pga tour review xbox

EA Sports PGA Tour Review - Hit The Links

• First Released Apr 4, 2023 released

EA returns to the world of golf with a challenging and rewarding title that's let down by a couple of inconsistencies and an underwhelming swing mechanic.

By Richard Wakeling on April 12, 2023 at 10:55AM PDT

EA Sports PGA Tour is unlike any other golf game I've played. It still features familiar elements from the series' past--back when Tiger Woods was front and center--such as slow-motion heartbeat moments and climactic power shots. But after an eight-year hiatus from the world of golf simulation, EA has returned to the fairway with a more demanding recreation of the sport that's as much about feel as it is mastering the game's robust mechanics. With 30 courses covering all four majors--including The Masters at Augusta National--EA Sports PGA Tour has a plethora of golfing action to sink your teeth into. It's just a shame there are a few notable issues in critical areas that hold it back from greatness.

The first of these is the game's swing mechanic. If you've played a golf game before, the actual act of swinging a driver or 5-iron will be familiar. You pull down on the analog stick to bring the club back, then push forward again to unleash your shot. This has been a staple in golf games for a number of years now, and there aren't any alternatives at the moment--not until a three-click system is implemented in a later update. The issue with EA Sports PGA Tour is that there's a slight delay between your input and the on-screen visual. Your swing isn't 1:1, so there's an uneasy disconnect where you never quite feel like you're in total control. The general malaise of each swing doesn't help matters either, with the slow, clunky pacing and frustrating lag making it difficult to nail the timing and power of each shot. I eventually grew accustomed to these idiosyncrasies over time, but it never feels quite right and fails to capture the satisfaction that hitting a 300-yard tee shot should achieve.

To compound the issue, EA Sports PGA Tour also lacks any sort of meaningful tutorial. There are tooltips that pop up and cover the basics the first time you play, but these brief snippets barely scratch the surface of everything going on under the hood. Instead, the game has a suite of challenges that happen to include a Coaching Academy. This is the best place to start, even if these challenges still neglect to offer any tips or feedback to help you along the way. What you get is a variety of contextual situations covering different aspects of the sport, from putting downhill to dealing with elevation changes and the multitude of shot types on offer. There's a lot of trial and error involved, but the repetition of replaying each situation does give you a greater understanding of how everything works. It's not a very user-friendly approach, but it sets expectations and is genuinely helpful in an unconventional way, even if it might prove frustrating for some. Plus, completing these challenges also earns you XP that can be used to improve your created character.

EA Sports PGA Tour's career mode sits front and center, starting off with your no-name golfer competing in the qualifying school before moving on to the amateur Korn Ferry Tour. The ultimate goal is to reach the PGA Tour, which can be done either by winning one of the many four-round courses or by placing highly enough in the Korn Ferry rankings come season's end. You can expedite this process by opting for a quick play mode where you only need to play a few holes rather than an entire round, but I think playing full rounds is the way to go. That's mostly because it gives you ample time to fine-tune your skills, learn the courses, and gain a better understanding of the game's mechanics. There's also a palpable sense of progression that comes from leveling up your golfer. Earning XP lets you build your skills in driving, approach play, short game, and putting, while progressing each attribute also unlocks more shot types, giving you additional options when preparing to send the ball careening toward the green.

Fortunately, the Coaching Academy includes challenges for each of the game's myriad shot types, giving you the opportunity to see how each one functions before playing competitively. There's value in understanding the differences between a runner, spinner, or knock-down shot, but knowing when to utilize each one essentially comes down to a matter of feel. In this respect, EA Sports PGA Tour resembles the sport of golf more accurately than any other game. There are a number of variables at play for every single shot, to the point where there's a real thought process behind each swing. You have to choose the right shot type and club for each situation, adjust for wind and elevation, judge how much power you need to put into the swing, and account for the distinct ways each course plays--tweaking your shot shape depending on the shape of the fairway and lie of the bunkers. The game helps to some degree by displaying relevant information such as wind speed and distance, but then you're left to your own devices. This can be frustrating, particularly early on when you're still learning the ropes and your golfer's attributes aren't up to snuff, but once everything clicks, EA Sports PGA Tour plays an engrossing game of golf that can be incredibly rewarding.

Much of this is down to the courses themselves. Every single one of the 30 officially licensed courses is staggeringly beautiful and offers an authentic attention to detail, whether it's Liberty National and its view of the Manhattan skyline, the waves crashing against the sand at Pebble Beach, or the alligators lurking in the water at TPC Sawgrass. Almost every course is iconic on some level, and they've all been faithfully rendered and recreated, right down to individual blades of grass. The absence of a course designer is a tad disappointing, but unlike PGA Tour 2K23, it's not something that feels like a necessity because there are already so many 18-hole delights. The courses are the game's main character, providing the kind of variety and depth to stave off any tedium. Mastering a golf game's mechanics is usually the key to success, but EA Sports PGA Tour's courses demand much more from you. Each one plays differently, whether it's the roll of the green or the width of the fairway impacting your decision-making. It genuinely feels like you're playing against the course rather than the shot meter.

The physics model, which is built around the official TrackMan data for ball tracking and swing analysis, is excellent for the most part. However, there are some inconsistencies when it comes to ball rollout. On The Old Course at St Andrews, for instance, the rollout is overly extreme to the point where the ball will roll uphill at pace, even through heavy rough. This forces you to account for situations that shouldn't really occur. Once you land on the green, putting is also equally aggravating for different reasons. Each green contains a grid that uses moving beads to show you the direction of the break. The problem is that sometimes this data is inaccurate and the break is opposite to what the beads are showing. The putt reader alleviates this somewhat by showing the ideal path to the hole, but this is also misleading at times. With no reliable way to gauge the breaks, putting is a lesson in irritation that will only be rectified if these issues are fixed in future updates.

Outside of career mode, EA Sports PGA Tour also features various tournament options for use in online matches against the community. If you want to play against friends, however, stroke play is the only option, and there's a disappointing lack of alternating play for those who want to see each other tee off. A range of daily, weekly, and seasonal tournaments give you another chance to earn XP and items like club specs and in-game cash for a limited time before they're refreshed, so there's an incentive to keep coming back. That in-game cash can be spent in a store of rotating items including various cosmetics, which holds some appeal because the character creator is extremely barebones. Outfitting your golfer in branded clothing can be fairly costly, though, which is explained by the inclusion of microtransactions for those who would rather buy the in-game currency with real money. This isn't a surprising move, but it doesn't exactly vibe with the serene mood.

After almost a decade away from the sport, EA's return to the golf course is a promising one. The range of shot types, courses, and tangible variables make for a methodical and tactical game of golf that's both challenging and rewarding. It stumbles by barely introducing players to its robust mechanics, while a laggy swing and inconsistent putting are notable flaws on what is otherwise a fantastic golf sim. EA Sports PGA Tour represents a solid re-entry for the series and lays down a sturdy foundation for an auspicious future.

• Leave Blank
• Each shot must be carefully considered, taking into account a number of variables
• All 30 courses are wonderfully recreated and each one feels distinct
• Offers a tough but satisfying simulation of golf that's close to the real thing
• The lack of tutorials makes for a rocky start
• Swing mechanics are delayed and create a disconnect
• Putting information is frequently misleading

About the Author

Richard Wakeling

• @richardwakeling

More GameSpot Reviews

Use your keyboard!

Log in to comment

Pocket-lint

Ea sports pga tour initial review: hands-off with ea's golfing return.

We've been given a tour around some of the Tour. Here's what we've learned so far.

It's been a fair old while since Electronic Arts dabbled with golf. Even though it was the gaming home of the PGA Tour since the start of the 90s, we've not had a new game from EA Sports since 2015's Rory McIlroy.

In the meantime, HB Studios and 2K Games have capably filled the gap, first with The Golf Club and snagging their own PGA Tour licensing in latter days.

Now though, EA is about to return to the fairway with a new addition to the franchise. And, it's looking like it'll carry on exactly where it left off, albeit with a fair few modern bells and whistles thrown in for good measure.

We've been privy to a hands-off demo of the game and a walkthrough of its features by some of the developers. Here's how it's looking so far.

EA Sports PGA Tour

With 30 courses planned for launch and all the major tournaments, including the Masters at Augusta, EA Sports PGA Tour is shaping up to be a thorough title for enthusiasts and casual gamers alike. From what we've seen so far, it's also looking superb thanks to the adoption of the Frostbite Engine. We can't wait to get our own hands on it soon to see if it's up to par.

• Stunning course mapping
• Great attention to detail
• 30 PGA Tour courses to play on
• All the majors
• Too soon to tell

EA Sports PGA Tour is the publisher's biggest golf game yet. It is exclusive to current-generation consoles - PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S - and PC, which means there have been few compromises on graphical fidelity. From what we saw streamed in an online demonstration, anyway.

The development team has switched to Frostbite for the graphics, which not only renders player models (real-world and created) in great fidelity - much like the latest FIFA, Madden and NHL games - but it presents the 30 included courses in sometimes photo-realistic detail.

