A modest golf game riddled with bugs that even a non-golfer such as myself cannot look past.
I played a single tournament (18 holes) in PGA Tour 2K21. This was only after restarting my game THREE TIMES due to the game not recognizing my controller. I was able to navigate menus just fine, but when it came to learning the basic controls, the game kept wanting me to play mouse and keyboard.
Finally, after getting the controller to work, I found myself stuck on one of the tutorial lessons. Not for lack of skill, mind you, but rather because the game couldn't recognize that I completed the objective. Eventually the game let me proceed, and I'm still not sure if this is due to a built-in failsafe that allows the player to continue despite failing the objective, or if it finally recognized I was doing what it asked of me.
Getting into the tournament, I played on the easiest difficulty, as I was sick and wanted something to relax. Because, what's more relaxing than golf? Not this game. No, sir. This game will have you feel like a fool for even picking it up. The commentary during the tournament added salt to my already-bleeding wounds. I am not a golfer, hence easy mode. I'm here to relax, hence easy mode. I am NOT here to be berated for not landing a hole-in-one or using the game-recommended clubs. It got to a point where I couldn't help but laugh at the commentary over my player (whose last name is, "Isbadatgolf," by the way).
I finished -6 under par; first place. And I finished this game knowing I probably won't pick it back up again.
I played a single tournament (18 holes) in PGA Tour 2K21. This was only after restarting my game THREE TIMES due to the game not recognizing my controller. I was able to navigate menus just fine, but when it came to learning the basic controls, the game kept wanting me to play mouse and keyboard.
Finally, after getting the controller to work, I found myself stuck on one of the tutorial lessons. Not for lack of skill, mind you, but rather because the game couldn't recognize that I completed the objective. Eventually the game let me proceed, and I'm still not sure if this is due to a built-in failsafe that allows the player to continue despite failing the objective, or if it finally recognized I was doing what it asked of me.
Getting into the tournament, I played on the easiest difficulty, as I was sick and wanted something to relax. Because, what's more relaxing than golf? Not this game. No, sir. This game will have you feel like a fool for even picking it up. The commentary during the tournament added salt to my already-bleeding wounds. I am not a golfer, hence easy mode. I'm here to relax, hence easy mode. I am NOT here to be berated for not landing a hole-in-one or using the game-recommended clubs. It got to a point where I couldn't help but laugh at the commentary over my player (whose last name is, "Isbadatgolf," by the way).
I finished -6 under par; first place. And I finished this game knowing I probably won't pick it back up again.
Mechanically competent, I'm keen on the Skate-like control scheme making shots more difficult to accurately pull off than the simple stop-and-start QTE that most other golf games roll with. Thing is, in a game this utterly bereft of personality, style, and overall gamemode variety, I somewhat expected it to act as more of a core golfing sim than it really is. It somewhat expounds the little grievances that creep up, like swinging fast causing a left hook, and the slow downswing a rightward slice - which just makes no sense, and the input method is too inconsistent for its bizarre punishments to feel fair.
Begging the PC to get a good golf game, i can't live off this saltine flavored pish forever.
Begging the PC to get a good golf game, i can't live off this saltine flavored pish forever.
I still cannot for the life of me believe that despite a control scheme that I'm not crazy about, the typical 2K microtransaction horseshit (though hardly at NBA 2K levels), and the more sterile real golf presentation, I think this is still way more fun than fucking Mario Golf Super Rush. Probably more an indictment on that game.
This is a very good sports game and a fantastic example of how to do simulation golf right as a video game. Playing with all assists off is extremely difficult but playing with all assists on doesn't feel super cheap. Any way you play, it feels like a great game of golf. Unfortunately, it is clear that this is a pretty low-budget game. The courses are gorgeous but that's where all the money went. The character models are absolute ass and would look right at home on the Xbox 360. The customization leaves a lot to be desired as well, especially considering the high quality of character customization in other 2K sports titles. I hope this is the start of a new commitment to the PGA Tour games.
I don't know why I played this game. I was forced to play a lot of golf as a kid and have a like/hate relationship with the sport. I think playing like an hour of this game is enough to say that while I can appreciate the mechanics of swinging and considering ball positions and the small details of actual play. I don't see any reason I'd pick this up again. Also I don't play other 2k games so i don't know if this is normal but i kind of hate the capitalistic brand branding of everything in this game. Oh but I DO love that the character creation had soooo many options to make you look old lol so many wrinkle options.