EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR Gameplay Features

In EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR, we wanted to give you the ability to customize your gameplay experience to your liking.

There are three gameplay styles to choose from: Arcade, Classic and Tour.

ARCADE

This style uses a simple analog swing mechanic that is familiar for to those who have played previous games in the versions of PGA TOUR franchise. The length of your backswing determines the power of your shot, while keeping your swing on plane will affects accuracy.

Additionally, aids like power boost, spin, and an aiming arc will help make this style the most accessible. It’s like slipping right back into a comfortable, broken-in pair of golf spikes.

CLASSIC

Remember how you used to push the “A Button” back in the day to set the power, then tap it again to lock in accuracy? Classic controls bring those days back, using a 3-Click meter to determine how far your shot goes and how accurate you hit it.

However, this isn’t some rookie mode though, you’ve got to get the timing just right to hit the perfect shot. You also can’t add spin after the fact, so if the ball starts veering off-line you’ll just have to be ready to deal with the consequences.

TOUR

The true pros will want to try out the Tour control scheme, as it feels the closest to the real thing. The length of your backswing and the speed of the follow-through set the power, while accuracy is determined by how straight a line you make with the analog stick.

There are no assists such as spin, zoom and aiming arc. Just you, the club and the ball.

There's also an option to customize your gameplay style to your liking, borrowing elements from each style. Want to use the 3-Button settings but also add mid-air spin? Done.

Play the game your way and find the setup that’s most comfortable for you.

We’ve done a lot of work to make sure the game feels like it’s giving you appropriate feedback and helpful visual indicators. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s new and how it works.

AIMING ARC

We’ve introduced/developed the Aiming Arc to help you visualize various aspects of the game. The arc will account for wind, elevation, ball lie and shot shaping, which will passively teach you the nuances of the game.

If you connect with a perfect swing, the ball will go where the arc shows. The best golfers in the world can visualize their shots before they even take them, and now you can too.

THE PUTT READ

The putt read shows you how your ball will break if hit with optimal speed. The key here is aiming at the right distance – and also making a pure stroke.

BACKSWING METER

The new backswing meter lets you know when you’ve reached the end of your backswing, based on the shot you have set up. When you start your backswing, the meter will begin to fill. When you reach the end of your backswing, the meter will be full, and a forward swing should be initiated.

Be careful when playing Tour gameplay style, because you can over-extend your backswing and the meter will overfill red.

PERFECT TIMING

LONG SWING

SWING PLANE

When playing on Tour or Arcade, it’s important to remember to follow the proper swing plane. If your swing is off-line, this will result in your shot either hooking or slicing.

This is indicated by either a yellow or orange line tracing your backswing.

AUTHENTIC BALL DROPS

Even though courses are more open than ever before, there are still rules in golf and there are certain areas where you can’t play a ball.

In the event your ball goes into a hazard, you are given realistic options for where you can take a drop.

If you hit your ball into a water hazard without a designated drop zone, you have a few options.

You can either replay the ball from where you took your previous shot, drop a new ball within two club-lengths of the point of entry, or take your next shot from any point behind where the ball entered the hazard, in line with the pin.

The options change a bit if you happen to dunk a shot on a hole where a drop zone is present. You can either hit your next shot from the previous location, or play it from the designated drop zone.

If you hit into an unplayable lie (imagine the ball getting stuck in a tree or between rocks where you can’t make a swing) then you can play your next shot from anywhere back on a line with the pin behind the unplayable spot.

That’s a small taste of what you can expect when you get your hands on EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR. We’ll have lots more info for you about all the different elements of the game coming soon. See you on the links!

EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR is available to pre-order now. Order your copy today.

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