That's because every course was mapped using multiple methods - by helicopter using LiDAR technology, through high-resolution camera drones too, and by taking thousands of photos on the ground. Augusta even gave the developer access to its tree health system, which accurately maps every flowerbed, tree and other types of flora to ensure they are placed in exactly the same position in the game as in real life.

Impressively, this level of minute detail doesn't just help the look of the game but the feel. The bumps on the ground are in the exact same spot - as are the imperfections on the fairways and greens. And so, we were told, that when a ball interacts with the course, it will move across these minor spots in the same way it would for real.

That is further improved through the use from two other third-party data sources - the PGA Tour's ShotLink and TrackMan - which not only gave the team real-world mechanics for ball movement, thanks to storing many thousands of shots from the PGA Tour itself, but also player motion and behaviour that has provided the animation specifics for each licenced professional in the game.

EA calls its new stroke engine Pure Strike and it enables gamers to take shots in a more fluid, natural way.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

The gameplay that we viewed showed a new swing arc that is used for the accuracy and power of a shot. The power is determined by a small line on the arc that you meet during the backswing (using a thumbstick). The speed of the follow-through is important too and reminds us a little of the mechanics in PGA Tour 2K23. However, EA hasn't gone full simulation with its effort. There is still the option for boost and other gamified elements of its previous titles in the series.

One major new feature is that, as well as club selection, you also get the choice between types of shot each time - from a pool of 20. And each club in your bag will have their own assigned shot types that you can customise. In previous years, the clubs from different manufacturers would have their own stats - this is gone, but the shot types can still make one driver feel different to another, say. You can adjust depending on your play style, therefore, which is inspired by the pro golfers and their experiences on the real Tour.

It's this mix of realism and fun that we're looking forward to testing more when we get our own hands on the game.

We were also told that the old three-click shot method of yesteryear will make a return as a playable option, but wasn't active for our demo.

Putting has changed a bit this time around - perhaps even more so than the main shot system. You get a suggested line to give you a decent read of a green (although that can be turned off in settings) but the putting meter is certainly different to before. You have a smaller swing overlay that suggests power and works more like the main shot arc. Again, it's something we have to try for ourselves before we can give you more on how it works.

Licenced to thrill

Perhaps the most impressive part of EA Sports PGA Tour for us so far is the amount of licenced content in the game. The 30 courses, the clothes, clubs and shoes, the different tournaments, including all the majors, and a healthy selection of PGA and LPGA professionals to play as and against. There is also a great cast of commentators that use dynamic phrasing to make the presentation feel just like a TV broadcast. They've even recorded unique voice clips for points of interest on course that you may never hear - such as if you bounce a ball off a specific fence, which cues a sentence about that actual event.

As well as the licenced players, you can also create your own, of course, with an in-depth editor and the choice to set him onto the path of greatness by either entering amateur tournaments first, the Korn Ferry Tour, or the PGA Tour itself. And, if you want to play as a woman, the Amundi Evian Championship is there for the taking too.

In short, EA is ensuring that while it has taken a seven-year leave of absence from golf, it is coming back with its most expansive offering yet. It's certainly not doing things by half.

First impressions

It's hard to give a genuine opinion on a game we've not physically played ourselves, but everything we've heard and seen so far shows much potential. We've really enjoyed 2K's rival title (and still do), but can't help admitting that we've missed the traditional EA Sports PGA Tour games over the last few years. Plus, we're really looking forward to playing in The Masters at Augusta and this will provide the only opportunity to do so. We await it with bated breath.

EA Sports PGA Tour will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC from 24 March 2023.

Filed under:

PGA Tour 2K23 is Elden Ring for golf, somehow

Thrilling golf marred by frustrating swinging mechanics and career progression

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: PGA Tour 2K23 is Elden Ring for golf, somehow

I don’t spend much time playing video games whose difficulty is a selling point; if it’s anything like a Soulslike, I’m likely to avoid it. So it’s been a long time since a game has made me swear as much as PGA Tour 2K23 has. I’m not proud that one of those instances occurred when my wife came downstairs to see how things were going, just as I shanked a tee shot — for perhaps the 50th time? I’ve lost count at this point — into a thicket of trees on the left side of the fairway.

From wayward drives that end up in the drink to gimme putts that somehow don’t drop, the analog stick swing mechanic is my greatest frustration in PGA Tour 2K23 . After all, swinging is the main thing you do in this game; it takes 60 to 80 shots, on average, to complete a full 18-hole round.

But after taking thousands of swings across hundreds of holes of golf, I still don’t feel like I have a great handle on my virtual clubs in PGA Tour 2K23 . In other words, I don’t feel like I’m improving — an issue that is compounded because I’m also not getting a meaningful sense of progression for my created golfer in the game’s MyCareer mode.

PGA Tour 2K23 defaults to a control scheme that’s common in golf video games: To swing, you pull down on the right stick and then flick it upward. Here, though, the timing of the second motion (the downswing) is crucial — you’ll pull the shot to the left if you flick too quickly, and push it to the right if you’re too slow.

Downswing timing is the bane of my existence. I’ve enabled many of the assists available in the game’s settings, and have been hoping I’d eventually be able to wrap my head around the swing system. But even on the second-easiest difficulty setting, swinging feels like something of a crapshoot. No matter how many practice cuts I take, I’m liable to hook a shot when I swing for real.

There’s another option now: Fulfilling a long-standing request, developer HB Studios has added a traditional three-click system in PGA Tour 2K23 . It’s much less analogous to a real-life golf swing than, well, the analog stick scheme, but it’s good that an alternative is available.

This is HB Studios’ second effort under 2K Sports, a mass-market publisher. As such, I’m surprised that PGA Tour 2K23 doesn’t feel substantively more accessible than its predecessor, 2020’s PGA Tour 2K21 . Even the three-click swinging is implemented in a way that feels like it’s different for the sake of being different. Rather than simply pressing the button three times, you first hold it down to determine power, and then tap it twice to fine-tune the accuracy. I tried this system and quickly reverted to analog controls, despite my issues with them.

PGA Tour 2K23 ’s MyCareer mode also ends up feeling overcomplicated, although its foundation is solid. When creating your MyPlayer character, you choose one of five archetypes. For instance, Powerhouse players can drive the ball farther than anyone else, but they struggle with accuracy and putting. I’ve stuck with Woodsman because, frankly, I miss so many fairways and greens that I need all the help I can get when recovering from a bad lie in the rough. It’s nice that I can change my archetype if I ever want to, at no cost.

Here, HB Studios’ design works beautifully: The archetypes are meant to offer packages of strengths and weaknesses to support and complement your personal play style. My shots may often land on pine straw or in a fairway bunker, but thanks to the Woodsman archetype and its shot-shaping benefits, I don’t feel like all is lost when they do — and in fact, I’ve managed to save par in many of those cases.

The same customization-based design philosophy applies throughout MyCareer, but it’s less successful outside the realm of archetypes. The experience points you earn by playing tournaments aren’t used to directly upgrade your player’s attributes, like in a typical role-playing game (or in, say, a standard career mode in a sports game). Instead, you get a single skill point every time you level up, and you use the points to unlock and upgrade skills.

To avoid getting too far into the weeds (or woods) here, I’ll just say that almost all of the skills take effect only on a situational basis: They’ll either activate when you’re struggling and deactivate once you regain your form, or activate when you’re doing well and deactivate if you don’t keep it up. And as you level up a skill, it activates more easily and stays active for longer.

While the concept is sound, this setup makes the entire skill system feel inert. The first skill for hybrid clubs, Gusto, seems eminently valuable: When you’re mired in heavy rough, your shots will fly farther. But at level 1 of the skill, it only takes effect if you happen to be hitting into a headwind of at least 15 mph — an exceedingly rare combination of circumstances, in my experience. Because it takes a while to earn skill points, I’m not inclined to waste my precious few points on a skill that I don’t expect to get much use out of, even if there are more desirable ones locked farther along that branch of the tree.

Personalization is also the driving force behind club fittings, the most significant (and concrete) method of improving your performance in PGA Tour 2K23 . Fittings are parts of a golf club — head, shaft, or grip — that you can equip to magnify its attributes. Each one has a level of rarity attached to it, as with loot in a game like Destiny 2 ; the more rare it is, the stronger its effects. Attaching an “uncommon” head to a wedge might boost its power rating by 6 points while also dropping its timing attribute by 2.

Unlike in PGA Tour 2K23 ’s basketball sibling, NBA 2K, you can’t spend real-world money to power up your athlete, thankfully — at least not by buying fittings, since you receive them only as random drops. Virtual Currency, 2K Sports’ real-money currency (called “coins” here), is used primarily to purchase items like licensed clothes and gear from companies such as Adidas and Mizuno, none of which affect gameplay.

