Rory McIlroy PGA Tour review: Far from a swing and a miss

Release Date: June 16 (Europe), July 14 (North America)
Platforms Available On: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One
Developer: EA Tiburon
Publisher: EA Sports
Genre: Sports

We very recently looked at F1 2015, the first game in the popular racing series to appear on Xbox One and PS4 and a game that laid a solid foundation but was lacking frills.

Replace the racing wheel with a bag of golf clubs and swap Lewis Hamilton for Rory McIlroy and you've pretty much summed up EA's latest PGA Tour release.

Fundamentally, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour isn't much different to past games in the series, which is by no means a bad thing.

You've got three different control schemes, including the classic three click swing, the more arcade-oriented analogue swing and a Tour setting that also uses the analogue stick, only without assists and zoom.

It really comes down to personal preference, but the the Tour style is going to give you a more authentic experience, not to mention a greater challenge - something you're going to need if you want to get a bit more value from the game.

Fundamentally, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour isn't much different to past games in the series, which is by no means a bad thing.

There's plenty to master and we like having all the different options. The various control schemes, shot types and game styles are all covered in an extensive and genuinely useful tutorial, which ends with players trying to win the US Open as McIlroy himself. After this, however, the game kind of goes downhill.

It's not that Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is a bad game of golf or anything, but it's right about now that you start exploring the menu screens and wondering where everything has gone.

For starters, there are currently only 12 courses - and no Augusta National - including eight authentic and four fictional courses. Compare this to the 20-odd that appeared in the last game and already you can start to see a problem.

Next up is the roster, which has also been whittled down to a select few golfers and is without some of the sport's heavyweights, such as the series' former namesake Tiger Woods.

There are a few comedy unlockables such as Pops Masterson and his wife Edna, but barring fellow unlockable Nevada Smith, that's it for female golfers, as the LPGA roster has been axed entirely.

It wouldn't be so bad if you could have a decent crack at making your own pros, but the create-a-golfer option is extremely limited, although at least here you can make a female golfer.

With only a few scary-looking head presets, even fewer haircuts and no additional modifications bar skin colour and body size, there's little chance that you can recreate your own likeness, let alone a recognisable face from the telly.

As for the career mode, it gets the basics right in that you take your golfer from amateur to professional and there are lots of items to unlock, but the competitions feel a bit random and it's lacking a strong sense of progression and structure.

It's also slightly annoying how it automatically assigns your stat upgrades, which makes you feel even less in sync with your custom character.

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The problems continue when you take the game online, as there are now only basic head-to-heads and tournaments available, and none of the extras like Country Clubs that we've come to expect.

It's a shame, because much like F1 2015 the game does get it right where it matters most, and that's on the golf course.

The use of the Frostbite 3 Engine makes courses feel more authentic and open, and there are no longer any pesky loading times between shots - just a slightly annoying series of unskippable animations, although at least they're brief.

It greatly speeds up the game and makes for a less frustrating and more relaxing golfing experience, which is exactly how it should be.

The Frostbite 3 Engine also has a positive effect on the visuals, and while Rory McIlroy PGA Tour isn't the prettiest game in the world, some of the courses look fantastic, particularly when there's water involved.

There's a bit of graphical pop-in when the commentators talk you through the course, and some of the textures look a bit flat, but this mainly occurs during the showy, cinematic moments.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is far from a double-bogey catastrophe of a golfing game, and has all the fundamentals to challenge for honours.

Also, while we would have preferred more real-world courses, it's easy to see why the developers were keen to add a selection of fantasy courses, because they really do look stunning and add a sense of fun to the game.

We particularly enjoyed the Battlefield 4 Paracel Storm course, which takes place among battleships, solar panels, satellites and sheds.

This sense of fun is further explored in the addictive Night Club Challenge mode, which tasks players with earning stars by completing challenges and hitting targets.

With 170 challenges, there's plenty to keep players busy, especially if, like me, you can't move on until you've got the best possible score.

The presentation is complemented by the commentary, which lends a TV-style flavour to the game and provides players with a few useful tips and some valuable information.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is far from a double-bogey catastrophe of a golfing game, and has all the fundamentals to challenge for honours. With a little extra love and lots of additional content, it could potentially go beyond par and soar like an eagle.

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