We’ve already tried a bit of PGA Tour 2K23, and here’s what we thought of it.
For those outside the genre it may seem silly, but simulators are some of the best-selling video games on the market, and it is not for less, being video games that allow us to live experiences that, probably, in real life we would be unable to experience.
A good example of this great success are all those sagas of the genre that always sneak into the best-seller lists at the end of the year, highlighting, in our country, the FIFA and NBA 2K franchises, focused on simulating soccer and basketball, respectively. Beyond this, it is necessary to mention that there are simulators of practically anything with minimal relevance, including sports that, at least in our country, they are not as followed as the two mentioned above.
Golf is, without a doubt, one of these sports, and it is that we rarely hear of this, being also that we are not in a country where it is especially practiced. Still, we all remember afternoons playing video games that were based on this sport, including the golf minigame that we found in Wii Sports.
Probably due to this general ignorance in our country, many people are not aware of PGA Tour 2K, the golf simulation saga. Now, we’re relatively close to this year’s installment being released, but we have already tried itand we tell you what we thought below.
relaxation by flag
I’m not entirely sure if this is something that only happens to me, but my conception of golf is linked to the relaxation of the sound of the wind, the smell of freshly cut grass, and so on. I have never played this sport as such, but this is what I associate every time I think about it, and what i try to feel every time i play golf simulator.
Some video games try to contribute to this experience, while others opt for a frenzy, which brings it closer to the arcade than to the simulation. Luckily for those people who think like me, PGA Tour 2K23 opts more for trying to offer a relaxing environment, in which to enjoy playing this sport. Interestingly, this can also be seen reflected in the commentators, and that is that their calm voices, and their concise and to the point comments, mean that they do not bother at any time, unlike what happens in other greats of the genre.
Well thought out controls
As soon as you start playing, the title requests which control mode you prefer, and without much thought, I chose the one that use the right joystick as the axis of the gameplay. This was one of the best decisions I could make, and it brings dynamism and an extra layer of difficulty to the game, which suits it quite well.
Yes, the other control modes are very good, and it is likely that they will even be improved, or new ones added, in the face of the official launch, because it is necessary to remember that what we have tested is not the final version of the game far from it, but I would say that, at least in this version, this is the best control mode.
Going a little deeper, this control scheme allows us to simulate, in a certain way, the classic balance that a golf player has to make before hitting the ball. For it, we will have to tilt the right joystick towards us, to then tilt it forward when we want to throw the ball. To this we have to add the deviation factor, since if by any chance we deviate the trajectory to one side, this trajectory will also be reflected in the launch.
one of the greats
One of the game modes that we have been able to test the most is the well-known within the titles of this genre “Career mode“, being that here we will have to compete against the biggest in the golf scene to reach the top.
From now on I tell you, that this is a mode that has several options, but it does not try at any time to be the most complex of its kind, but rather it seems to want to focus on everyone being able to enjoy it. In other situations this could be a point against, and something that I would mention as a point to improve for the official launch, but in this case I consider that It is a good idea.
Although there were several options, always I finished the day by launching myself into the different matches of the career mode, instead of stopping to decide on which sponsor is more worth it to me or things like that. Many times in simplicity is virtue, and perhaps in this case that phrase is very right.
You may have wondered what kind of character we have in our journey to reach the top, and in this case we will be ourselves, or rather the best version of ourselves that we can do in the game editor. If you are not much of spending hours in these editors and others, do not worry, because this highly intuitive and fun to use.
dynamism in person
Now, and although we have already left hints about this, we are going to talk about the golf matches themselves, the one that is the cornerstone on which this title is basedand which are pretty good.
We have already commented that the controls are very well thought out, and that the title achieves the relaxation that is often sought in this type of title, but it is also necessary to mention the dynamism of these games. They can be long, because many times they are, but never feel slow at alland it is that the speed at which the game is carried out, and how dynamic everything is, makes it a tremendously pleasant experience.
Likewise, the title is also good, especially in career mode, the fact of encouraging competitionand it is that at the end of each hole we will be able to see the situation of our opponents, which will encourage us, at all times, to try to improve as a player.
Grab the golf clubs!
The truth is that these first impressions of PGA Tour 2K23 has resulted in a surprise. It may not end up being the best game of the genre, but it is a firm candidate to make us spend a most relaxing afternoon throwing balls one after another.
We still have some time left for this title to be officially launched, and therefore know if these initial impressions are confirmed, but if you like golf, or golf video games, you should be on the lookout.