However, a pay-to-win element does creep into the game with respect to fittings: It costs coins to equip them to each club. The charge for attaching a legendary shaft to an iron is 150 coins, so I had to spend 900 coins to outfit all six of the irons in my bag. Considering the slow rate at which you earn coins through play — something like 250 coins if you can manage to finish in one of the top spots of a tournament — you may end up staring longingly at a collection of fittings that you’ve unlocked but can’t afford to equip.

The real bummer here is that I’ve had to spend so many words analyzing all that ancillary stuff, because once I’m playing a hole in PGA Tour 2K23 , most of those nuisances fade away. This is a true-playing golf game — I had a devil of a time with the steep greens at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club, and I’ve found it tremendously satisfying to craft and execute shots . The unforgiving difficulty of the swing mechanics, coupled with the game’s complicated system of fittings and skills, can lead to more frustration than fun. But when it all comes together, and I manage to pull out a birdie just when I need one to hold off a challenger on the leaderboard, it makes for thrilling moments of fist-pumping glory.

Perhaps I’m just too much of a casual gamer for the PGA Tour 2K series. To wit: I played many hours of PGA Tour 2K21 and didn’t remember having trouble with its swing mechanics — but when I booted up that game to check the options, I realized that I had disabled the downswing timing setting. At some point, I must’ve gotten frustrated enough to give up on the challenge (and the associated boost to the rate at which you earn XP). I’d also love to be able to save-scum, but that’s not an option: Due to the integration of VC, this is an always-online game by default, so it saves your progress with each stroke, with no allowances for mulligans.

It seems like my best bet — if I want to more fully enjoy my time with PGA Tour 2K23 — would be to turn off downswing timing. Either that, or it might be time to put this franchise on my personal “I don’t need this stress in my life” list, right next to Elden Ring .

PGA Tour 2K23 was released Oct. 14 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed using on PS5 using a pre-release download code provided by 2K Sports. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here .

Loading comments...

We're currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please bear with us!

Hey Poor Player

• Write For Us
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Settings
• Search for:

• Geekify Is Kickstarting a Physical Neopets Tabletop RPG Next Month
• No Man’s Sky’s Thirteenth Expedition Harkens Back To A Quieter Galaxy
• Sci-Fi Adventure Boyhood’s End Comes to Early Access in September
• Dank Hearts Reveals Debut Title Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
• Flint: Treasure of Oblivion Unveils First Making-of Documentary
• HoYoVerse’s Upcoming Action RPG, Zenless Zone Zero, Debuts July 4th

EA Sports PGA Tour Review (Xbox Series X|S)

Ea sports pga tour review: on the comeback trail.

Much has happened since EA Sports last released a new golf game in 2015; two different Presidential elections; a new console generation; the chicken sandwich wars. It almost feels like a different world than when we last had these games coming out on a yearly basis. EA Sports PGA Tour is a bold attempt to revive the series, now without a headlining star. EA found out in that last release that there’s just no replacing Tiger Woods. Can they move on from his shadow, though?

A New Generation

In trying to bring golf to a new generation, the team at EA Sports left the last generation of consoles behind, and after looking at how spectacular this game looks, it’s not hard to see why they made that choice. This is a gorgeous game with beautifully crafted courses that truly look like what they’re trying to recreate. I know it’s hyperbolic to say that you could glance at an image of this game and think you were looking at the real thing, but a lot of the time, that’s simply true. The amount of detail put into each hole, from the foliage to the environment around things, is incredibly impressive. The one thing that maybe isn’t quite up to par graphically is the golfers themselves. Or, more specifically, their faces. They’re currently stuck in a bit of an uncanny valley situation where they don’t look quite real, but they aren’t stylized enough to overcome it.

That comes up more than you’d think because EA has invested a lot of time into the presentation, between voiceovers celebrating the 30 courses included here and camera angles designed to capture the feeling of watching golf on TV. It’s mostly effective, though there were times I wished for the option to just skip through it. Golfing is slow-paced enough that I didn’t always want to take another few seconds before hitting my next shot, but it’s clear this was an area of focus for the development team, and the presentation leaves PGA Tour 2K23 in the dust.

Swing For The Stars

If EA Sports PGA Tour’s gameplay blew the competition away as far in the dust as its presentation does, we’d be breaking out a green jacket, but that’s where this year’s release is a lot less of a triumph. There’s definitely a foundation here to build upon, but I had a number of issues with actually playing the game, some of which are hard to overlook.

Many of the issues start with the game’s swing mechanics, which are done entirely using your analog stick. While you can move your swing between the left and right stick, it controls the same either way. While this is certainly more intuitive for casual players than something like a three-click mechanic found in many other golf games, the precision the game expects of players is far from intuitive. This can be a real problem, especially since the swing mechanics themselves don’t account for things like wind or how the terrain or momentum of your ball will react after its initial landing. This makes it incredibly difficult to land precise shots. Rarely an issue on an opening drive, but when you’re approaching the green and trying to hit a shot close, it can be a real problem. The PGA Tour series has always been a more arcade-style golf experience, but while a wealth of options allow you to tweak all manner of things, I never found an option that felt genuinely intuitive.

Over time you definitely start to get used to it, but I never felt like I could stick shots as consistently as I would have liked to, even after advancing well into my created golfer’s career on the Tour. RPG Mechanics, which allow you to improve your stats over time, definitely do help, though, and eventually, I felt like I was able to at least be consistently competitive. Also, it helped when I turned off the default option, which just has you play a selection of holes from each tournament. While this is a good idea in theory, especially with 18 holes taking a long time, I was rarely happy with the results. I’d get through nine holes under par only to have the game decide to put me four over on the back nine, leaving me in a bad position.

You can work around that issue, though. What I couldn’t work around was the game’s UI which has significant issues which sometimes simply made advancing impossible. There were times when my ball was close enough to an item or where a structure was near me that the camera would choose truly bizarre angles, which left me completely unable to see my golfer or even the swing mechanics on screen. That didn’t happen that frequently, but it was frequent enough that it bothered me.

What happened more often was the white swing mechanics blending into the background of the beautiful courses, making them difficult to see. While I could usually squint and make things out, that’s simply not the experience players want while trying to enjoy a relaxing golf game. UI design that stands out against backgrounds is basic-level game design, and I find it surprising that the game shipped without getting that right. While it feels like something that could be tweaked over time, it also feels like something that should have been done already.

Outside of a solid career mode, there are many different gameplay options. Hundreds of challenges are available for you to test your skills on, including some training challenges, which don’t really feel like they do much to teach you the game’s mechanics. Still, I really enjoyed these more bite-sized bits of gameplay, and sometimes doing is the best way to learn. There’s a lot you can do online as well, whether it be playing in large groups, taking on daily challenges, or competing in tournaments, so those who want to play with friends will find a lot to keep them busy.

EA Sports PGA Tour lays the foundation for what could be a really strong golf game, with a lot of content, deep mechanics, and excellent presentation. Its UI issues, though, are a significant problem that shouldn’t have made it into the final release, and its swing mechanics, while easy to pick up, never feel particularly comfortable. In future years there’s definitely potential to win the tour, but for the moment, I still think the competition offers a more compelling experience.

Final Verdict: 3/5

Available on: Xbox Series X|S(Reviewed), PS5, PC; Publisher: Electronic Arts; Developer: Electronic Arts – Tiburon; Players: 16; Released: April 7th, 2023; ESRB: E for Everyone; MSRP: $69.99

Full disclosure: This review is based on a copy of EA Sports PGA Tour provided by the publisher.

Related Articles

Super Mega Baseball 4 Review (PS5)

Heat Check: March Could Even Heat Up The Dead

Nintendo Download for 5/23/24

May 23rd, 2024

Written by: Josh Speer

Get Ready For Icy Adventure!   While it's true that today's Nintendo Download is a bit [...]

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch: Over The Al Mamoon

May 19th, 2024

Written by: James Davie

A Motorville Majesty Few games make me as happy and emotionally engaged as Ni No Kuni: Wrath of [...]

Umbraclaw Review (Switch)

May 29th, 2024

Umbraclaw Review: An Adventure as Mercurial as a Cat   Let me start by saying this. Whi [...]

Phantom Fury Review (PS5)

Written by: Jonathan Trussler

Phantom Fury Review: One Badass Brunette Bombshell Ion Fury (and its sequel Ion Fury: Aftershock) [...]

Northwind Takes Deckbuilders Old School In a Fascinating Demo

May 25th, 2024

Head Back to the 90's In Northwind   As much as I love deckbuilders, it would be reason [...]

Hey Poor Player’s Top 25 Games of 2021

Which Title Will Win in our Battle of the Games of 2021?   2021 has been a year of managing expectations and learning to accept the horrors of 2020…

Dariusburst Chronicle Saviours Review (PS4)

There’s not much fishy about this premium-priced space-seafood buffet   If you were an arcade goer or general gamer in the 16 bit era, you’re probably aware of the…

Second Opinion: Ready Player One Is The Worst Thing Nerd Culture Ever Produced

If you can overlook the bad writing, one-dimensional characters and stolen plot, you’ll find a story that’s also morally repugnant. This is not a series about games you haven’t…

Join Our Discord!

