress for the golfer you create in the game’s MyCareer mode.
PGA TOUR 2K23 It defaults to a control scheme common in golf video games. To swing, pull down on the right stick and then flick up. However, the timing of his second motion (downswing) is important here. Too fast a flick pulls the shot left, too slow pushes the shot right.
Downswing timing is the bane of my existence. I have enabled many of the assists available in the game’s settings and was hoping I could finally get my head around the swing system. Even at the degree setting, the swing feels like crap. No matter how many practice cuts you do, you tend to catch shots with your real swing.
Now you have another option. Developer HB Studios has added his traditional 3-click system in response to a long-standing request. PGA TOUR 2K23It’s a lot less similar to a real golf swing than an analog stick scheme, but it’s nice to have an alternative available.
This is HB Studios’ second effort under mass market publisher 2K Sports.That’s why I’m surprised PGA TOUR 2K23 It doesn’t feel substantially more accessible than its predecessor, 2020’s PGA TOUR 2K21The 3-click swing is also implemented differently because it is different. Instead of him pressing the button three times, he first presses and holds to determine power, then he taps twice to fine-tune accuracy. After trying the system, I quickly reverted to analog control despite the problems.
![An overhead shot of the 17th hole of TPC Sawgrass at PGA Tour 2K23. The green is submerged in the lake.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1a2No4xtVBzuyIJJ88wZ-UsRli0=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24127146/PGA_TOUR_2K23_TPC_Sawgrass.jpg)
PGA TOUR 2K23‘s MyCareer mode also has a solid foundation, but feels overly complicated. When creating a MyPlayer character, he chooses one of five archetypes. For example, powerhouse players can hit the ball better than anyone else, but struggle with accuracy and putting. I stuck with the Woodsman because, frankly, I miss the fairways and greens so much that I need all the help I can get when recovering from a bad lie in the rough. It’s nice to be able to change archetypes for free.
HB Studios’ design works brilliantly here. Archetypes are intended to provide a package of strengths and weaknesses to support and complement an individual’s playstyle. My shots can often land in pine straw or fairway bunkers, but thanks to the Woodsman’s archetype and his shot-shaping advantage, I don’t feel all is lost. Equivalent in many of these cases.
The same customization-based design philosophy applies throughout MyCareer, but it hasn’t been very successful outside of the archetype realm. Experience gained from playing tournaments is not used to directly upgrade player attributes as in typical role-playing games (or, for example, the standard career mode of sports games) . Instead, each time he levels up he gets one skill his points and uses those points to unlock and upgrade skills.
To avoid going too far into the weeds (or woods) here, let me just say that almost all skills are only effective depending on the situation. They are activated when you are struggling and deactivated when you regain your form. Also, leveling up a skill activates it more easily and stays active longer.
![A black woman in a pink polo and black slacks watches her tee shot fly at PGA Tour 2K23](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7or9c0sKOvJgwWpCA6ERjWOD0Ic=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24127147/PGA_TOUR_2K23_MyPLAYER.jpg)
The concept is solid, but the whole skill system feels sluggish with this setup. The first skill of the hybrid club, Ghast, seems very valuable. Buried in heavy rough, the shot will travel farther. However, at level 1 of the skill, it will only be effective when facing headwinds of 15 mph or more. This is a very rare combination of circumstances in my experience. Earning skill points takes time, so I’m not going to waste a few precious points on a skill that doesn’t seem very useful. wood.
Personalization is also the driving force behind club fitting. PGA TOUR 2K23A fitting is the part of a golf club (head, shaft, or grip) that can be equipped to magnify its attributes. Like loot in games, each has a level of rarity. destiny 2; the higher the rarity, the stronger the effect. Attaching an “unusual” head to a wedge can increase the power rating by 6 points and decrease the timing attribute by 2.
Unlike PGA TOUR 2K23‘s basketball brother, NBA 2K doesn’t let you use real-world money to power up your athletes. Thankfully, at least you can’t buy fittings. 2K Sports’ real money currency, virtual currency (referred to here as “coins”), is primarily used to purchase items such as clothing and gear licensed from companies such as Adidas and Mizuno. , none of which affect gameplay.
However, there is a pay-to-win element creeping into the game when it comes to fitting. You need coins to equip each club. There is a 150 coin fee to attach a legendary shaft to an iron, so I had to spend 900 coins equipping all 6 of his irons in my bag. Given the slow rate of earning coins through play (he in the tournament’s top spot is like 250 coins if he can finish with one), stare longingly at the collection of fittings you’ve unlocked. It might be, but I can’t afford to equip it.
![Wearing a multicolored polo shirt and black baseball cap, Stephen Curry watches the tee shot fly at PGA Tour 2K23.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KIJme0Lh1nMjRWPudcd6VjOlI3o=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24128508/PGA_TOUR_23_Stephen_Curry.jpg)
The real bummer here is that I had to spend so many words analyzing all the ancillary stuff. PGA TOUR 2K23, most of those annoyances go away. This is a real golf game. I had the best time on the steep greens at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Very happy to make and run shotsThe unrelenting difficulty of the swing mechanics, coupled with the game’s intricate system of fitting and skill, can result in more frustration than enjoyment. But when it all comes together and you manage to pull out a birdie when you need one to keep challengers down on the leaderboard, it becomes a thrilling moment of fist-pumping glory.
Perhaps I’m too casual a gamer for the PGA Tour 2K series. PGA TOUR 2K21 I didn’t remember having any issues with the swing mechanics, but when I launched that game and checked the options, I realized that I had disabled the downswing timing settings. must have been frustrated enough to give up on this challenge (and the XP gain rate boost that came with it). I’d like to be able to save scum, but that’s not an option: VC integration makes this an always-online game by default, so progress is saved on every stroke, without mulligans allowed . .
If you want to enjoy spending more time together, that seems like my best bet. PGA TOUR 2K23 — is to turn off the timing of the downswing.Or maybe it’s time to put this franchise right next to my personal “I don’t need this stress in my life” list elden ring.
PGA TOUR 2K23 was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on October 14th. The game was reviewed on his PS5 using a pre-release download code provided by 2K Sports. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.