I am realizing that Amateurs who want a fun and easy game and the Simulation Gamers who want a challenge are being left out in current game. That is why there are many post requesting for game to be harder. However, there are not many Amateur gamers who are making post to make game easier. I would like to start that trend.As it stands, the current game has only four difficulty levels: 1) Arcade, 2) Pro, 3) Tour and 4) SIM. In addition, there are options missing such as adjusting Wind Speed, RNG Levels, Lipout Frequency and Flag Positions. When the game first came out, Arcade difficulty was easy as described. As updates rolled on after complaints to make game harder, Arcade difficulty has increased with each successive updates making it a stress inducer instead of a stress reliever. IMHO, the Arcade level feels like Pro from TW14 and Pro-Am in 2K in its current state. I have lost interest after 4+ months because I had to relearn game after each update. For the Arcade level, it should be Easy means Easy, but It felt like Hard is the new Easy.In comparison with other games, Tiger Woods 14 has five difficulty levels: Amateur, Pro, Tour Pro, Tournament and Simulation. In that iteration, Amateur is actually easy and Simulation is actually hard. In addition to difficulty levels, Options such as wind speed and flag position can be selected. 2K has six difficulty levels: Beginner, Amateur, Pro-Am, Pro, Master and Legend. There are also options to have shot account for the wind. I have recently re-purchased 2K23 and Beginner level is a stress reducer. For 2K23, I am enjoying and not cursing at the TV anymore. In addition, I am able to dress my golfer like Nelly Korda. Like TW14, 2K23 and 2K21 caters to both Amateur and Simulation gamers. I am hoping the next iteration of EA PGA Tour (Maybe called Nelly Korda PGA Tour 25) would make 5 or 6 difficulty levels with additional options such as wind speed to be inclusive of all player bases.

My issue with Arcade is that you should be able to repeat your shots or at least know your math is going to work out. EA's RNG currently gives a big FU to the casual player and is telling me "you may think you're good, but I'm going to jump in and make sure you can't rely on your abilities". In Arcade, birdies and eagles should be the norm with hole-outs determining the victor. As it stands you have to rely on opponents to screw up since your skill won't put you ahead. Sorry/not sorry if that offends the people that feel the game should make you take 3 swings in the sand just because you do on the weekends.

Arcade Should Be Easy While SIM Should Be Hard

43 Replies

7AnimalMother
2 years ago
I guess maybe our definition of easy is different.. Being able to shoot 55s or lower for 18 on Arcade and Pro seems pretty darn easy to me…
But I’m down for making Tour harder, since sub 60 scores are still common there….

I don’t like the putting, and complete guessing aspects for elevation in sim, so don’t really care about that mode.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@7AnimalMother wrote:
I guess maybe our definition of easy is different.. Being able to shoot 55s or lower for 18 on Arcade and Pro seems pretty darn easy to me…
But I’m down for making Tour harder, since sub 60 scores are still common there….

I don’t like the putting, and complete guessing aspects for elevation in sim, so don’t really care about that mode.
I agree we have a different definition and vantage point of easy. I am at the Amateur/Arcade level; I am guessing you are more in the Tour/SIM level. An advanced player would have a very easy time with Arcade. I can score a 54 in TPC Scottsdale while I score 66 in Wolf Creek with Wind at Arcade difficulty. I agree that tour level needs to be more difficult. I think the current game caters to Mid Level players.
I also agree that the putting really sux. I remembered watching reruns of “Six Million Dollar Man” and “Bionic Woman” in TV Land in the early 2000s. The Super Slo-Mo timing of the putting reminds me of the Bionic Woman attempting a putt except the game has no bionic sound effect to go with it. The putting in TW14 is far smoother and superior. The putting in 2K is a close second to TW14.
SlimDown57
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@7AnimalMother wrote:
I guess maybe our definition of easy is different.. Being able to shoot 55s or lower for 18 on Arcade and Pro seems pretty darn easy to me…
But I’m down for making Tour harder, since sub 60 scores are still common there….

I don’t like the putting, and complete guessing aspects for elevation in sim, so don’t really care about that mode.
Its all in the mulligan.
Beerrun4u
New Veteran
2 years ago
My issue with Arcade is that you should be able to repeat your shots or at least know your math is going to work out. EA's RNG currently gives a big FU to the casual player and is telling me "you may think you're good, but I'm going to jump in and make sure you can't rely on your abilities". In Arcade, birdies and eagles should be the norm with hole-outs determining the victor. As it stands you have to rely on opponents to screw up since your skill won't put you ahead. Sorry/not sorry if that offends the people that feel the game should make you take 3 swings in the sand just because you do on the weekends.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@Beerrun4u wrote:
My issue with Arcade is that you should be able to repeat your shots or at least know your math is going to work out. EA's RNG currently gives a big FU to the casual player and is telling me "you may think you're good, but I'm going to jump in and make sure you can't rely on your abilities". In Arcade, birdies and eagles should be the norm with hole-outs determining the victor. As it stands you have to rely on opponents to screw up since your skill won't put you ahead. Sorry/not sorry if that offends the people that feel the game should make you take 3 swings in the sand just because you do on the weekends.
I think there should be the option to turn on/off RNG and control lipout frequency. TW14 and 2K depend on skill instead of RNG. I played the easiest settings on both games and I don’t have to worry about the sand having a tractor beam. I stopped playing current game and move on to 2K23.
ELF014
2 years ago
@PalomaMarvel24 wrote:

