Hot Press hit the fairways to check out EA Sports’ latest golf sim.
EA Sports PGA Tour
PS5 (EA)
Swingers venture onto some of the finest golf courses in the world – Augusta, Pebble Beach and St Andrews among them – in EA’s homage to checked trousers and polo shirts. Unfortunately, Rory McIroy, Tiger Woods, and other golfing legends take a rain check from these pristine fairways.
Instead, we assume control of the likes of Scottie Scheffler, an American pro whose questionable facial animations lend him expressions that range from delighted to suicidal (with not much in between). Gaze beyond the botox to find an in-depth golf simulator in which you can create and customise your own golfer, develop skills, including shot types, and rise through championships that include the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Alternatively, dip into arcade mode, or play with pals in a variety of tournaments. While EA has mastered that satisfying audio “cluck” as you strike the ball, the golfer swing, which is powered by the left analogue stick, feels unnatural and unintuitive – often sending you spinning into the rough when your plans were looking oh-so smooth.
5/10
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