Made by HB Studios and with the obvious support of 2K sports, the new installment of this renowned golf franchise that last saw the light in 2020 is presented. Despite having taken two years to work on the product, there do not seem to be any major changes regarding to the previous delivery.
PGA Tour 2K23 It is available for PC, Xbox series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
I am aware that golf is a sport that, although it has millions of followers worldwide, is not the passion of multitudes in these latitudes. It is generally considered an elitist and unexciting game, nothing could be further from the truth. For two reasons: first, golf is a recreational sport that can be available to everyone who is lucky enough to have a golf course in their city; and two, the nervous tension caused by having to do something that seems as simple as hitting a ball with a stick and putting it in a hole is impressive, and requires a complete mastery of the physics of movement and knowledge of the terrain. Fortunately the PGA Tour 2K23 It facilitates both issues and puts it at our fingertips and in the comfort of home.
Microtransactions are not decisive to achieve a good handicap in the game and advance correctly.
In this game we will have the possibility to create our own player, develop a career and go up in level and acquire higher quality. It must be recognized that the PGA Tour 2K23 It has excellent physics and the movement of the ball around the field is extremely realistic.
Career mode is the highlight of the game, bringing a wide selection of world-renowned courses and tournaments. It is important to point out that there are top-level tournaments that are not present due to problems with the rights of their use by other companies. We will have the possibility to dress our character, we will be able to equip him with different upgrades for the sticks or the balls that will improve our performance on the court. The career mode will also allow us to get sponsors and generate rivalries with other competitors that we will have to defeat, this last modality is quite limited and could have been given more importance. It is noteworthy that although we can buy clothes or accessories for our character by paying with real money, microtransactions are not decisive for achieving a good handicap in the game and advancing correctly.
On a graphic level, I must admit that the game is mostly correct, with very realistic and carefully executed scenarios. However, human figures have graphic details such as facial expressions, shadows or their way of walking that are at least “striking”. In turn, the animations are very repetitive and quite tiring. And the whole game emulates being in a continuous television broadcast of a game, so between shots we will see the repetition of a shot by an absolutely irrelevant rival.
The sound of the game may seem unimportant in a silent sport like golf, however, in this game it is present and certainly quite out of place. Partly because of the dramatic orchestral music on the loading screens, and partly because of the match announcement by the commentators (in English). Which are not only annoying, but also wrong and not in line with the game.
Regarding the controls, the only thing that stands out is that we have two ways to swing, one using the analog stick (the improved way of the traditional method) or by synchronizing the X button with a rotating meter that will determine our aim (a novelty). for the game, but it lacks quite a bit of polish).
Among other game modes we will have the possibility to play versus against other players. In this mode we can choose to use our created character or select one chosen from a limited selection of famous golfers like Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.
We will also be able to play in the Top Golf mode, which is an adaptation of this sport in which we will have to hit our shot at some colored targets. The more to the center we hit, the better score they will give us.
THE BEST
- Realistic and well-achieved simulation of golf.
- There are microtransactions but they are mostly cosmetic, it is not a game pay to win
- Long game that for golf fans can provide hours of entertainment.
WORST
- Few alternative game modes.
- Iconic courses and tournaments are missing.
- Repeated and irrelevant animations.