I have been a huge golf fan/enthusiast since I can ever remember. I have religiously played the TW series on pretty much every platform since the games were put into production.
Until recently, I have become increasingly discouraged on where this series is headed. Given, the addition of the Masters is a big step forward for the series, it seems like everything else has taken a step back, or hasn't progressed enough to garner my attention.
First off, the animation in this game is completely atrocious. There is no feel of authenticity or realism in this game. Weird laggy swings and no legitimate authentic swings for 90% of the pros in the game. Heck, even Tiger Woods' swing is way off. What's the point of putting in pros when you give them all the same awful looking generic swing?
Also, most post shot reactions are completely awkward and unnatural looking. Not to mention the weird walking animation after most shots taken where they look like a stick is up their butt.
Player models. Isn't this supposed to be next gen? Then why does it look like a caveman designed them? Most players are completely, wait, every player is completely deformed and the proportions of them are so off it's not even funny. Huge heads and hands. Too skinny of figures make for real awkward looking golfers. Heck, 2005 on PS2 had better looking player models. This department is definitely headed in the wrong direction.
Thanks to ty5oke for reminding me of another big problem. Club design. Just, fix it. Putters are huge and most of the clubs look plastic. Would also like to see an added level of customization along with it. Such as lofting and de-lofting clubs or adding weight to a club to fix a user's tendency to slice or hook the ball on the stick swing.
Legends?? Self-explanatory.
Physics. God where do I begin? First, with swing physics. Well, it seems like there is none. The tempo of the golf swing is completely off. I understand the user controls that, but the downswing can be quicker and smoother than it is in this game. Seems like there is no force in the swing. Looks like a limp noodle swinging a golf club. To me still, the best swinging animations were in 05, and that's really sad.
Ball physics, wow. Do these people watch real golf? Shots from uneven lies don't fly anywhere near what they would in real life and balls seems to travel at snail speed. Start from scratch on this one.
Presentation. This is always the biggie to me. In any sports game, presentation and authenticity is what immerses you in the game, and bridges that gap between video game and real life. Tiger Woods games have really never done that for me, and TW12 definitely does not.
This may be just personal preference, but when playing, I want to feel like I'm watching on TV. Obviously, there have to be some aspects that need to be shown from a video game perspective, but I feel they can be disguised to give the user a more authentic feel.
This also ties in with animations, but I'm going to give a run down of what I feel needs to be done.
First, let's just start with the tour atmosphere. Well, frankly there is none. Sure there are some random people scattered behind the players and what not or figures surrounding the green, but do they really give you a sense that they are a crowd? Obviously we can't have a million extremely detailed crowd members, so why not take a page from Madden? Say, when on the Tee box, when looking at the player before he addresses the ball, have the TV blur effect on the crowd behind him, that way, you can cram more people into the screen but sacrifice some detail and still give that effect of a large crowd behind the player. For instance...
Something like above.
The same effect can be used when the camera is panned above the ball on shots approaching the green.
To continue, the tee boxes should be LINED with people. Have you ever watched a major? Or watched Tiger Woods play in a tournament? Every time he tees off, the tee box in one way or another is lined all the way down it. With the heads following the ball as it gets launched past them.
How hard can this possibly be to recreate in a video game?
My point.
In TW it looks like a bunch of emotionless stick figures. Take a page from the book of Live or Madden, one of the things they get right.
To continue with that. Sound. The smack of the driver sounds like a tin can in TW. Iron shots from the fairway sounds like someone is clipping there hedges. There should be crowds screaming after a tee shot and a roar if a big birdie putt falls. I want to feel like every putt means something and the crowd should react accordingly. Especially the siren type effect and big sigh from the crowd if a putt lips out or burns the edge. Like when it's getting close the crowd starts to get louder and louder and when it just misses, the collective groan from the crowd is one of the most recognizable sounds in golf. Also, the camera shutters after a tee shot need to be included.
Next. Pre-shot routines? Where are they? If you ask any pro golfer what the most important part of his game is, chances are the pre-shot routine will be mentioned. Not saying we need ALL authentic pre-shot routines, but something to give the effect of one. This includes, standing next to the caddy analyzing the shot. Let me try and paint a picture of what would be ideal.