Click the icon above to join our Discord! Ask a Mod or staff member to make you a member to see all the channels.

Metacritic Partner

VR GAME CRITIC AFFILIATE

Open Critic Partner

• Xbox Game Pass
• Xbox Series X News
• Xbox One news
• Xbox 360 news
• Xbox Series X Reviews
• Xbox One Reviews
• Xbox 360 Reviews
• Accessory Reviews
• Other Reviews
• Walkthrough Guides
• PlayStation
• TheXboxHub Team
• Showcase your skills
• Chat with us
• Competitions

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR Review

Many video game developers could learn a thing or two from the phrase ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’.

Ubisoft did it with Assassin’s Creed and now the series is in the best shape it has possibly ever been. The same could be said for why we’ve waited over six years for another mainline Final Fantasy title. Then there is the almost eight year wait for a new golf title from EA SPORTS. And with EA SPORTS PGA TOUR, it looks like that time away has been spent very, very wisely indeed.

After the lofty heights of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 – 2006, the series had been heading out of bounds until Rory McIlroy PGA Tour seemingly put the final nail in the coffin. Not the player associated with the title though, it has to be said. Poor Rory cannot be blamed for anything.

The headline of EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is undoubtedly having the licence for Augusta National once again, a course not featured in a golf game of any shape or size since 2014. Heck, the game even suffered one final delay to make sure it released during the week of The Masters tournament, played at the same venue.

But there are also twenty-nine other courses bundled in, with more to be added over time. It’s a decent amount to start off with, especially considering some of the additional courses that feature. St Andrews, TPC Sawgrass, Pebble Beach and personal favourite Wolf Creek are all included, alongside a couple of fantasy courses from past EA games.

And they all look absolutely stunning. The decision to launch on current-gen consoles only has paid off somewhat, but more on that later. But yes, the courses are absolutely gorgeous. Each one has its own unique style and personality that EA has done a fantastic job of replicating. And you can see them visually change too over time; shadows lengthen, the wind dynamically changes and the crowds swell.

You can feel the difference in the way they play too. Each course has been extensively recreated using a combination of photogrammetry, GPS and even helicopters equipped with LiDAR technology. That technology is typically used to map mines and underground caves, so using it on the surface of the golf course means that every seemingly insignificant bump and mound has been meticulously and faithfully recreated here.

Because they are so well recreated, you cannot approach them the same way. For example, I kickstarted the Career mode by winning The American Express at PGA West by four shots. That aggressive play caught me out massively in the next event at Torrey Pines and I was in three bunkers in sequential holes and barely made the cut. Lesson learned after that.

That Career mode is where you will spend most of your time with EA SPORTS PGA TOUR. It isn’t a game that bloats out the package with tons of similar modes. Even Career mode does away with sponsorship goals like PGA Tour 2K23 does, and lumps them into a Challenge mode. Here you can unlock unique clothing and equipment by completing one of literally hundreds of challenges. More are added based on what is happening in the real-world of golf; a boat load more have just been added after The Masters. Though thankfully there are no falling trees in the digital version.

Then there are the standard online modes for competitive and social games. Competitive has a disappointing two match types at launch – Amen Corner at Augusta and a random nine holes – but more should be added in soon. Along with a more stable online portion, having tried to join a game I have been kicked back to the Xbox dashboard a couple of times.

You can also create your own golfer, but options here are limited. It’s a minor issue but a more robust creator would have been nice.

More frustrating is the levelling system. It follows the traditional method of awarding skill points as you level up, but certain shot types are hidden behind specific attributes until you level them up. I am someone that prefers to putt off the green where possible rather than chip towards the hole. However I had to pump several skill points into my putting skill before I unlocked that shot type. I wanted to be levelling up my approach accuracy instead but was forced to essentially waste these points on an attribute I am fairly competent with.

Sometimes that approach accuracy goes out of the window completely. At the moment, EA SPORTS PGA TOUR simply cannot cope when you are taking a shot in front of an obstacle. Whether that be a tree, a gallery stand or something else, if you cannot see your player, the swing meter imposed around them will be missing too. And if you cannot see that, it is complete guesswork as to how much power you are putting on your shot. This has been stated as an incoming improvement to the game, but it arguably should have been noticed before launch.

Something else that could potentially be patched in later on are the performance settings. It is what I was alluding to earlier, despite launching on current-gen only, EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is locked at 30fps. It’s not a major issue for a slower paced sport such as golf, but we can only assume it is down to wanting to make these games look as gorgeous as possible. There is however, mention of a performance setting on the website. But currently, there is no sign of it in-game.

Also set to be added in a later patch is the old-school method of a three-click swing. As it stands, the only way to play is by using the analog sticks to replicate a swing. It’s a method that’s been around for a few years now, but newcomers may struggle with it at first. It makes EA SPORTS a more simulation sports title, but one that still retains certain arcade features. You can increase the power of your shots by spamming the A button during your backswing, and you add spin whilst the ball is in-flight. Some would argue that EA SPORTS PGA TOUR suffers from a lack of identity but honestly, this healthy mix elevates it way above anything 2K have released whilst EA has been quiet.

And then there are the Heartbeat Moments.

Making a return are these extra special moments that make those crucial shots even more impressive. Hit a shot from distance that is heading straight for the hole and the screen will focus in, the action slows down and a heartbeat begins pumping out of the speakers. They don’t happen all that often, but they are something you will never tire of.

Not that it is recommended on a golf course, but EA have knocked it out of the park with EA SPORTS PGA TOUR. It is a welcome return for a series that no longer needs a golfing legend to grace the cover. And long overdue it has been too. The 2K PGA games have had us covered in recent years but there will only be room for one golf franchise going forward. Welcome back to the club, EA. 

Walk the road to The Masters in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR on the Xbox Store

• EA Sports PGA Tour
• Xbox Series X
• xbox series x reviews

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Follow Us On Socials

Our current writing team.

Join the chat

You might also like related recommended to you, killer klowns from outer space: the game review, capes review, goons: legends & mayhem review , remnant ii: the forgotten kingdom review.

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment: A Comprehensive Look at a Leading Sports Conglomerate

Academy sports panama city fl: your ultimate guide to sporting goods and outdoor gear, top 10 sports in the world: a comprehensive guide.

• Is Sports Betting Legal in Georgia? A Comprehensive Guide
• Hard Rock Sports Betting Florida: A Comprehensive Guide
• Sports Career of DeMeco Ryans: From Star Linebacker to NFL Coach
• National Women in Sports Day: Celebrating the Achievements and Impact of Female Athletes
• What Channel Is Bally Sports on DirecTV? Your Comprehensive Guide

EA Sports PGA Tour Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Latest Golf Gaming Experience

EA Sports PGA Tour is the latest entry in the long-running golf simulation series by EA Sports. Known for its realistic gameplay, stunning graphics, and deep customization options, the game aims to bring the most immersive golfing experience to players. In this comprehensive EA Sports PGA Tour review, we will delve into the gameplay mechanics, graphics, new features, and overall performance of the game. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a gaming enthusiast, this review will provide an in-depth look at what EA Sports PGA Tour has to offer.

EA Sports PGA Tour

Overview of the game.

EA Sports PGA Tour is a premier golf simulation game that offers players an authentic golfing experience. Developed by EA Sports, this game is designed to cater to both casual players and hardcore golf fans. The game features realistic physics, detailed graphics, and a variety of game modes to keep players engaged.

Release Date and Platforms

Released on [Release Date], EA Sports PGA Tour is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game utilizes the advanced hardware capabilities of these platforms to deliver a visually stunning and highly immersive experience.

Gameplay Mechanics

Realistic swing mechanics.

One of the standout features of EA Sports PGA Tour is its realistic swing mechanics. The game uses a sophisticated physics engine to replicate the intricacies of a golf swing, including factors like swing speed, club angle, and wind conditions. Players can choose between various control schemes, including analog stick controls for a more tactile experience.

Course Management

Course management is a critical aspect of the gameplay in EA Sports PGA Tour. Players need to consider factors such as wind direction, elevation changes, and course hazards when planning their shots. The game provides detailed information on each hole, helping players make informed decisions.

Putting System

The putting system in EA Sports PGA Tour has been refined to offer a more realistic and challenging experience. The game uses a grid overlay to help players read the green and plan their putts. Precision and timing are key to successfully sinking putts, adding depth to the gameplay.

Graphics and Visuals

Photorealistic courses.

EA Sports PGA Tour features photorealistic renditions of some of the most iconic golf courses in the world. From Augusta National to Pebble Beach, each course is meticulously detailed to capture its unique characteristics and beauty. The game’s advanced graphics engine ensures that every blade of grass and grain of sand is rendered with stunning realism.

