PGA Tour 97
PlayStation Review by Nils Jacobsen

Starting Up

The sequel to PGA Golf 96 claims to be "a bold new approach to golf"... Well, don't know if I would go that far in describing this game. On the back of last years game it said: "Play any number of additional courses with PGA TOUR course add-ons". No additional courses ever surfaced, so this is your only way to get more PGA course to play, a whole new game. (This time around, there is no mention of additional courses, except for in the PC version.)

Once the games has loaded, you're in the Clubhouse. From this menu you access the essentials of the game. In Options you set whether or not you want music, sound f/x and ambient f/x. You can turn the commentator off, and adjust the wind speed. (Calm, Breezy or Strong.) Should you be interested, you can also watch the credits from this menu.

You can choose from five different game modes: Practice, Stroke, Tournament, Skins or Shoot-Out. Should be pretty self- explanatory. You have two new courses to choose from: TPC at Sawgrass and The links at Spanish Bay. Both are excellent courses.

You can make your own player or play as or against any of the 58 pros, including Kite, Stadler, Zoeller and Jacobsen.

Playing the Game

Gameplay is similar to last year. Now you hit with X instead of square. The swing is the same, x to begin, x to stop the backswing and x to strike the ball. Now they've added a Risk Meter, which shows you how much risk is involved with increasing the strength of your shot. The more risk you take, the harder it is to hit the ball right. You can aim your shot by using the directional buttons. In practice, you can even see a preview of your shot. When you move up or down, the club will change automatically to fit your shot. So essentially it plays like last year. When you do hit the ball, a Picture-in-Picture pops up to show the ball approaching its destination. Nice in a way, but since the window shows up as you hit the ball, it will instantly show where the ball is going, which isn't so nice when trees is all it shows.... Putting is the same, with the addition of a lady that removes the pole as you hit the ball.

Graphics

The graphics of this game puzzles me. While the back of the box claims "enhanced graphics", I can't really say I agree. To me the graphics is worse. Last year I thought it was very slick and clean, this time around it is Pixel City. Even with sharpness turned all the way down, everything is pixilated. Maybe it is the S-Video cable, I didn't try composite or RF. Graphics is still nice, I just don't get why they changed it from last year. Still tons of detail on the courses, it's like you're there. Makes excellent practice should you be lucky enough to go to any of these courses one day!

Sound

Sound in a golf game is almost a joke. Smack, splosh, twirp, ribbit... That is about the extent of it. Music is more up-beat this time, ambient sounds are few and far between. One of the birds, BTW, seems to have a severe throat disease.... The commentator is OK, more involved than last year. Nice to get a pat on the back once in a while, not so nice when he goes: "That ball is history!" Crowd noises are as in any other golf game, whooo, clap, clap, clap.

Conclusion

Another good golf game from EA sports. Two beautiful courses are included, wish there were more. At least this time we know there won't be any add-on courses. Wasn't too impressed with the graphics, much preferred that of PGA Golf 96. Plenty of people to play against, enough options to your play to keep you happy. The play is more or less the same, so if real courses appeal to you, this is the game to get!


HomeThis review is (C) 1996 Nils Jacobsen and may not be re-distributed in any form, including news groups or other web sites. If you have questions, email Webmaster@vidgames.com.