First, on the tee box. There should be nothing on the screen but the score overlay for the player you are using in the upper part of the screen. After the intro player animation. Show the camera panned behind player and caddy as they look at the caddy book and look down the fairway analyzing the shot. Once circle is pressed the camera will pan down the fairway where the ball will land. That's where all the game overlays will pop up, such as percentage, wind, club selection, etc. This is where you set up your shot. Once circle is pressed the first time, once the camera goes back to the Tee-Box, this is when the player will go through the pre-shot routine and address the ball. Now you are ready to execute your shot. It will just be you, the ball and your controller. Something like this...
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AyFjEjELors" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
Also would like to see more post shot animations, like if the player is the first to hit, show him handing the club back to his caddy and talking about what happened.
Another small thing, but instead of flashing birdie or par or whatever on the screen. Just have it like on TV where the show the scorecard for the side he is on while walking off the green. I know it shows it during the loading screen but I would like to see the loading screen be a run through of the leader board instead.
Commentating. Jim Nantz was a huge addition and gives the feel of golf of Sunday, but take it to the next level. Have him comment on the shot, and set it up. Say yardage, what the wind is doing, what the player did in the previous round. What is going on with other players on the course and what he needs to do. Just paint the picture like he does in real life. If you watch real golf, 90% of the broadcast someone is talking and describing what is happening on the screen and as it's happening, not after the shot as landed. Like I said, I want to feel like it's replicating a TV broadcast, not like I'm at the course watching. It seems like TW has tried to bridge both together, which doesn't work well.
Also, hole flyovers are pretty generic and broad.
Most of the cameras work pretty well. But somehow the focus of them just doesn't seem right. When I play the game, then watch something like this, it doesn't feel right...
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gBt3-PrPapU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>
Also notice the perspective on the camera, its a little farther back and zoomed in, which I would like to see in game, instead of on top of you in TW.
Graphically, from the course standpoint, this is the best part of TW. Really no complaints here.
Would REALLY like to see a more in depth Create-A-Golfer feature. The current system is fairly solid, as far as getting the look of your character down. Like I stated earlier, I want to be able to customize the equipment I'm using, such as lofting and de-lofting, weights to fix fades and draws, but MOST importantly a CREATE A SWING FEATURE!!! This really wouldn't be that difficult to implement. Mo-Cap a bunch of different swings from random tour pros (50+) that may or not be included in the game, plus include swings in game, break them up into different sections of the swing and allow us to choose how we address the ball, our backswing, the downswing and our follow through. This would also give us guys who like to create other pros that aren't in the game a way to get their swings down.
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m7dOThIKPWk" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
If I want my player to have this oddity as a swing, I SHOULD be able to create it!! THIS IS NEXT GEN! (Wait, wasn't Rickie IN THE GAME, so his swing SHOULD be in already!!!!)
Also, stop with the gimmicks. Bring back legends. Presidents and Ryder cup should be included regardless. Not including this is like not including the NBA Finals or Super Bowl in the NBA and NFL respectively. Just doesn't make sense.
The beauty is that, all of this can be fixed fairly easily. Especially the animation aspect.
The great thing about golf translating to a video game, is that everything is pretty canned and predictable. The player is going to stand behind the shot, pre-shot routine, address the ball, then hit it. Happens 60-80 times a round. All of this should be MO-CAPPED!!!! Everything from the walk, to celebrations, to the swing, to the putting stroke, to the player picking up grass to see the wind and grabbing the ball out of the hole. Everything to make it feel as authentic as possible.
This would eliminate every awkward animation that resides in this game and would give the game a more realistic feel.
BRING BACK THE 3 CLICK SWING OPTION!!! I understand that it's next-gen, but some people still like to play with that option.
In fact give us a whole retro mode. Three click swing. Spin can only be control by the way the ball is hit which can be adjusted by the user and success rate depends on accuracy on downswing. Fade and Draw is controlled by that as well.
The fact that there is even spin control in this game is completely arcade-ish and ridiculous. That's not real golf. I understand we can choose not to use it, but personally if it's available I find myself using it, which I don't want. I want to actually have to think about a shot and use strategy like they do in real life. Instead of being able to drive the ball 360 yards and have wedge into every par 5 and spin it all over the green to make up for my mi****s. The only way to make this work is fixing the ball physics though because it seems like if you don't use boost, the ball doesn't fly realistically.
