PGA 2K21, the little things

[Lieutenant Dan]

I haven't seen a 'little things' thread yet for this title and I think it deserves one so the devs may know that we appreciate the details!

If you want to start a thread separately for criticisms/fix things please go ahead start one, let's keep this thread positive!

--I love how organic this game feels when I'm on my PGA Tour. I love hearing the distant cheers of the crowds on another green.

--I love the cut aways, even if I move through them at times I usually let it play for at least a second or two. It really helps with making you feel you're not the only one playing and a much larger tournament is happening around you. It even helps apply a little pressure to your game at times!

--I've become good on Pro Level, but I love that I still have 'off' rounds, or even off half-rounds.

--Man, I like the licensed clubs and golf wear. Just feels more legit when you rep for your sponsor

--The music is better all around this year, even if it's simple. 2k19's music especially at the menu was not cheerful or particularly 'golfy'.

--One more for now...the commentary is FINALLY fun to me this year after a LONG spell of games where I switched it off. There's some hilarious little asides and contextual comments or quotes from 80's films in there even. My favorite so far when I was lining up for a putt was Luke saying 'Be the ball, Danny.Nanananana." I burst out laughing, golden for the context, love the movie, and yeah, my name just happens to be Dan like the character.

Do share what you like, gents!

--

[Matt10]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

I love the sound of a solid, compressed iron. Goodness what a sound. I think they've got the flight of the ball in a good spot, not to mention the velocity of it screaming off the face.

The texture of the rough is so much better this year, it makes you actually worried about being in the heavy versus just looking at the percentage value in the HUD.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

I love the sound of a solid, compressed iron. Goodness what a sound. I think they've got the flight of the ball in a good spot, not to mention the velocity of it screaming off the face.

The texture of the rough is so much better this year, it makes you actually worried about being in the heavy versus just looking at the percentage value in the HUD.

Thanks for mentioning the texture of the rough! Yes, it's so much better this year, a major improvement and for my money, really helps with the immersion.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

Presentation. They have more to do and I would like some animations removed on the green after sinking a bogey or whatever but they did a nice job. Walking off the green maybe a caddy on the tee longer pre shot routine before the shot yeah they can add more. Much better this year. Hope the game gets supported well and they move forward.

[Skippy85410]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

They need to fix the jerky putting stroke. And enable automatic tap-in putts.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

Great thread idea Dan! One small thing I've developed an appreciation for is how putts finish out their rolls. I've seen so many putts take those last degrees of break in an exponential fashion in relation to their deceleration in that last foot or two of their travel... putts in some cases I'd given up on thinking they were going to miss wide, only to see them take that last needed 60 degrees of turn to find the hole.

It looks more consistent with terrestrial physics than what I saw in this phase of TGC 2019.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

They need to fix the jerky putting stroke. And enable automatic tap-in putts.

I wish they would enable at least a 2 foot gimme... I'd have shot a 78 instead of an 80 in my final round of the Digital Sportspage tournament at East Lake today if they had!

On which platform are you playing the game? I've got both the PC and XBox One X versions and I've found that if I dial my PC up to where it runs the game with the frame rates at least staying in the 50s, I'm able to modulate a slower, more deliberate putting stroke with higher acuity. That still doesn't keep me from reverting back to my TGC 2019 jab stroke for putts under 3-feet... a stroke that won't even get the ball halfway to the hole from 3-feet in 2K21.

[Skippy85410]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

They need to make winning a tournament more rewarding. I just won my first one and I got a total of 500 coins. Really!?

[ASB37]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

Forget which course it was and I haven’t seen it anywhere else but in the replays in a tournament I played a few events ago there were bugs/flys present. Thought that was a cool touch.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

They need to fix the jerky putting stroke. And enable automatic tap-in putts.

I wouldn't mind tap ins either. Come on, we're supposed to be pros here and they just walk up and quickly, sometimes off-handedly just tap in. Nice idea for a little thing that could be added.

Great thread idea Dan! One small thing I've developed an appreciation for is how putts finish out their rolls. I've seen so many putts take those last degrees of break in an exponential fashion in relation to their deceleration in that last foot or two of their travel... putts in some cases I'd given up on thinking they were going to miss wide, only to see them take that last needed 60 degrees of turn to find the hole.

It looks more consistent with terrestrial physics than what I saw in this phase of TGC 2019.

Great one Onlooker. I totally love these physics, and boy does it figure in to med and long putts in a way that feels so realistic (and does cost you strokes like in real life).

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

So you girls want to play inside the leather? Man up.

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

So you girls want to play inside the leather? Man up.

LOL well tap ins are definitely a little thing and definitely fit the thread.

Guess it's actually better to not have them closer than a foot though if they were there. EVERY putt in this game is drama. Amazing how many within 4' I've missed with sloping greens...just like short putts I miss in real life.

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

To me, the little things in 2K21 are all about presentation. The scorebugs and event graphics in career mode are great. The on-course advertisements for the tournaments (like the cars at the the Genesis Invitational, the paint swatches at the Valspar Championship, etc.) really make these real events stand out.

On the flip side, these enhancements really make the fake events in career mode also stand out - like a sore thumb. They feel so lifeless compared to the real licensed tourneys in the game. It is especially unfortunate that all four majors are unlicensed, as they really lack the impact that majors should have. When the John Deere Classic has more personality than the "Legends Championship", AKA The Masters, it's not ideal.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

So you girls want to play inside the leather? Man up.

No, I want to avoid a rage quit when I leave an 18" putt, 6" short of the hole!

[Lieutenant Dan]

Re: PGA 2K21, the little things

To me, the little things in 2K21 are all about presentation. The scorebugs and event graphics in career mode are great. The on-course advertisements for the tournaments (like the cars at the the Genesis Invitational, the paint swatches at the Valspar Championship, etc.) really make these real events stand out.

On the flip side, these enhancements really make the fake events in career mode also stand out - like a sore thumb. They feel so lifeless compared to the real licensed tourneys in the game. It is especially unfortunate that all four majors are unlicensed, as they really lack the impact that majors should have. When the John Deere Classic has more personality than the "Legends Championship", AKA The Masters, it's not ideal.

Very true, I was thinking about that exact disparity last night. I was also thinking how I'd love for some creator tools to do just that on created courses.

To add some 'little things' to the 'generic' opens, i'd love to see them maybe use their licensed partners like Puma, Adidas, etc sponsor those events, so you the "Callaway Legends Championship" and give us similarly decorated tees and signage to lift it up to at least a similar level. I'm not a programmer but that doesn't sound TOO hard?