Dynamic Weather and Lighting

The game includes dynamic weather and lighting systems that enhance the visual experience. Weather conditions such as rain, fog, and wind can change during a round, affecting gameplay and adding an extra layer of challenge. The lighting system creates realistic shadows and highlights, making each course look vibrant and lifelike.

Character Models

Character models in EA Sports PGA Tour are highly detailed, with realistic animations and facial expressions. The game uses motion capture technology to ensure that the movements of the golfers are fluid and natural. Customizable clothing and equipment options allow players to personalize their golfers.

New Features in EA Sports PGA Tour

Career mode enhancements.

The Career Mode in EA Sports PGA Tour has been significantly enhanced to offer a deeper and more immersive experience. Players can create their own golfer and guide them through the ranks of professional golf, competing in tournaments, earning sponsorships, and building their legacy. The mode includes detailed progression systems and career milestones.

Online Multiplayer

The online multiplayer component of EA Sports PGA Tour has been revamped to provide a more engaging and competitive experience. Players can participate in online tournaments, challenge friends in head-to-head matches, and join online societies to compete in league play. The game’s matchmaking system ensures fair and balanced competition.

Course Creation Tool

One of the most exciting new features in EA Sports PGA Tour is the course creation tool. This powerful tool allows players to design their own custom golf courses, complete with unique layouts, hazards, and scenery. Courses can be shared online, allowing the community to play and rate each other’s creations.

Shot Link Integration

The game integrates Shot Link data from the PGA Tour, providing players with accurate statistics and insights. This feature allows players to compare their performance to real-world professionals and gain a deeper understanding of their game.

Performance and Technical Aspects

Smooth frame rates.

EA Sports PGA Tour runs smoothly on next-gen consoles and high-end PCs, delivering consistent frame rates even during graphically intense moments. The optimized performance ensures that players can enjoy a fluid and responsive gaming experience without lag or stuttering.

Thanks to the powerful hardware of next-gen consoles, the game features fast load times, allowing for quick transitions between menus, holes, and game modes. This reduces downtime and keeps players engaged in the action.

Audio Design

The audio design in EA Sports PGA Tour is top-notch, featuring realistic sound effects, ambient noises, and professional commentary. The sounds of clubs striking balls, crowd reactions, and environmental sounds all contribute to the immersive experience. The commentary team provides insightful and dynamic commentary, enhancing the realism of the game.

Key Features of EA Sports PGA Tour

Pros and cons of ea sports pga tour.

• Realistic Gameplay: The sophisticated swing mechanics and detailed course management provide an authentic golfing experience.
• Stunning Graphics: Photorealistic courses and dynamic weather and lighting systems create a visually immersive experience.
• Enhanced Career Mode: The deep career progression system adds longevity and engagement to the game.
• Comprehensive Customization: Extensive options for personalizing golfers and creating custom courses.
• Improved Online Multiplayer: Engaging online modes and fair matchmaking enhance the competitive experience.
• Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the realistic mechanics challenging to master.
• Occasional Glitches: Some minor technical issues, such as graphical glitches, may occasionally occur.
• Limited Innovation: While the game offers many improvements, some players may feel that it lacks groundbreaking new features.

What platforms is EA Sports PGA Tour available on?

EA Sports PGA Tour is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

What are the main improvements in EA Sports PGA Tour compared to its predecessor?

The main improvements in EA Sports PGA Tour include realistic swing mechanics, enhanced graphics, dynamic weather and lighting, a revamped Career Mode, improved online multiplayer, and a powerful course creation tool.

Can I create and share custom golf courses in EA Sports PGA Tour?

Yes, the game features a course creation tool that allows players to design and share custom golf courses online.

Does EA Sports PGA Tour have a Career Mode?

Yes, the game features an enhanced Career Mode where players can create their own golfer and guide them through the ranks of professional golf, competing in tournaments and earning sponsorships.

How is the online multiplayer experience in EA Sports PGA Tour?

The online multiplayer experience in EA Sports PGA Tour has been significantly improved, with engaging tournaments, head-to-head matches, online societies, and fair matchmaking.

Related Post:

Mastering the Shortstop Position: The Ultimate Guide for Aspiring Baseball Players

The Ultimate Guide to Throwing a Baseball

How to Hold a Baseball Bat: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the Art of Hitting in Baseball: A Comprehensive Guide

The EA Sports PGA Tour review highlights the game’s numerous enhancements and new features, making it a standout title in the golf simulation genre. With its realistic gameplay mechanics, stunning graphics, and comprehensive Career Mode, EA Sports PGA Tour offers an unparalleled golfing experience. Whether you’re looking to compete online, create custom courses, or guide your golfer to glory, this game delivers a deep and engaging experience that is sure to satisfy both casual players and hardcore golf fans.

Meet Daniel, the insightful voice behind the captivating sports narratives on TheSportsLife.com. With a passion for the thrill of the game and an unwavering dedication to uncovering the stories that transcend the scoreboards, Daniel brings a professional flair to the world of sports blogging.

Related Posts

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

• PlayStation 3
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series
• More Systems

EA Sports PGA Tour – Reviews

Xbox series x pc playstation 5, gamespot review.

• 6.7 User Score Based on 64 user reviews.
• 90 Metro GameCentral Slick, high-tech, and impeccably well designed; this is the best golf game of the modern era and the new standard for others to aspire to.
• 85 Multiplayer.it Quotation forthcoming.
• 85 PSX Brasil EA Sports PGA Tour is an excellent and challenging golf game that manages to capture everything that the player wants from a title of the genre. Its gameplay is excellent and the career and challenge modes work exactly as they should, with the package being further enriched by the good online modes and the beautiful graphics of the title.
• 73 SpazioGames The gameplay isn't as smooth and is certainly less intuitive, as well as more complex, than the 2K alternative. It is a fun game, without a doubt, but which in some choices is a bit immature and which still has some way to go: we have some technical stumbles, little care in customization and a gameplay that could be revised to be more accessible to the public.
• 6.7 User Score Based on 13 user reviews.
• 60 Hey Poor Player EA Sports PGA Tour lays the foundation for what could be a really strong golf game, with a lot of content, deep mechanics, and excellent presentation. Its UI issues, though, are a significant problem that shouldn’t have made it into the final release, and its swing mechanics, while easy to pick up, never feel particularly comfortable. In future years there’s definitely potential to win the tour, but for the moment, I still think the competition offers a more compelling experience.
• 70 Press Start Australia It might not be for everyone, and it can feel like a bit of a slog at times, but among the excellent selection of courses, deep career mode and accessible gameplay, EA Sports PGA Tour should satiate the appetite for those wanting an enjoyable golf game.
• 78 SomosXbox EA Sports PGA Tour is a great golf game, but not for everyone. It's difficult both to master and start playing, with enormous penalties for each mistake. Offline menus are full of content, but it still lacks online variety.
• 80 Xbox Achievements Despite competition from PGA Tour 2K23, EA Sports PGA Tour manages to set itself apart with polished presentation, tight mechanics, and impressive visuals. While a shortage of customisation options is disappointing, there's no arguing with the overall quality that EA's return to video game golf has to offer.
• 6.8 User Score Based on 5 user reviews.
• 90 Gamers Heroes Featuring deep swing mechanics and incredibly detailed courses, EA Sports PGA Tour sets a new gold standard for golf games. The title is every bit as deep as one wants it to be, with RPG elements that encourage replayability and self-improvement.
• 70 GLHF on Sports Illustrated As of today, EA Sports PGA Tour is a very solid starting point for the franchise, and one that allows EA Sports to get back in the game.
• 60 Screen Rant EA Sports PGA Tour is an absolutely beautiful and immersive golf game with a very realistic feel. The game can be quite demanding on even some of the better systems, so PC users should be forewarned to check the requirements and be ready to turn down graphic settings. It is a challenging game, but still a lot of fun and is a great foundation for players to become better with the ability to see true growth happening as they continue to practice, as long as the player has enough patience to get there.
• 63 Tech-Gaming Following nearly a decade-long retreat, EA Sports PGA Tour has returned. But instead of attempting to beat its competitor with a decade and a half of honed experience, the game often focuses on flash. The 30 courses here all look beautiful and lifelike, while the golfers all mug convincingly after bungling a nine-foot putt. But essentials like smooth swinging and the ability to customize a competition are missing at launch.

Got Your Own Opinion?

Submit a review and let your voice be heard.

EA Sports PGA Tour Reviews

Slick, high-tech, and impeccably well designed; this is the best golf game of the modern era and the new standard for others to aspire to.

Read full review

EA Sports PGA Tour captures the intricate nuance of golfing. However, the systems struggle with what a user can reasonably decipher from a mere analog stick, leading to a frustrating experience. EA Sports PGA Tour is a game at odds with whether it wants to compete with rival 2K’s realism or veer closer to its own more arcade roots, and in the process, lands its first drive on this new round in the rough.

EA returns to the world of golf with a challenging and rewarding title that's let down by a couple of inconsistencies and an underwhelming swing mechanic.