The thing that worries me, is that it's EA, and they have a tendency to ruin great things, which has happened with pretty much every sports title under the EA brand since 05. Hopefully they can buck the trend or maybe 2k can pick up the Golf license
Until recently, I have become increasingly discouraged on where this series is headed. Given, the addition of the Masters is a big step forward for the series, it seems like everything else has taken a step back, or hasn't progressed enough to garner my attention.
First off, the animation in this game is completely atrocious. There is no feel of authenticity or realism in this game. Weird laggy swings and no legitimate authentic swings for 90% of the pros in the game. Heck, even Tiger Woods' swing is way off. What's the point of putting in pros when you give them all the same awful looking generic swing?
Also, most post shot reactions are completely awkward and unnatural looking. Not to mention the weird walking animation after most shots taken where they look like a stick is up their butt.
Player models. Isn't this supposed to be next gen? Then why does it look like a caveman designed them? Most players are completely, wait, every player is completely deformed and the proportions of them are so off it's not even funny. Huge heads and hands. Too skinny of figures make for real awkward looking golfers. Heck, 2005 on PS2 had better looking player models. This department is definitely headed in the wrong direction.
Thanks to ty5oke for reminding me of another big problem. Club design. Just, fix it. Putters are huge and most of the clubs look plastic. Would also like to see an added level of customization along with it. Such as lofting and de-lofting clubs or adding weight to a club to fix a user's tendency to slice or hook the ball on the stick swing.
Legends?? Self-explanatory.
Physics. God where do I begin? First, with swing physics. Well, it seems like there is none. The tempo of the golf swing is completely off. I understand the user controls that, but the downswing can be quicker and smoother than it is in this game. Seems like there is no force in the swing. Looks like a limp noodle swinging a golf club. To me still, the best swinging animations were in 05, and that's really sad.
Ball physics, wow. Do these people watch real golf? Shots from uneven lies don't fly anywhere near what they would in real life and balls seems to travel at snail speed. Start from scratch on this one.
Presentation. This is always the biggie to me. In any sports game, presentation and authenticity is what immerses you in the game, and bridges that gap between video game and real life. Tiger Woods games have really never done that for me, and TW12 definitely does not.
This may be just personal preference, but when playing, I want to feel like I'm watching on TV. Obviously, there have to be some aspects that need to be shown from a video game perspective, but I feel they can be disguised to give the user a more authentic feel.
This also ties in with animations, but I'm going to give a run down of what I feel needs to be done.
First, let's just start with the tour atmosphere. Well, frankly there is none. Sure there are some random people scattered behind the players and what not or figures surrounding the green, but do they really give you a sense that they are a crowd? Obviously we can't have a million extremely detailed crowd members, so why not take a page from Madden? Say, when on the Tee box, when looking at the player before he addresses the ball, have the TV blur effect on the crowd behind him, that way, you can cram more people into the screen but sacrifice some detail and still give that effect of a large crowd behind the player. For instance...
Something like above.
The same effect can be used when the camera is panned above the ball on shots approaching the green.
To continue, the tee boxes should be LINED with people. Have you ever watched a major? Or watched Tiger Woods play in a tournament? Every time he tees off, the tee box in one way or another is lined all the way down it. With the heads following the ball as it gets launched past them.
How hard can this possibly be to recreate in a video game?
My point.
In TW it looks like a bunch of emotionless stick figures. Take a page from the book of Live or Madden, one of the things they get right.
To continue with that. Sound. The smack of the driver sounds like a tin can in TW. Iron shots from the fairway sounds like someone is clipping there hedges. There should be crowds screaming after a tee shot and a roar if a big birdie putt falls. I want to feel like every putt means something and the crowd should react accordingly. Especially the siren type effect and big sigh from the crowd if a putt lips out or burns the edge. Like when it's getting close the crowd starts to get louder and louder and when it just misses, the collective groan from the crowd is one of the most recognizable sounds in golf. Also, the camera shutters after a tee shot need to be included.
Next. Pre-shot routines? Where are they? If you ask any pro golfer what the most important part of his game is, chances are the pre-shot routine will be mentioned. Not saying we need ALL authentic pre-shot routines, but something to give the effect of one. This includes, standing next to the caddy analyzing the shot. Let me try and paint a picture of what would be ideal.
