Rory McIlroy PGA Tour: Online Modes Review

[JoeFrancis]

Quote: Originally Posted by DivotMaker

. HANDSWARD is developing an improved TOUR swing that is coming out soon. .

How many more things will break when they release this "improvement"? EA's track record is horrible. I'm not sure they can "fix" anything.

[ShivasIrons]

Quote: Originally Posted by DivotMaker

LOL, simulation? Can't say I agree. TGC falls so short in the short game and tee to green is as easy as Tiger or RM in Arcade mode. No tempo in the swing of TGC and they refuse to resolve a bug in the putting engine that allows for the ball to not react properly off the putter head when on sidehill lies and the putt is hit perfectly straight. TGC is far easier than RM for me to play and there are NO OTHER gameplay options. They refuse to listen to their customers asking for additional gameplay challenge. HANDSWARD is developing an improved TOUR swing that is coming out soon. Don't disagree with the rest of your post.

With all due respect and not trying to offend in any way, you might consider the possibility that your position/relation with EA may leave you a little biased. I don't consider RM even in the same league as TW14 simulation. So, take TW out of the comparison.

To me, TGC wins versus RM tee to green and in the short game in a rout, even though TGC has much room for improvement. The swing in RM with the analog stick is very unnatural and nothing like a real golf swing. You take the backswing a little quick, and then on the forward swing one has to *really flick* the stick forward to get a "perfect" forward swing. It doesn't "simulate" a real swing in golf that starts from a good transition that slowly unwinds from the top smoothly accelerating through the ball. Rather, the fast flick feels like you're hitting from the top casting away wildly. TGC's swing mechanic is much, much better, although there is room for improvement.

As far as the short game, TGC also has room for improvement, but RM's short game on Tour difficulty is way, way easy. RM's chipping on Tour difficulty was so easy I found myself predicting my chip-ins to playing partners with about an 80-90 percent success rate, esp with the LW. And, although I can chip-in on TGC it's no where near that rate. Further, trying to hit partial shots on RM is very, very easy, esp using the green dot swing meter. Just adjust your distance marker and a couple practice backswings with RM's swing meter will have you dropping the shot right by the pin every time. There is no swing meter on TGC.

Now, Handsward says he will not be removing the swing meter on default as it would make the game too hard for average RM player. Further, this new R/L mish!t.mechanism he described sounds a little absurd. If I understand him correctly, if the length or speed of your swing is off -- even though you actually swing the stick perfectly straight -- this will cause R/L mi****s. And, those R/L mi****s will be distributed randomly. So, making the same, consistent repeatable swing (which many in golf strive for) will result in random R/L mi****s because you don't flick the stick forward as fast as Handsward/EA deems realistic. So, if you're one who plays a consistent slight fade shot, now you'll get random mi****s. Same if you play a slight draw consistently -- random mi****s. It's either going to be a straight shot or random mi****s. That's quite a change from TW14. I hit about every FW in RM. I can't say the same in TGC, but TGC swing could also be improved. At least, it has no swing meter.

I just have no confidence in the EA people to follow through and fix things. They always come around now saying this, saying that ... and they will soon go into hibernation mode ignoring their customers totally. Further, Handsward flat out says they are afraid to make changes for fear that it will "make the game too hard" for the average RM user. EA is courting the arcade player. They took out the really good simulation mode of TW14 and don't have any intention of bringing that mode back. That's why I say EA has ceded simulation mode to TGC. I have been impressed with the devs of TGC and the effort they put forth into communicating with their customers, developing updates and actually fixing things. They've earned the business. EA has lost it.

[DivotMaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShivasIrons

With all due respect and not trying to offend in any way, you might consider the possibility that your position/relation with EA may leave you a little biased. I don't consider RM even in the same league as TW14 simulation. So, take TW out of the comparison. To me, TGC wins versus RM tee to green and in the short game in a rout, even though TGC has much room for improvement. The swing in RM with the analog stick is very unnatural and nothing like a real golf swing. You take the backswing a little quick, and then on the forward swing one has to *really flick* the stick forward to get a "perfect" forward swing. It doesn't "simulate" a real swing in golf that starts from a good transition that slowly unwinds from the top smoothly accelerating through the ball. Rather, the fast flick feels like you're hitting from the top casting away wildly. TGC's swing mechanic is much, much better, although there is room for improvement. As far as the short game, TGC also has room for improvement, but RM's short game on Tour difficulty is way, way easy. RM's chipping on Tour difficulty was so easy I found myself predicting my chip-ins to playing partners with about an 80-90 percent success rate, esp with the LW. And, although I can chip-in on TGC it's no where near that rate. Further, trying to hit partial shots on RM is very, very easy, esp using the green dot swing meter. Just adjust your distance marker and a couple practice backswings with RM's swing meter will have you dropping the shot right by the pin every time. There is no swing meter on TGC. Now, Handsward says he will not be removing the swing meter on default as it would make the game too hard for average RM player. Further, this new R/L mish!t.mechanism he described sounds a little absurd. If I understand him correctly, if the length or speed of your swing is off -- even though you actually swing the stick perfectly straight -- this will cause R/L mi****s. And, those R/L mi****s will be distributed randomly. So, making the same, consistent repeatable swing (which many in golf strive for) will result in random R/L mi****s because you don't flick the stick forward as fast as Handsward/EA deems realistic. So, if you're one who plays a consistent slight fade shot, now you'll get random mi****s. Same if you play a slight draw consistently -- random mi****s. It's either going to be a straight shot or random mi****s. That's quite a change from TW14. I hit about every FW in RM. I can't say the same in TGC, but TGC swing could also be improved. At least, it has no swing meter. I just have no confidence in the EA people to follow through and fix things. They always come around now saying this, saying that ... and they will soon go into hibernation mode ignoring their customers totally. Further, Handsward flat out says they are afraid to make changes for fear that it will "make the game too hard" for the average RM user. EA is courting the arcade player. They took out the really good simulation mode of TW14 and don't have any intention of bringing that mode back. That's why I say EA has ceded simulation mode to TGC. I have been impressed with the devs of TGC and the effort they put forth into communicating with their customers, developing updates and actually fixing things. They've earned the business. EA has lost it.

Agree with some of what you say, disagree with the rest. TGC is as much a simulation as RM is in TOUR mode, IMO. Relationship with EA has nothing to do with what I see on my screen and how each game plays. I am hearing that TGC has improved their swing by decoupling it to the frame rates, so I will see how it plays when I can get to it.

[ShivasIrons]

Quote: Originally Posted by DivotMaker

Agree with some of what you say, disagree with the rest. TGC is as much a simulation as RM is in TOUR mode, IMO. Relationship with EA has nothing to do with what I see on my screen and how each game plays. I am hearing that TGC has improved their swing by decoupling it to the frame rates, so I will see how it plays when I can get to it.

Well, we can agree to disagree on those points. But, I think we both want to see a good simulation mode.

EA was on the right track with TW14 simulation mode difficulty. That's why this RM game is so, so disappointing. EA took all the things that they really did right in that mode and just threw it all away. I don't see why they couldn't have the Tour mode like they have (as some like it), and just keep the simulation mode difficulty from TW14 while fixing a few defects. More options, and the sim crowd would be relatively happy.

[DivotMaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by ShivasIrons

Well, we can agree to disagree on those points. But, I think we both want to see a good simulation mode. EA was on the right track with TW14 simulation mode difficulty. That's why this RM game is so, so disappointing. EA took all the things that they really did right in that mode and just threw it all away. I don't see why they couldn't have the Tour mode like they have (as some like it), and just keep the simulation mode difficulty from TW14 while fixing a few defects. More options, and the sim crowd would be relatively happy.

Agree with your first comment 100%.

Sorry you feel that way on the rest of your comments. I have started my second Career mode with the PS4 version (Better than the Xbox version in every way, IMO). I have found a compelling level of difficulty using TOUR Custom on most challenging settings with grids OFF. DS4 controller is harder to hit straight than the Xbox controller, IMO. Have had a number of tee shots in the water because I was trying to hit the downswing too hard. Clicking the square button on every single shot to get rid of the default settings and using the swing to hit the shots, not the game deciding the shot. In my first CM on Xbox, I won every single event, sometimes by RM-US Open like margins. Now I am playing Bay Hill, I am in round 3 at -6 in 20th place trying to find a way to win the tournament. Just put tee shot in the water on #3 and hitting approach to the green laying 4. Placed 10th at the Bioware, so I have found what works for me. Hope this update makes it even better, especially for others.

My only other wish is that EA would give us Online Daily and Weekly Tournaments on the most challenging levels for Classic and TOUR....

[hawley088]

I feel no sense of competition online and where is best ball and alternate shot, those were by far the best online modes

[terrycurran62]

Someone shot minus 42 today in Aracde mode in an online tournament. And in classic mode I think the leading score is minus 23 at Troon. I just can be bothered to enter these tournaments. The online mode is currently pointless and meaningless for me at present as players are posting ludicrous scores in all modes. Even in tour mode the scores are silly.

[terrycurran62]

My only other wish is that EA would give us Online Daily and Weekly Tournaments on the most challenging levels for Classic and TOUR....[/quote]

I absolutely agree. And they need to give us more tournaments. Given that there are only nine courses then I don't see why every course can't be available every day.
Has anyone seen Scottsdale available yet for online tournaments?