What a Mess of a Game

When was the last time EA had a course creator? It was just not going to happen. EA was not going to make another version of PGA 2K23, they did something else. There were lots of reviews what the game is, and with all its problems. This board is full of comments of what the game is. What you got with this game is what you should have expected. A waste of your time and money.

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@ea4131cfaccf6bb9 wrote:

I’ve been waiting for this game to reduce in price so that if I didn’t  like it won’t be too much of a loss.

Having played it now for two days, I can honestly say that I wish I hadn’t bothered. Certainly, it looks nice but the swing dynamics, reticule aiming system, ball physics and sounds and character creation are truly awful. Additionally, where is the practice area and why no replays? Why no course creator/editor? 
It seems like golf games in general have gone backwards over the years. We had 1:1 swings and photo realistic character creation 20 years ago but now every golf game released seems like a cut down version, with many aspects absent. 

I’ve been playing 2K’s PGA golf games since the first edition, and, although not perfect by any means, far surpass this mess of a game. 
I will eBay my copy of EA PGA Golf as I can’t see any number of patches rescuing it.

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While I can certainly see where you are coming from, this game had some promising ideas. The single player career mode is pretty good overall but was neutered because of how easy the game is to play.

The challenges again was a good concept but became immaterial once you had leveled up.

I agree the swing is a little slow, but then I think since 2K19 the swing on that game is too fast. Trying to execute shots in the short game is unrealistic in 2K and much better in EA. That is other than the putting...

I also agree the ball physics are off, but it seems they may have made some changes in the last patch; I have to play a few more rounds to confirm. But putting still feels off to me, it feels sticky.

Character creation has been going backwards for both golf games, this isn't just an EA thing... and you are right about how this genre is not moving forwards in the last 20 years but rather regressing.

I also never understood the lack of a driving range or practice area. I also never understood why I can't turn off the wind on the practice range in 2K.

I understand why EA might not want to include a course editor, but then they should have created a robust bug free golfing experience instead.

This game was delayed 13 months, and still felt like it was released unfinished.

I do believe though that if EA directed their attention to fixing a few core items in gameplay that the game could be resurrected. But I have been on this forum since April, and they are not listening to their community. They seem to have an agenda and direction of how they want this game to develop.. which is pointed directly at an iceberg.

I guess we will find out if they are an icebreaker... or the the Titanic. But in my lifetime I have learned you don't mess with Mother Nature... she always seems to have the last word.

I realised that this game had no course creator when I bought it but it just seems to be such an omission when 2K’s course designer gives such fantastic results and boost to the popularity and longevity of the game.

However, I’ve been following the patch updates and hoped that EA had made improvements to the game and swing system. Sometimes you’ve got to try something for yourself to know if it’s what you hoped it would be. 
I wonder why they even included a character creator in the game when it’s such a poor effort. They must have been aware of the reaction they would get! I remember when EA included face creation using actual photos of yourself. Why have they not developed this technology for their recent titles? It just makes no sense to me to push out such a sub standard effort. 
There was a golf game back in 2000 (PGA 2000 I think) which used a swing based on 1:1 motion with the mouse movement. Every time a new golf game has been released I have hoped that this would be implemented for the PS controller but to no avail.

I’ll continue using PGA 2K23 for designing and playing, although I’m also playing Golf+ VR a lot since buying a VR headset. They hope to release a course creator in the future, which would be a dream come true for me.

2K have much improved the short game in 2K23 and in my opinion is superior to EA’s but it’s all subjective I suppose.

I would recommend trying Golf+ VR to anyone who hasn’t played it. With a golf club attachment it’s a near to playing a real round of golf you can get on any video game at the moment. Playing online is just brilliant.

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@19ba2bcab7b7cb67 wrote:

2K have much improved the short game in 2K23 and in my opinion is superior to EA’s but it’s all subjective I suppose.

I would recommend trying Golf+ VR to anyone who hasn’t played it. With a golf club attachment it’s a near to playing a real round of golf you can get on any video game at the moment. Playing online is just brilliant.

