Unfortunately for golf fans, there hasn't been a truly great addition to the golf simulation genre for quite some time that hasn't had a unique spin on the time-honored sport. For fans of the game as-is, without robots or otherworldly courses to spice it up, PGA Tour 2K21 showed a lot of promise in the buildup to its release. Developer HB Studios and publisher 2K Games' new release has plenty to live up to when it comes to pleasing golf fans in the gaming world, but it manages to do so more often than not.
Immediately after jumping into PGA Tour 2K21, the game throws an extensive tutorial at the player. It's a pretty in-depth process and involves multiple lessons that go through everything from the basic swinging mechanics to how to add fade and draw to shots. The tutorial also provides the opportunity to switch up some of the controls, so that players can swing the club with the left or right thumbstick. Of course, it also goes through the different types of shots available along with detailing which club is most appropriate for each situation.
By the time the tutorial finishes, there's nothing part of the main gameplay experience that doesn't feel like it hasn't been covered. Although it takes a little more time to get through the training lessons, it is certainly worth doing so. Otherwise, players might be left having to guess at how to use the different mechanics as there is a lot to understand. The tutorial won’t make anyone a golf expert, though, as it aims to give a basic understanding of the game that can be built upon by playing it more.
In the case of this newer entry, the developer has switched some things up. PGA Tour 2K21 is not a strict golf simulator in the same way as The Golf Club titles are. Instead, it is far more accessible and contains lots of options that were not previously available. It almost seems like the game has taken the best of both worlds from HB Studio’s excellent gameplay and 2K Sports more casual approach. That combines to make what is a more welcoming experience without any of the bugs that plagued some of 2K Sport's recent titles.. Where some players might have found The Golf Club and its sequels off-putting in of the interface or sheer amount of options, PGA Tour 2K21 is slicker and more streamlined.
When it comes to difficulty, PGA Tour 2K21 has something for everybody. Those looking for less of a challenge and a way to unwind can stick to the lowest two difficulty levels, as moving up to the higher levels quickly makes things much tougher. The biggest change comes in of getting the swing perfect every time. Higher difficulty levels mean that hitting the ball correctly is no longer an easy task. Suddenly, pulling back and pushing forwards on the thumbstick is not just a matter of ensuring it is a straight motion. Getting the timing right becomes a vital element for every shot, swing too quickly or slowly and the ball will veer off to the side.
The Pro Vision indicator, which gives an idea of where the ball will land, also becomes less reliable at higher difficulties, forcing the player to have a better understanding of the aspects that can affect a shot. This includes the lie, wind conditions, angle of the surface, and even the club being used. This knowledge only comes by playing more of the game and getting into a rhythm. By playing more and getting better accustomed to every element, the chance of getting into a good flow rises significantly.
Once ready to jump into the action, PGA Tour 2K21 offers a variety of different modes. Players can start in qualifying rounds or head straight into the PGA Tour. In either case, getting through the Career Mode involves winning as many competitions as possible to climb the ranks and eventually get that elusive PGA Championship. Rivals will offer unique challenges and there are objectives for almost every single hole, which gives out rewards such as XP that unlocks special gear.
Progression is not a matter of increasing the character’s stats and the only way to improve in PGA Tour 2K21 is to get more experience playing the game. There are no special abilities to unlock and getting extra gear won’t provide any advantage other than providing more options. Even the microtransactions in PGA Tour 2K21 don't provide a competitive advantage. Despite that, it is still possible to make a character feel like a personal creation. The MyPlayer creator provides all sorts of customization settings so that every aspect of the character can be changed, and is a more in-depth system than practically any other game on the market.
Another aspect of the publisher’s influence that is immediately clear is in the presentation. PGA Tour 2K21 has some beefed up visuals compared to HB Studio’s previous efforts. The courses look much better than they ever have, with more detail and realism. However, the biggest jump in quality comes with the golfers themselves. Not every major name from the PGA is present but those that are do look the part and are instantly recognizable. Those who only have experience with the graphically superior games from the likes of EA might still be put off, but HB Studios has put some effort into making PGA Tour 2K21 look and sound better. Action replays have a higher degree of polish so that they look like television graphics, and in-game commentators Luke Elvy and Rich Beem also make a big difference in making PGA Tour 2K21 feel like an official product.
PGA Tour 2K21 also has a set of robust multiplayer offerings. All the standard options, such as Match Play, Stroke Play, and Skins are all available in local and online multiplayer, and jumping into an online game is an easy process. There are also Societies, which act as a sort of custom league and once set up, they allow players to compete against each other in special seasonal tournaments or start smaller competitions with the creator's custom rules.
One of the biggest draws of The Golf Club series was the sophisticated Course Designer. HB Studios has revived it for PGA Tour 2K21, which is a great thing as it allows practically anyone to create stunning golf courses that can then be shared with players around the world. The Course Designer is intricate, providing the ability to completely customize the terrain, obstacles, and landscape.
For the most part, The Golf Club was a series with a cult following. Built to appeal to hardcore golf fans, it was a rich simulation of the sport rather than a game with wide appeal. Things are different with PGA Tour 2K21, with HB Studios expanding the experience to make it more welcoming to casual players. New difficulty settings, a more professional presentation, and an official PGA license will certainly be enticing to those missing a fun golfing experience on game consoles. But even those who want a deep and challenging experience will find plenty to like about PGA Tour 2K21, thanks to the in-depth career mode and expansive Course Designer. As a first effort in this rebranded series, it gets much more right than wrong and is a very enjoyable golfing experience.
PGA Tour 2K21 was released on August 21, 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Screen Rant was provided with a digital Xbox One code for the purpose of this review.
PGA Tour 2K21
- Released
- August 21, 2020
