It’s all in the hips.
Fore the Love of Golf
Another year, another golf sim has arrived on cloud and consoles. It feels like only yesterday where 2K21 introduced a new swing stick mechanic, and now it truly feels like the 3 button push technique is a ‘retro’ way to play. Golf games have quite the learning curve now, and it’s a game of technique rather than merely timing. But is that enough to make PGA 2K25 stand out from its direct competitor EA? Is this the definitive way to play, or has it just become a mulligan of itself. Let’s drive in.
Putting a Perfect PGA
PGA 2K25 gives players a plethora of ways to play. There’s the MyPlayer which gives players a chance to customize their own golfer (while the game states there are more customization options than ever, it still feels lacklustre compared to other creator systems) MyCareer where you put through the ranks to become a golf legend, Seasons (the battlepass mode) as well as a pretty deep course creation mechanic. There’s a lot to take in here for Golf enthusiasts and it provides a diverse way to approach a sporting game that runs a danger of feeling repetitive. Golf games through the years have become a game of timing and gimmicks, but PGA Tour 2K25 avoids this with the biggest improvement from last year, the EvoSwing.
The EvoSwing and 3 Click Swing both offer a deep gameplay experience that makes the game feel authentic and skill based, rather than an arcade experience. This is a true golf simulation. If players are looking for a challenge, the Perfect Swing mode takes every intricate movement into account. The way players flick their stick during momentum intricately affects the trajectory of the ball. PGA Tour 2K25 has released a ton of info about this new mechanic and it all holds true. I still found myself even on the most ‘perfect’ timing to have something to improve upon and shot rhythm is a massive part of getting in the flow zone of your golf game.
The best part of all of this though, is that PGA Tour still feels approachable and accessible. If players want a more arcade approach, the 3 Click Swing is here. The settings are able to be edited to reflect any play style. If you want to unwind, head to settings and select Perfect Swing. This helps bring down the elemental factors and gives players a more casual approach.
Main Courses
Golf aficionados rejoice! For the first time, players can experience The U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship in game. Not only that, but there’s also a cornucopia of options to explore. Play courses in Canada to Ireland and take in the lush visuals. One of the biggest changes this year is the graphic fidelity. Every course looks crisp and watching the back soar through the air, cut through tree branches, or dunk into sand is a treat for the eyes. It was impressive to see such a noticeable difference here verses 2K23. It still doesn’t quite capture the realism of other simulations out there, but the gameplay itself more than makes up for any small graphic follies.
Taking 2 years apart from each release is something more sports games should consider. After driving and putting through PGA 2K21, or 2K23, seasoned veterans will be excited to know this is definitely worth the upgrade, visually but more importantly the simulation gameplay is a massive
Battling The Battle Pass
It’s no surprise that PGA Tour 2K25 brings a battle pass into gameplay. The nice thing here though is it never expires. If players buy a Clubhouse Pass they can continue unlocking it even if a new season begins. This way, it’s never a risk to buy in and not play enough to finish the season. It feels like 2K has valued players time and funds with this decision.
The unlocks here feel premium and help customization feel more fun. In general, the equipment, branded clothing, and balls are cool enough to chase through and finesse your way towards. Not only that, but Battle passes aren’t the only way to play with customization. One thing to note though is the menus are definitely still as tedious as ever, and upgrading clubs feels sluggish. It’s not always clear what is new in the golf bag, and clicking through to find it is definitely a quality of life improvement that feels needed.
Even in modes like MyCareer players will upgrade their MyPlayer stats through interviews, training sessions, and dilemmas where the decisions you make directly influence your players progression. While the conversation is occasionally limited and it feels a tad tacked on, the commentators bring great life to the fun but admittedly sometimes slow sport of golf.
Online Open
Societies, and online play are all here and syncing up with your pals is a streamlined experience. Crossplay makes this easy no matter what box or cloud players are hopping on. Being able to tailor your golfing experience with friends is a great option. For this review, I didn’t play too much online, but from what I did, it was a smooth experience.
Swinging Summary
The new EvoSwing as well as the tweaks to gameplay, graphics, and MyCareer mode make this an immersive title for new putters and experienced drivers alike. There’s something here for all skill levels and PGA 2K25 has emerged with such an excellent system that it ultimately rivals EA Sports PGA Tour title. Time will tell if this really is the definitive way to play. But for now, this is definitely worth a spot in the Masters. Now where is that Happy Gilmore 2 DLC? Putters crossed!
PGA 2K25
Summary
Overall, PGA Tour is an excellent entry to the series and may well be the best way to play Golf available in video game form. The attention to detail, precise new EvoSwing, and gorgeous graphics on the course makes this anything but a mulligan. So, grab your driver and see you on the green.
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