As a comeback, EA Sports PGA Tour performs well enough to compete with PGA 2K23 on fairly even footing. The inclusion of all four majors, the solid ball physics, the wider arsenal of shots, and the long list of official courses are impressive, though the presentation can be flat, laggy, and rough. If EA decides to turn this into an annualized sports franchise, the next installment will need to revamp the character creator and rework the user interfaces. Despite the game's flaws, though, I can still see myself casually playing it throughout the year alongside other sports games like MLB The Show 23. It’s been a while since we’ve seen two established developers battle each other within the same sport, and I’m all for it. At the very least, golf games will be made all the better from the competition.

EA Sports PGA Tour is a good golf simulation that marks the return of the series after years of absence from the green, even if EA Tiburon hasn't managed to make a "hole in one" despite offering satisfying gameplay. The realization of the courses and the physics of the ball is truly remarkable, while the pleasant visual appearance clashes with some technical defects linked to an imperfect use of Frostbite. Overall, EA Sports PGA Tour is an enjoyable gaming experience, designed primarily for golf enthusiasts.

Review in Italian | Read full review

EA dazzles with its re-entry onto the fairways with EA Sports PGA Tour, which is comfortably the best golf game in years.

EA's return to the course is a surprisingly understated and supremely accomplished golf sim

The controls can be tough to get the hang of, but the visuals are stunning, the commentary impressive and the play itself gives you all the challenge and realism you could want

A technically solid game that has some pretty glaring issues with presentation, I still found myself going back to play round after round. It's challenging and rewarding, even if it's not the best entry in the long history of golf titles.

As golf games go, this is the most fun I have had in a while. It's a massive improvement over recent years' titles. The career mode is both addictive and rewarding, it's full of contact and the presentation is both cinematic and beautiful. A few issues will not get in the way of what I think is the best golf sim around at the moment. Let's hit the greens, people!

I wanted to love EA Sports PGA Tour. Though I find myself as disappointed as Bart Simpson was when he got Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge for Christmas. The initial gameplay showcase had me as excited as a kid in a candy store. There’s no denying it’s a gorgeous game. Course flyovers and commentary are also superb. But these fleeting moments of brilliance make PGA Tour’s missteps all the more frustrating. Until EA gets under the hood and performs the mountain of work required to get it up to snuff, I’ll be sticking to PGA Tour 2K23. At least that game works.

EA Sports PGA Tour is a game that fails to unleash its full potential. It offers a considerable amount of content and a rather realistic game structure, with some graphical bugs and some ques-tionable choices in the game modes (especially in the Career) that slow down its race to success. This is a good starting point which that could improve along the way.

EA Sports PGA Tour proves what the publisher is capable of at its pomp: this is a jaw-droppingly beautiful sports game, with a sublime selection of licensed courses and a surprising amount of depth. Its demanding swing mechanic is slightly let down by a sluggish frame rate, but its single player is boosted by a strong sense of progression – and in multiplayer there's tons to do. This is an impressively strong effort overall, and a sign of good things to come ahead of the company's other anticipated comeback, EA Sports College Football.

EA Sports PGA Tour bring you to the field again after a long stand by, but now it's time to come back to try to be the best Golf player around the world. With impressive physics and amazing modes to get fun and a bunch of content. The king of the Golf is back.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

EA Sports returns to virtual courts with a visually stunning PGA Tour.

Golf – and therefore EA Sports PGA Tour – is not a simple game, but my feelings towards it can be expressed simply. It feels like playing the sport, and it’s hard to ask for much more than that.

Despite competition from PGA Tour 2K23, EA Sports PGA Tour manages to set itself apart with polished presentation, tight mechanics, and impressive visuals. While a shortage of customisation options is disappointing, there's no arguing with the overall quality that EA's return to video game golf has to offer.

EA Sports PGA Tour is somewhat, par for the course, in many ways what I expected, retaining much of the previous few entries while adding more gameplay options and better simulation than ever before.

It has its fair share of issues, but there's more than enough in EA Sports PGA Tour to keep newcomers and golf pros occupied. It's a solid step forward for the EA Sports golf titles, and a welcome return to the course.

With so many ways to test your skills and so many gorgeous courses to explore, EA has bounced back with a long-awaited PGA installment that seems entirely focused on pleasing the fans. There's so much to do and so many challenges to conquer that any golf fan should be preoccupied and satisfied with this game for quite some time. And when courses look this gorgeous, playing a virtual 18 holes at your favorite location will never get old. I'd say EA is more than deserving of a resounding golf clap.

• Get the Newsletter

Please support Game Informer.  Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue

EA Sports PGA Tour Review

EA returns to the PGA with an inconsistent, frustrating simulation, struggling with its identity. While gorgeous, with pro golf’s best interactive presentation, the on-the-course action delivers inconsistent results.

In licensing, EA wins, scoring the Masters and key courses like Pebble Beach. Presentation counts, like the Masters’ first day showing opening tee shots from Jack Nicklaus and others. Quiet commentary meaningfully discusses each hole during flybys. Gorgeous vistas line the courses, and every individually rendered blade of grass is visible, even on the fairway. Each hole is lined with realistic-looking spectators, but their lack of reaction when struck with a ball removes the immersion.

Prestige comes with a cost – this is a daunting golf sim. Fairways and greens seem stuck on their hardest/fastest setting. The analog stick swing functions logically, but results vary, with little feedback on what sent a tee shot slicing toward trees. Each stroke accounts for forward and backswing speed, length, loft, and wind. That’s true to the sport, as any one of those can cause a botched shot, yet EA’s PGA Tour doesn’t allow a sense of what’s going wrong at the moment.

With the ball airborne, a small window shows the analog stick’s motion, and any left/right deviation (no matter how small) means a drastic gaffe. This becomes more forgiving when leveling, however marginal the gain. Greens present a useless guide showing the best ball track but no indication of what that line represents to help aim. Even on easy, if the swing is a smidgen off in power or straightness, it misses, short putt or not.

Elements from EA’s retired Tiger Woods series remain. Notably returning is the chance to jam a button for power during the backswing and add spin as the ball goes skyward, a wholly unrealistic option. That’s the crisis facing EA Sports PGA Tour, trapped with the studio’s arcade-esque legacy while competing with golf-sim rival 2K Sports. 

Setting up a career (the only long-term single-player mode), the disappointing character creator limits your options. Only generic heads and an abysmally small line of clothes fill the menus, the latter widening via the in-game shop.

From there, it’s a matter of entering tournaments, playing majors, and leveling up. Earning XP happens quickly at first, but the final stages in each stat take way too long, and the currency accumulates just as slowly. Meanwhile, PGA Tour pesters players to spend between $5 to $50 on in-game cash for new shirts or a +3 club power boost to speed up this process. When combined with the slow progress, the pressure to spend feels overt.

Training challenges offer sponsorships and XP, but it’s clumsy and tedious. Each typically lasts for a few swings – say, a driving accuracy test – then back to a loading screen, then the menu.

Graphical beauty can occasionally create problems. Before a crucial Masters tee shot, a fan’s body blocked the swing meter. Tall grass does the same, even if it’s translucent. Power becomes a guess because the meter doesn’t show, making the already-brutal difficulty unfair.

Leveling allows additional swing types, like power drives, to ease the challenge. These fit EA’s brand, akin to Madden’s X-Factors, but like the backswing button mashing, they seem like misfits in a game true to golf. While some shot types make sense, it’s illogical that many of these need to be unlocked in the first place; imagine going to the PGA without basic skills.

EA Sports PGA Tour captures the intricate nuance of golfing. However, the systems struggle with what a user can reasonably decipher from a mere analog stick, leading to a frustrating experience. EA Sports PGA Tour is a game at odds with whether it wants to compete with rival 2K’s realism or veer closer to its own more arcade roots, and in the process, lands its first drive on this new round in the rough.

Products In This Article

EA Sports PGA Tour

Thanks for reading..

I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer ’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue , we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.

Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.

We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.

It’s not possible without support.

In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.

Popular Content

Send Us Your Questions And Rants For A Chance To Win A Game Informer Gold Copy Of The Hades II Issue

Frostpunk 2 Preview – Breaking The Ice

Update: Sony Pulls Down Heavily Misquoted Neil Druckmann Interview And Apologizes For 'Significant Errors And Inaccuracies'

Alex Horne On Taskmaster VR And Being A One-Man Writing Room

Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game Review – More Fun Than A Pie In The Face

Lego Reveals The Legend Of Zelda Great Deku Tree 2-In-1 Set

Kingmakers Preview – Historically Accurate Absurdity

Exploring The Intersection Between A.I. And Indie Game Development

How Street Fighter 6 Was Shaped By A Social Media User's Love For Ed

Destiny 2: The Final Shape – The Final Preview

View the discussion thread.

EA Sports PGA Tour Review: Slow Burn

EA Sports PGA Tour Review: It may have a lot of great strokes, but still has a lot of things it has to improve on.