I think there should be the option to turn on/off RNG and control lipout frequency. TW14 and 2K depend on skill instead of RNG. I played the easiest settings on both games and I don’t have to worry about the sand having a tractor beam. I stopped playing current game and move on to 2K23.
I personally think the game is pretty easy overall. And I think they have catered to the Arcade player. The issue is as mentioned by another polster on here. I have argued this issue across all difficulty levels. The RNG is a bit out of control in this game, it is almost like EA is using it to create difficulty in the game.
It should be used instead to create some slight randomness to shots... not to change the quality of an executed shot.
They got this wrong in the worst way... but it is not the only thing whoever in charge got wrong in this game. The game is pretty but there is no golf in this game.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@ELF014 wrote:
I personally think the game is pretty easy overall. And I think they have catered to the Arcade player. The issue is as mentioned by another polster on here. I have argued this issue across all difficulty levels. The RNG is a bit out of control in this game, it is almost like EA is using it to create difficulty in the game.
It should be used instead to create some slight randomness to shots... not to change the quality of an executed shot.
They got this wrong in the worst way... but it is not the only thing whoever in charge got wrong in this game. The game is pretty but there is no golf in this game.

I agree with you with 99% of the post. The RNG really ruined this game and has rendered the game unplayable. The physics is absolutely off and there is no golf in this game. It feels like a superhero game.
The only part where I agree to disagree is the comment about the game catering to arcade difficulty. We are in opposite ends of the spectrum in skill level where I am at the amateur level. Our vantage point of what is easy is absolutely different. If this game actually catered to arcade difficulty, I would still be playing this game and not moved on to 2K23. TW14 and 2K23 caters to all levels. I don’t even know what player base the current EA PGA tour caters to.
Katybee_1313
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
I agree with @Beerrun4u, somebody at EA decided to make Arcade mode boring and hole out as hard as possible, feeling more like real golf. They kept the 2 fictional courses and taken away all the fantasy. They really should call it something else than Arcade, it's just not fun. Not even close of the TW series.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@Katybee_1313 wrote:
I agree with @Beerrun4u, somebody at EA decided to make Arcade mode boring and hole out as hard as possible, feeling more like real golf. They kept the 2 fictional courses and taken away all the fantasy. They really should call it something else than Arcade, it's just not fun. Not even close of the TW series.
Totally agree. Arcade more should be renamed to Arcane Mode or Arduous Mode. I almost thought Wolf Creek is fictional until I looked it up; it turns out the course is real but is a fantasy for golfers. Wolf Creek with wind at arcade difficulty is a total nightmare.
The Amateur settings in the Tiger Woods Series and Beginner settings in 2K gives a more arcade feel. The chances for a hole out are much larger. The chances of a “Sand Out”, aka hitting the sand, for Arcade Mode in EA PGA Tour are much larger than TW or 2K. I think TW14 was the most complete golf game I ever played.
Noya_Wesa
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
Playing the 4 hole arcade just now, and I realize just how much of an utter failure the devs have presented to us.
The conditions are the same each time, and since the winds are only in the 1 to 2 mph range, and gusts are off, the results should be somewhat repeatable, right?
Right?
It's okay, I'll wait for the laughter to die down...
Second hole is a nice straight shot at the pin with a 5 or a 6 iron drive, depending on your preference, but it's pretty much impossible to replicate the shot, as the random nonsense generator has to have the final say.
You'll get 'close' to replicating the shot, if you accept an overall spread of approximately 15 yards between attempts as close.
The third, there's that gorgeous, long, tree lined fairway, that's wide enough to easily avoid any foliage. The wind is coming in at 2mph almost head on, with only the slightest drift from left to right...
The shot is lined up, driving slightly to the right and relying on what little wind there is to keep it that way, and I get the pleasure of watching a perfect/perfect meet the leaves of the left hand trees as the ball starts to descend.
"Really?"
So I will offer the opinion that arcade mode is far from fit for purpose, and that the devs should be going back to older versions of the game, seeing what worked and what didn't, and recoding this pile of garbage from the ground up.
They might also wish to look at competing games, just so they can see how much fun arcade level computer golf can be!