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If you are talking about the physics, and how the ball reacts... I agree with you, it feels much better than EA. My issue is with how 2K23 deals with the swing animation in the short game is way too fast. In fact I would say in general it is too fast everywhere in the game. But then I would say EA's is a little slow... and if I had to choose... I would pick EA's over 2K's.

But really how hard is it for someone to emulate a 1:1 swing?

And why wouldn't increased specs for distance increase the swing speed animation, requiring the player to continually adjust. It would be gradual so acclimating to it wouldn't be difficult. And you could always have an arcade mode locking in swing speed if needed.

Game is absolutely broken because of the RNG, lipout physics, rotating store, and poor character creation. TW14 is game created 10 years ago which is far more superior and advanced than the current game. Fixing the labyrinthine code of current game would be almost impossible given the poor revenue and investment. Combining Captain Marvel and the Avengers, Rey and the Jedi, Katniss, Wonder Woman and the Justice League, and James Bond would not even save current game from this mess. A brand new iteration starting from scratch and reusing features from TW14 is necessary to really fix this mess. Another great golfer like Tiger is needed to get the revenue back to golf games. The current mess is the reason I have moved on to 2K23, NBA 2K24, NHL 24, UFC 5, and EA FC 24.

I still have PGA 2000 and yes it was the first game to introduce a real time mouse swing.  However in my opinion the best golf game I have played and still do is Perfect Golf.  It's real time mouse swing is called RTSM and is in a class of it's own.  It is only the swing that mimics a real golf swing.  If the movement of your mouse is an inside out path it promotes a draw.  If the movement is outside in it promotes a fade.  Too much of either and you can end up with a hook or slice.  In addition the swing also has a tempo parameter.  The ideal tempo is a ratio of .25 when your downswing speed is compared to your back swing.  Ideally your downswing should be 4 times faster than your backswing.  The tempo means that you can have a fast swing like Nick Price or a slow swing like Ernie Els because as it is the ratio that counts.  A tempo that is too fast could be offset by your swing path or vice versa.  The possibilities are endless.

Recently, a friend of mine started using his controller to play PG and he swears it is head and shoulders above EA Sports and 2K23.  However I still play it using the mouse because the feel is phenomenal.

Perfect Golf is missing features like a career mode, tournaments,  galleries and a avatar creator but it has features that neither EA Sports or 2K23 have.  It's course architect program is vastly superior to the one in 2K23.  You can be creative using the PG course architect because you can create or import custom objects, textures and sounds.  For example custom flags, houses, tee markers and panoramas etc.  In 2K23 all the courses look the same because you're restricted to the canned objects and panos (themes) that come with the game.  I have played community created courses for PG that had animated trains, helicopters and those large fans by greens to keep them dry.  PG courses still look great considering the game dates back to 2015.  Trackman purchased PG and uses an updated version of their course architect program to create  courses for their simulator.  

On top of the game play, PG has features like replays where you can choose from 9 different camera angles.  Possible plugged lies in greenside bunkers,  A true 3D option where you can move around to any part of the course you want.  I played a course where I walked over and entered a church to have a look inside.  A practice mode that you can use on a course that allows you to drop the ball anywhere you want on that hole.  In PG the speed of greens is expressed as stimp rather than the generic, average, slow that EA and 2K23 use.  I could go on but as someone who has played the real game for 30+ years PG is still my favourite cyber golf game.

If the EA developers want to improve their game they should check out PG to get some ideas.  It is still available on Steam.

Amen re:  Perfect Golf

I play RTS-M also and it's the best video game golf swing ever -- not even close honestly

@SLouis2001Have to agree with you about Perfect Golf's analog swing controls. I play with the controller and the control you have of the animation gives you the illusion and feel of playing the real thing, without any forgiveness zones or meters. Would liked to of seen that franchise mature. But the developers were not in the gaming business and it was developed to play the courses from their course creator.

Also has a full online lobby with all the game modes.