Set to release on August 21, 2020, PGA TOUR 2K21 looks to bring back the glory of the golfing simulator, with the name brand and power of 2K and the golf game developing experience of HB Studios.
Gameplay for All
One of the big goals for HB Studios has been making sure PGA TOUR 2K21 is fun for everyone. While there are those who will play PGA 2K21 that enjoyed previous HB Studios golf games, there may be others who haven’t played a golfing simulator since the Tiger Woods games, or not at all. PGA 2K21 is designed specifically for a varied audience.
The difficulty settings are seemingly endless, with the ability to tweak the options to the player’s content. For example, the easier difficulties will allow for a putt preview to be used once per hole that highlights how the ball will roll, while the higher difficulties may not allow this. But with the customization, a player could set the difficulty level very high, but still choose to keep the putting line.
There is also a useful tutorial to get going right away. Along with information on how to hit a good drive, approach towards the hole, and read the putting greens, the tutorial also has advanced tricks like how to put spin on the ball for the perfect shot. There are also high-level tricks like partial shots for precise aiming and dynamic shot-shaping that help players strike the ball around objects. Whether a rookie is playing for the first time and wants a casual experience through the PGA Tour, or a long time pro is hoping to win the FedEx Cup, the gameplay is set up to assist all types of players.
The Influence of and Improvement on The Golf Club
PGA TOUR 2K21 is the first game in a brand new franchise, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t heavily influenced by HB Studios’ previous golf games. Fan-favorite modes and features are coming along, and they are getting big upgrades.
Perhaps the coolest thing in The Golf Club has been the Course Designer, and this will be a massive part of PGA 2K21 as well. Players are able to create entire courses and share them online. The Course Designer has seemingly endless options, with thousands of objects that can be added and tweaked. Players can start from a template and build from there, or they can start from scratch and create their masterpieces.
One of the things that fans will be most excited about is that any and all objects can be placed into any biome. For example, a course that has the base location of a desert can have palm trees or alligators that would normally only be found in tropical locations. So creating a tropical oasis in the middle of the hot desert is entirely possible. Additionally, fans will be able to create things that the developers hadn’t even imagined, like holes that are located on top of waterfalls with pirate ships in the background.
Once a hole or course is created, players will be able to share them online with anyone. Although PGA TOUR 2K21 doesn’t have crossplay, the Course Designer creations can be shared and downloaded across all platforms. So someone with a Nintendo Switch can download and enjoy a masterpiece that was made by a player on the PC.
Overall the game looks and feels a lot like The Golf Club, but cleaner and crisper. As a pure simulator, the game plays very well. The aesthetics perhaps are a bit lackluster, with the wind not totally affecting trees or animals seeming a bit lifeless on the course, but overall the game looks nice. Meanwhile, the play by play team is made up of Luke Elvy and Rich Beem, with John McCarthy rounding amidst the crowd.
2K’s Expertise and Assistance
Some of the most exciting features of PGA 2K21 are brought in to align with the 2K platform. MyPlayer is a part of PGA 2K21 and the options with creating a golfer are awesome. There are preset options to start from, but players will be able to adjust the eyes, nose, cheeks, jaw, ears, etc. to create a MyPlayer that looks exactly like they want it to. The MyPlayer creation can then be used across multiplayer online, career mode, and all game modes.
Apparel is also a big part of MyPlayer, and new clothing can be unlocked by leveling up or purchasing items in the store. There are tons of options, including licensed gear from the likes of Adidas, Under Armor, and more. The golf bag is also a big part of MyPlayer, as new items from the likes of Taylormade and Wilson can be unlocked through progression and store purchases. Players can also have sponsorships with say Under Armor, and upon completing levels and progression they will get more free gear.
Some fans have been worried that 2K will kill this golf game with microtransactions, but HB Studios made it clear that balance was a big part of the game development, and putting money down won’t give players an unfair advantage. While it is true that VC currency can be purchased with real money, it will also be unlocked through simply leveling up. And when it comes to things like clubs, no item is going to be overpowered, according to the devs. While a new driver may give a boost to power, it comes with less forgiveness on the swings. So the golf bag will allow players to mix and match to their own playstyle, but purchasing or unlocking some ridiculous club that will be better than anything else will not be a part of the game. Player attributes will be entirely tied to clubs, meaning the MyPlayer doesn’t gain more strength or learn to backspin better with level up points for example, instead all of the flexibility and change of attributes are all in the golf bag.
At launch, there will be plenty of courses to play, but post-launch will come with at least two more courses. There will also be a nice list of professional golfers that are a part of the game, including the current number one player in the world Justin Thomas. HB Studios will continue to support the game for multiple months, including fine-tuning and tweaking if need be.
PGA TOUR 2K21 is just the beginning of a brand new golfing franchise. From the information shared so far, it looks to have gotten started on a great foot. With the full product releasing in just a few weeks, fans will finally be able to get their hands on this exciting new golfing simulator.
PGA Tour 2K21 will release on August 21 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia. Game Rant was provided a media build on Steam for this preview.
