Rating: 2.7/5
The newest installment of the PGA tour video game (PS4, Xbox One) came out Tuesday, July 14. However, this year there is a new headliner, as Tiger Woods' 16-year streak of having his own video game ended. The 26-year-old Rory Mcilroy replaced Tiger as the face of video game golf.
Now, I am not one to normally get excited for video games. Until this one. There I was at my local Walmart precisely at midnight awaiting the release of Rory Mcilroy PGA Tour. My roommates and I sped home to play the new game. The new installment is the first to be playable on the next generation consoles. (Tiger Woods PGA Tour '14 was only available on the Xbox 360 and PS3.)
I am completely torn in how I feel about the game.
On a positive note, the graphics are absolutely gorgeous. From the wildlife roaming the fairways to the uncanny looks of the professional golfers. My absolute favorite aspect of the game is the putting. It seems much more realistic then in years past, and takes more skill than a one touch suggestion from your "caddy." In the new game, you actually have to read the greens, and ball spin is much more touchy. The game features two lines that follow the balls path. The first one is standard, as it has been in all games. But a new line estimates the line of the ball factoring in wind, so you have a better idea of where your ball is going to land, which is really helpful!
Unfortunately, the positive aspects of the new game are heavily outweighed by the negative. Last year's game offered 23 PGA players, as well as five LPGA players, nine golf legends and three celebrities. I was extremely disappointed to see in the new game that there are only 12 playable real golfers, with the addition of some unnecessary characters such as an all metal man and a sniper from the video game, Battlefield 4.
Right along side the disappointing amount of golfers is the disappointing number of courses that you can play on. From the last game, there is only half of the courses that you can play on. There was a lot of speculation about EA sports not including Augusta National, which is the annual site of the Masters. The game includes a par 3 course that is built on an war infested island. This course is also affiliated with Battlefield 4. The player had to drive off large boats, and through various obstacles.
The create a golfer mode in years past has been my favorite game mode. This year, it seems like there is a lot less "meat on the bones" in the career. It isn't as interactive, but it makes up for it in a new mode called Night Club Challenge, where you go through a series of mini games and accuracy tests that are really fun and challenging.
Overall, Rory Mcilroy PGA tour is still true to the game of golf. It is still well worth playing. Honestly, the majority of my disappointment is due to things that can easily be fixed with DLC, and I can live with that.