Franz Christian Irorita

EA Sports did themselves a great favor when they decided to drop EA Sports PGA Tour just as we head to Masters in real life, as it positions their game as the ideal companion for the Four Majors in the coming months. However, does the game provide an enjoyable experience comparable to watching the Majors? We find out in this EA Sports PGA Tour Review.

EA Sports PGA Tour Review: What is EA Sports PGA Tour?

With the title EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters, Electronic Arts returns to the fairway after a seven-year absence. Aptly named Road to the Masters, the game gives players a career mode that truly gives them the full Masters experience on the golf course. Developed by EA Orlando and EA Madrid and published by EA Sports, the game came out on Early Access on April 4, 2023, and launched globally on PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X on April 7, 2023, just in time for the first Major of the year, the Augusta Masters , which itself plays a huge role in the game. And that's exactly the identity that EA Sports is trying to hit: it's the home of the Majors – but is this synchronicity with the real-life events enough to make this a good golf game?

EA Sports PGA Tour boasts deep, unique, fluid, and strategic gameplay, using realism as a vessel for making the game feel like playing real golf as much as possible. To do this, EA Sports PGA Tour utilizes a stick swing system that lets you control the swing of your golf club with one of your sticks (or mouse, if you're playing with a mouse and keyboard setup). This is, at least on a surface level, similar to the control scheme that was utilized in PGA Tour 2K23, so many players who are moving from that game to this might find this as the more familiar control scheme. Unlike PGA Tour 2K23, though, EA Sports only has this control scheme available at launch, with a button press-timed control scheme coming out later as a post-launch update. Although I personally liked using the stick swing system, it still is disappointing not to have the option to switch between control schemes at launch.

Admittedly, EA Sports PGA Tour is very disadvantaged when it came out just months after the release of PGA Tour 2K23 . Comparisons are bound to be made, and although EA Sports PGA Tour does shine in many aspects, a lot of its weak points are highlighted because of this. For example, many players would end up frustrated by the stick swing system. Naturally, players who have experienced the 2K control scheme would be conditioned to time their swings the way they did in 2K. EA Sports PGA Tour has a lot of factors playing into their swings and the results of their swings, and many would easily dismiss the control scheme as simply being inaccurate and erratic. It also doesn't help that the learning curve for this is very high, and I can imagine many fans being turned off by the difficulty of the game at first. Even the touted “Gameplay Innovations Powered by Pure Strike” does not make itself felt so much. But give it some time and get used to EA Sports PGA Tour's controls, and you'd actually have a deeper, much more strategic gameplay compared to 2K.

That being said, EA Sports PGA Tour also boasts a deeper career mode, which is this game's main game mode. While there are a lot of other game modes available for offline play, the options available for online play are very limited and sparse. In our PGA Tour 2K23 review, we noted how shallow the game modes are, and EA Sports PGA Tour itself, except for its career mode, offers even fewer ways to play. That being said, if you like more player customization options, a skill tree-based progression system, and course creators, then you're better off sticking with PGA Tour 2K23, as EA Sports either don't have these or are sorely lacking in these aspects. But if you love the grind and climbing the rungs of the golf sport's ladder, then EA Sports PGA Tour is the meatier game.

All of this, however, is bogged down by the game's sluggish and confusing menus. The UI for this game is all over the place, and many menu options and settings feel like they're in places they shouldn't be in. For example, the player's customization options can be accessed only through the main menu. That means, if you're playing through your career and you level up and have some skill points you could spend for your character, you actually have to quit Career Mode and return to the main menu to make your upgrades. It's frustrating because it would have been easy to integrate the upgrades menu right into the Career Mode screen, but somehow the developers missed out on this. The entire game feels slow in general as well, which you'd also experience when you play against the AI. Not only can you not skip their turns, but they also take forever to do their turns. On top of it, it's also weird that the fast-forward buttons for the ball follow-up and the fast-forward button for the player reaction that follows right after are assigned to different buttons. This wouldn't be a big problem normally, but for some reason again, EA Sports PGA Tour doesn't have remappable controls.

It also doesn't help that the game has horrendous performance on PC. While our time playing the game with the PS5 was met with very few bugs and glitches (we did experience a crash exactly once, though), the PC port is bogged down even more with slowdowns, screen tears, and frame drops. You'd just be unlucky when that happens during your swings. So, until EA Sports releases a patch, you might want to stick with the console versions for the time being.

Apart from that, EA Sports PGA Tour will have more content coming to it post-launch, so there are definitely a lot of things players could look forward to as we go along the Majors this year. Players can look forward to more licensed pro golfers, more licensed courses, and of course, more Majors-related events for online game modes.

One part that both EA Sports PGA Tour and PGA Tour 2K23 have in common is their lack of a compelling story. There's a lot of potential here. Almost all of the other sports games have their own story mode with, albeit cheesy and sometimes campy, narratives. I believe that in this part, it's still better to have something rather than nothing at all, and it could help hook in more players and get them more invested in the careers of their created characters.

One thing that EA Sports PGA Tour is undoubtedly better compared to PGA Tour 2K23 is in the graphics department. Developing solely for the next-gen consoles definitely helped EA Sports create a game that has a higher tolerance on graphical load. This probably is the cause for the performance issues we've been experiencing on PC, but on the PS5, the game looks fantastic. The foliage, the courses, and the presentation all come together for a fantastic package that really drives home the point that this is the Home of the Majors. This makes all of the course overviews at the start of each hole feel even more special, as everything looks really good and it almost always feels like a waste to skip.

However, one odd weakness that the game has is its character models. For some reason, the characters don't really resemble their pro-player models. This gives me the feeling that 2K has really been just good at making these models, and that EA Sports is playing a little bit of catch-up. In any case, it's not that the characters look horrendous. Not at all. They do look good, but some characters just have faces that don't 100% capture the look of their models. In some cases, the models look really old compared to their real-life counterparts.

In everything else, even if the UI design is bad in terms of where things are located, everything does look pristine and look clean, giving the overall presentation a good look.

Music and Sound Design

Another aspect that makes the overall presentation of EA Sports PGA Tour shine is its music and sound design. While music in itself isn't that big of a deal for a game like this, the sound design is perfect, with every swing and every finish feeling much more satisfying. Add to that the amazing commentary that does keep track of what everyone's doing in your game and makes references to past events, and you've got a game that is worth listening to.

There really isn't a lot to add to this, EA Sports PGA Tour's sound design just works, and the best way to know that is by not having many comments about it.

Verdict: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Good? Is It Worth Your Time and Money?

EA Sports PGA Tour hands down is the better game when comparing it to PGA Tour 2K23. Standing on its own feet, it has a lot of holes filled and it is great on many strokes, but not by any account a perfect game. Its unforgiving difficulty could have been much more manageable if the game offers more support to new players apart from its tutorial message windows, which appear to be something you can't view again once you've seen them once. It takes a long time before EA Sports PGA Tour becomes good, and its slow pace all over makes it hard to recommend to just anyone. But those who are willing to spend time getting to know the ins and outs of the game's more complex systems will have a good time. If player customization, online matches, communities, and custom courses aren't that big of a deal to you, and if you're one of the people who exclusively plays career mode, then this is exactly for you. But a lot of mishaps, both in technical performance and game design, shows that while EA Sports PGA Tour is a good comeback for the series, there is still a lot of work to be done before we have in our hands the perfect golf game.

Score: 7/10

Editor’s Note: ClutchPoints received PC and PS5 review copies to allow us to cover this game. These copies did not, in any way, affect this EA Sports PGA Tour Review’s final score and verdict.

Franz Christian Irorita has been writing about esports and video games for a decade and has been with ClutchPoints since 2020. He also has a background in esports events project management. In his free time, he also makes video game and pop culture-related content as Neutral Gaming.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share by Email

EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters is a golf game unlike any other

• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter
• Follow on Instagram

EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters is out now.

Didn’t score Masters tickets this year? Still trying to cope with the fact you might never peg it at Augusta National? Those things might not change, but you can still visit Augusta … virtually.

For the first time since 2013, Augusta National is back in video game form with the latest release of EA Sports PGA Tour.

EA Sports, known for its popular Madden NFL and FIFA titles, is relaunching its popular golf series in 2023 for the first time since 2015 — and it’s bringing back the home of the Masters as part of it all.

Augusta National hasn’t been in the game since 2014, the last time the series was released under the “Tiger Woods” name. Augusta is one of 30 different courses now available on the new game, with more courses — like major hosts Oak Hill and Los Angeles Country Club — coming online as those majors get underway.

EA’s return to the golf world means that golf gamers have the option between two PGA Tour-licensed golf games for the first time. 2K Sports released its third PGA Tour-licensed game, PGA Tour 2K23 with Tiger Woods, last fall.

The EA game was officially launched on Masters Friday, and we at GOLF have been putting it through the wringer to see if it’s a worthy golf simulation game. Here’s what we learned.

What we liked

Graphics and Aesthetics: In the run-up to the release of the game, the EA Development Team credited significant advancements in video game visual technology with bringing the series back from its nearly decade-long hiatus.

