Big swings are the theme in "PGA Tour 2K25," a thoroughly impressive golf sim that manages to capitalize on much of the momentum the series has gained in the last entry, from two years back. The game is due out Feb. 28.
Following suit of the wildly successful NBA 2K franchise, the dev team emphasizes customizability. MyCAREER and MyPLAYER modes have you simulate the odds and ends of golf life both on the course and off. You can, say, get texts from your agent, who helps you shape your public persona. Talk a big game and match it on the green and your popularity will soar. On the other hand, you could see opportunities pass you by if you fail to make your mark on either pop culture or the leaderboard.
The game sets you up to succeed from the outset. A helpful tutorial, narrated by a supportive Bubba Watson, gets you cooking from the tee box. You can choose from a variety of swing methods, and as a three-click guy, I was pleased to see my favored mode given high prioritization and seasoning. The hypnotic concentric circles involved with the mode make it far more fascinating and relatable than recent updates to kicking game in this year's football sims.
The roster of pro golfers is impressive, with the likes of Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris headlining the squad. While it's nowhere near as stacked a group as the "Tiger Woods" EA games boasted in their heyday, it's a strong enough roundup to make you feel like you're watching the Golf Channel on a between-majors tourney on a Sunday morning.
The 26 official courses included boast some bucket list gems, such as Oakmont Country Club and Royal Portrush Golf Club, with many more planned as DLC.
The commentary and presentation echo trends in golf broadcasts, and pull relevant material into the chatter. I usually switch the volume off in golf games, but I appreciated the sights and sounds that the dev team painstakingly captured, adding to the sense of realism.
While it will take months to see how online modes and community backing support "PGA Tour 2K25," the opening swing nails the green on the par-3. It would be hard to imagine a better start for the latest entry in the franchise that has quickly risen to the forefront of the golf sim realm. I'm looking forward to making the game part of my weekly driving, chipping and putting routine.
Publisher provided review code.
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