The non-golfer is back, this time armed with a full review of HB Studios’ PGA Tour 2K21. I haven’t magically gained a true pro’s insight since the preview build of the game, but I can still give it my best shot. Most of what the game has to offer can be read from the demo build impressions, but I’ll still go through some of the points in brief. Thanks to 2K for providing us with early access!

IT’S A ME!

If you’re not up to go through the myPlayer customization options, then jump right in to the action with a decent number of presets you can choose from. You can think about the details after once you’ve actually gotten your hands on the bag and your feet on the green. You have immediate access to customize your bag too, for the more detail oriented and serious golfers out there.

With a new character, you’ll be taken into the tutorial, and I have to admit the running commentary as you practice is a really nice touch. You can keep practicing until you get it and it moves you on to the next step, or you can skip it to review it next time. The commentary is just packed with character which didn’t need to be done, but I’m glad it’s there for that extra bit of fun.

101% POWER

Fresh off Q-School, I was ready for my first proper PGA Tour (it’s even the name of the game!). Caveat: on the easiest difficulty possible. Thanks to all the difficulty options being able to be turned down, the biggest hurdle to place on the podium is myself, really. I’m still the one who needs to take the shots, and no amount of Pro Vision can fix the close misses or the double bogeys. I have to say, after spending most of my time on the PC version with keyboard and mouse controls, I believe that a controller provides a more natural way to play with its joystick use. I’d recommend it over the mouse, for sure.

As you progress through the holes, you’ll get broadcast cut-ins of your AI competitors also on the course, making their shots – or missing them. These give a bit of a breather in between holes, and gives the game a chance to show off the models of the pros they’ve scanned in. I’m not especially picky on how they look, and PGA Tour 2K21 isn’t the most visually demanding game, but these models also come with their little character ticks – just like your own avatar – whether they make a good shot or otherwise. It gives that televised feel, which I’m sure others would appreciate more.

Mouse gripes aside, the controls are otherwise responsive. You can do practice swings if you’re unsure prior to the actual shot, and you won’t actually hit the ball until you let go. Golf’s a calculated game: focus, and let it fly, as accompanied by the running commentary from Beem and Elvy. I wish there were options for subtitles; it seems a shame to miss out on some of their best and they don’t seem obtrusive since they talk only once the ball flies, but I can understand it’s tough to time them properly too.

Once you get your Rival, you’ll see them around on the course too. Since I’m playing on the lowest difficulty, there’s something oddly amusing about seeing your Actually Pro Rivals get bogeys they normally wouldn’t when the camera pans to them. I won’t be able to comment on any intense rivalry moments thanks to that; I’ll leave it to the experts. Live those dreams, fellas.

On completing all sponsor-specific challenges, you can move on to another. The initial one doesn’t give you any choice, but the system will open up to you once that’s done. Here’s another way you can choose your difficulty, as each sponsor will have Easy to Hard challenges for you to fulfill as you go on tour. The harder they are, the more Sponsor Points you’ll get, and the closer you’ll be to one of the exclusive gear (obtained at random from the pool). You can even renegotiate the terms if you wish, so it’s a pretty flexible system.

DIPPING INTO THE CLUB

Think regular country club logos are boring? Say no more, as you can design your own passion-filled logo for golf when you create a Society for others to join. The options are still fairly limited, but I mean, it’s a logo; much as you might want to slap on a whole bunch of symbols onto it, you can only choose the main emblem, then some detailing, and your Society’s colour that changes the background on the Society’s screen.

Societies can put up membership fees, and choose how they accept members. Once you’ve created your Society, you can begin planning your Tours which can also have entry fees, and you can choose how much of that will go into the coffers.

Due to the pre-release nature, I once again did not try out the multiplayer options, but if you can get a few friends for more casual rounds, then there are the game modes as mentioned in our previous coverage here.

OFF THE GREEN

Without much experience with the other games of the series, I can’t say with confidence how it measures up to them. However, I will say that the game is very well made, and still skill-based even with minimal modifiers, so beginners can’t simply waltz in without learning the game, and pros will get their deluge of options to play around with.

The Course Designer is as obtuse to me as ever, so I’ll avoid commenting on it. The Switch version will be getting it sometime post launch.

Overall, I’d say I still enjoyed the game, feeling that high as I save my replay reel of an especially good shot, and the intense frustration as the ball just barely misses the hole. The multiplayer game modes would serve as a jumping point for non-golfers, but they’re unlikely to get PGA 2K21 for the core gameplay.

FINAL SCORE

7.5 / 10