They weren’t kidding. Not only do the courses look stunning — EA producer Ben Ramsour told GOLF a screenshot of Augusta’s 13th green was mistaken for a photograph — but also the swing animations have finally started to appear lifelike.

You can really see EA’s attention to detail with the equipment highlighted in the game. From Callaway and TaylorMade drivers to Scotty Cameron putters, most of the game’s most modern offerings are available to users. And it all looks like the real thing. EA even brought insane detail into recreations of the trophies from golf’s majors, which brings us to the next item…

The four majors : Unlike the 2K games, EA Sports PGA Tour features exclusive rights to all four of the men’s major championships, meaning that the majors are now playable in career mode. That also goes for the U.S. Amateur, as well as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. You can also play in the LPGA’s Evian Championship .

Each major has a unique broadcast package, with specific lines of dialogue from the broadcast team — a solid grouping that reunites Rich Lerner with Frank Nobilo, Notah Begay III and Iona Stephen. Nick Faldo even handles a spine-tingling intro for the Masters.

Career mode : You have three options of where to start your career: as an amateur in either the U.S. Am or the ANWA, a pro playing on the Korn Ferry Tour or by skipping those steps and heading straight to the PGA Tour.

I chose to start as an amateur, winning the U.S. Amateur to qualify for both the Masters and U.S. Open. My player made the cut on the number at Augusta (I have yet to break 71 there, more on that in a bit) and then earned a solid top 10 at the U.S. Open. Eventually, I’ll have to tackle Korn Ferry Tour Q-School before advancing up the ranks into the world of the PGA Tour.

As you play rounds or challenges, which can range from easy to very difficult, you earn XP to level up your golfer and earn skill points to improve your ratings and add shot selections to your repertoire.

Gameplay and shot types: Finally, a golf game has done justice to the stinger and the knockdown, two of my favorite shots. You have to level up your golfer enough to unlock these speciality shots — at which point you need to learn how to use them — but it’s fun to see a game actually delve into shot-making.

I’ve been playing on a custom difficulty in between the two most-difficult settings, “Tour” and “Simulation.” This means my shots are penalized or rewarded for timing, my clubs are recommended to me by carry distance, not total yardage, and I don’t get putt previews or shot trails. In the past, I’ve found golf video games were too easy in the mid-difficulty levels and far too difficult at the harder settings. With the latest EA offering, I’ve found a balance that allows me to shoot some “normal” scores that a pro would shoot on a real course.

The actual swing mechanic works nicely into the user interface. Some people have noticed some lagging in the timing, but it rarely impacts me significantly.

That said, Augusta National is hard. I mean, seriously hard, especially around the greens. I have yet to break 71 there and it’s mostly due to the crazy slope in the greens. That makes not only putting difficult but also chipping and approach shots.

Thanks to new ball flight and ball behavior settings, shots seem to react like they would at ANGC. Miss the tiny plateau in the upper right corner of 6 green? You’re going all the way back to the front left corner. Come up short on 9? You’ll be rewarded with a fun 50-yard pitch. Go long of the Sunday pin on 18? Good luck with that putt.

As expected, you also won’t get the same kind of spin at say, Bandon Dunes or St. Andrews, where the ball bounces and bounds like a true links course. These tendencies are independent of what the course setting is too. “Tournament” conditions at St. Andrews will naturally be firmer than at Augusta, but green speeds in Georgia will be quicker.

What could be better

I’m no video game expert (I only ever buy golf and basketball games at this point) but here’s what I, as a golfer, would like to see.

Short game: Short shots have always been the toughest to replicate in video games for some reason. Thanks to the new ball behavior, putting from off the green is finally reasonably accurate. The game also added a spinner shot, basically a lower pitch that checks, which I found myself using most of the time once I unlocked it. However, I still find myself using the flop shot at times I wouldn’t in relief simply because it spins way more than it should, even out of the rough. Also, where the spinner checks a little, the regular pitch and chip shots don’t. It would be very hard to recreate Tiger’s chip-in from the 2005 Masters.

Real-world weather : I believe the previous EA games had access to real-world weather that would allow you to play courses in real-time conditions. I would love to see that again as the tournaments I’ve played had random wind directions and speeds each day. Plus, the PGA is in May now — no way there’s perfect weather all the time!

Parting thoughts

The graphics and actual shot types make this game a must-have for any golf-loving video gamer or a video game-loving golfer. But then again, a golf game with Augusta National might be enough to earn “must-have” status alone.

After Tiger Woods’ 2K23 game came out around the same time this one was teased, I thought more people would gravitate toward 2K thanks to Tiger’s name (which was part of the success of EA’s previous games ).

But EA deserves a big chunk of the market share with this game. They knocked it out of the park with a vastly superior experience both from a visuals and gameplay standpoint. Would I love to play with Tiger in this game? Yes — but I’d argue having access to some of the best venues in golf is more important. I’d also love to figure out how to use EA’s graphics on a golf simulator, because the game has some of the best golf visuals I’ve ever seen.

EA Sports PGA Tour is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox S|X and PC; the standard edition costs $69.99 and the deluxe edition costs $84.99.

EA Sports PGA Tour

Latest in lifestyle, how to make perfect belgian waffles, according to a golf-club chef, robo-mowers yep, at u.s. amateur four-ball, they're hard at work, charles schwab challenge betting guide: 5 picks our expert loves this week, make a perfect old fashioned cocktail with this simple recipe.

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at [email protected] .

• Author Facebook Account
• Author Twitter Account
• Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

Watch: we took on good good golf in the new ea sports pga tour, watch cameron champ play as cameron champ in the new ea sports pga tour.

EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 - Standard Edition

+Offers in-app purchases.

Game requires online multiplayer subscription to play on console (Game Pass Core or Ultimate, sold separately).

In this bundle

Description

Pre-order* EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 today and receive: - Alma Mater Ultimate Team™ Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 134) - Cover Athlete Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 3) - Bring Glory Home Ultimate Team Uniform Item In EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 experience explosive gameplay variety across 134 FBS schools and immerse yourself in the iconic atmospheres of college football as you chase college greatness. CampusIQ™ Immerse yourself in authentic, fast-paced, college football gameplay with CampusIQ™. Test your strategic decision-making with an all-new composure system, player Wear & Tear, screen-shaking homefield advantages and dozens of diverse play styles across 134 FBS teams. Iconic Atmospheres From The Big House to The Swamp. From Tuscaloosa to College Station. Experience the decibel-shaking soundscape of college football putting you inside the stadium, alongside all the iconic rituals and traditions that make you feel right at home. Bring Glory Home Set a new standard for college football greatness in classic modes like Dynasty and Road To Glory. Recruit a winning roster, develop a coaching staff, and lead your program to the Championship as a created coach, or balance student-athlete life and take home the Heisman as a player. GAMEPLAY FEATURES Wide Open, Fast-Paced Gameplay Powered by a wide range of player ratings that fluctuate throughout a game, team tiers and new in-game passing mechanics, EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 delivers strategic, fast-paced gameplay. Wear & Tear With the new Wear & Tear system as the hits add up, players wear down. Manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions. Pre-Snap Recognition Pre-Snap Recognition makes the decision behind every snap matter more. Do you trust in your high-skill seniors, or take a risk with your untested freshman? Homefield Advantage Game-altering homefield advantages rattle your rivals in college football's toughest places to play. GAME MODES Dynasty Create a coach, take control, upgrade their abilities and build a powerhouse college football program. Establish your coaching staff, then work to recruit the best talent either straight from high school or direct from the transfer portal. Road to Glory Live the life of a student-athlete with your created player and take home the Heisman as you build an unforgettable college football legacy. Manage your weekly schedule, GPA and your image, earn Coach Trust to get more playing time, or use the transfer portal to get the time and the glory you deserve. College Football Ultimate Team™ Build your dream team of college football stars and legends. Play Solo Challenges or H2H Seasons to upgrade your squad and take on the toughest contests. Test your roster and your skills in more competitive formats like College Football Ultimate Team™ Champs and Champs Gauntlet. Road to the CFP Experience a new way to play competitively and represent your favorite team in Road to the College Football Playoffs. This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items. Unless licensed, all names and identifying characteristics are fictitious. For fictitious persons, any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended. *Conditions & restrictions apply. See ea.com/games/ea-sports-college-football/college-football-25/disclaimers for details. © 2024 Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, the EA SPORTS logo, and Ultimate Team are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Officially licensed by CLC.

Published by

Developed by, release date, playable on.

• Xbox Series X|S

Capabilities

• Xbox local co-op (2-2)
• Online multiplayer (2-2)
• Xbox cross-platform multiplayer
• 4K Ultra HD
• Single player
• Ray Tracing
• Spatial Sound
• Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
• Smart Delivery

Compare editions

Games included

Add-ons included.

EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 - Deluxe Edition

EA SPORTS™ MVP Bundle (Madden NFL 25 Deluxe Edition & College Football 25 Deluxe Edition)

People also like