EA Sports PGA Tour marks the return of one of the biggest golf franchises in gaming history, and the first iteration on PlayStation 5. While it doesn’t revolutionize the series, it builds upon the successful foundation of earlier EA Sports golf games and adds new features, making it a solid entry in and reboot of the series.
One of the most significant new features in EA Sports PGA Tour is the My Career mode, where players create a custom golfer and compete in events to rise up the ranks and become the number one golfer in the world. This mode offers a great sense of progression and immersion, with opportunities to earn sponsorships and customize your golfer’s appearance. We loved the variety of options available, so if you enjoy customization there’s a ton of it in PGA Tour.
The gameplay in EA Sports PGA Tour is a joy to experience, with smooth and responsive controls that are easy to learn but take skill to master. The Pure Strike system is a good example of this, and we’re certain that players will enjoy the upcoming inclusion of a classic three-click system based on timing. The game offers a range of difficulty options to cater to players of all skill levels, making it accessible to newcomers while still providing a challenge for seasoned veterans who are a bit less casual about their round of golf.
The courses are beautifully designed, with attention to detail that captures the feeling of being on a real golf course. Not only are the game’s courses beautifully rendered and reproduced, the weather effects add an extra level of immersion to the game as well – making this the best looking golf game ever made with an impressive amount of detail and realism.
Another standout feature of EA Sports PGA Tour is the inclusion of the LPGA Tour for the first time in the series. This addition adds more depth to the game and allows players to compete as some of the best female golfers in the world. It’s a great move towards inclusivity and a positive step for the series, though we wish that that variety was matched by the in-game commentary, which starts feeling repetitive fairly quickly.
While EA Sports PGA Tour doesn’t drastically differ from earlier EA Sports golf games, it’s still a polished and fun experience, refining and polishing what came before rather than overhauling it. After a rather long hiatus for the series, that lack of innovation may be disappointing for some players. This is especially felt in the game’s multiplayer portion, which contains standard stroke play and match play options but falls short of what PGA Tour 2K23 has to offer.
On the plus side, the development team’s already acknowledged some of these shortcomings, promising more online game modes and additional career mode options in addition to the return of the classic 3-click swing system. With its gorgeous visuals and stellar licenses (featuring all of the Majors) it’s a shame that these improvements are only coming post-launch, but it’s nice to see the dev’s commitment to realising the full potential of the game.
Overall, EA Sports PGA Tour is a solid golf game that offers a good My Career mode, responsive controls, and beautiful courses. It’s a welcome addition to the series, and the inclusion of the LPGA Tour is a significant step towards inclusivity as well. However, it doesn’t innovate significantly compared to earlier titles, and the lack of unique multiplayer modes at launch may be disappointing for some players. Give it a few weeks, and perhaps it’ll make your choice a lot easier.
Score: 7.9/10
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