First, on the tee box. There should be nothing on the screen but the score overlay for the player you are using in the upper part of the screen. After the intro player animation. Show the camera panned behind player and caddy as they look at the caddy book and look down the fairway analyzing the shot. Once circle is pressed the camera will pan down the fairway where the ball will land. That's where all the game overlays will pop up, such as percentage, wind, club selection, etc. This is where you set up your shot. Once circle is pressed the first time, once the camera goes back to the Tee-Box, this is when the player will go through the pre-shot routine and address the ball. Now you are ready to execute your shot. It will just be you, the ball and your controller. Something like this...
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AyFjEjELors" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
Also would like to see more post shot animations, like if the player is the first to hit, show him handing the club back to his caddy and talking about what happened.
Another small thing, but instead of flashing birdie or par or whatever on the screen. Just have it like on TV where the show the scorecard for the side he is on while walking off the green. I know it shows it during the loading screen but I would like to see the loading screen be a run through of the leader board instead.
Commentating. Jim Nantz was a huge addition and gives the feel of golf of Sunday, but take it to the next level. Have him comment on the shot, and set it up. Say yardage, what the wind is doing, what the player did in the previous round. What is going on with other players on the course and what he needs to do. Just paint the picture like he does in real life. If you watch real golf, 90% of the broadcast someone is talking and describing what is happening on the screen and as it's happening, not after the shot as landed. Like I said, I want to feel like it's replicating a TV broadcast, not like I'm at the course watching. It seems like TW has tried to bridge both together, which doesn't work well.
Also, hole flyovers are pretty generic and broad.
Most of the cameras work pretty well. But somehow the focus of them just doesn't seem right. When I play the game, then watch something like this, it doesn't feel right...
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gBt3-PrPapU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>
Also notice the perspective on the camera, its a little farther back and zoomed in, which I would like to see in game, instead of on top of you in TW.
Graphically, from the course standpoint, this is the best part of TW. Really no complaints here.
Would REALLY like to see a more in depth Create-A-Golfer feature. The current system is fairly solid, as far as getting the look of your character down. Like I stated earlier, I want to be able to customize the equipment I'm using, such as lofting and de-lofting, weights to fix fades and draws, but MOST importantly a CREATE A SWING FEATURE!!! This really wouldn't be that difficult to implement. Mo-Cap a bunch of different swings from random tour pros (50+) that may or not be included in the game, plus include swings in game, break them up into different sections of the swing and allow us to choose how we address the ball, our backswing, the downswing and our follow through. This would also give us guys who like to create other pros that aren't in the game a way to get their swings down.
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m7dOThIKPWk" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe>
If I want my player to have this oddity as a swing, I SHOULD be able to create it!! THIS IS NEXT GEN! (Wait, wasn't Rickie IN THE GAME, so his swing SHOULD be in already!!!!)
Also, stop with the gimmicks. Bring back legends. Presidents and Ryder cup should be included regardless. Not including this is like not including the NBA Finals or Super Bowl in the NBA and NFL respectively. Just doesn't make sense.
The beauty is that, all of this can be fixed fairly easily. Especially the animation aspect.
The great thing about golf translating to a video game, is that everything is pretty canned and predictable. The player is going to stand behind the shot, pre-shot routine, address the ball, then hit it. Happens 60-80 times a round. All of this should be MO-CAPPED!!!! Everything from the walk, to celebrations, to the swing, to the putting stroke, to the player picking up grass to see the wind and grabbing the ball out of the hole. Everything to make it feel as authentic as possible.
This would eliminate every awkward animation that resides in this game and would give the game a more realistic feel.
BRING BACK THE 3 CLICK SWING OPTION!!! I understand that it's next-gen, but some people still like to play with that option.
In fact give us a whole retro mode. Three click swing. Spin can only be control by the way the ball is hit which can be adjusted by the user and success rate depends on accuracy on downswing. Fade and Draw is controlled by that as well.
The fact that there is even spin control in this game is completely arcade-ish and ridiculous. That's not real golf. I understand we can choose not to use it, but personally if it's available I find myself using it, which I don't want. I want to actually have to think about a shot and use strategy like they do in real life. Instead of being able to drive the ball 360 yards and have wedge into every par 5 and spin it all over the green to make up for my mi****s. The only way to make this work is fixing the ball physics though because it seems like if you don't use boost, the ball doesn't fly realistically.
The thing that worries me, is that it's EA, and they have a tendency to ruin great things, which has happened with pretty much every sports title under the EA brand since 05. Hopefully they can buck the trend or maybe 2k can pick up the Golf license
Comment