A independant Prostroke Golf Review, great playability, lots to improve on but a good solid start!
Prostroke naturally caught my eye as it promised to be sim like with realistic golf physics, this also must have caught the eye of lots of journalists Inc gamespots who short listed it as sports game of E3.
Upon first impression of prostroke it’s clear that the game does not have the gloss of Tiger Woods, The front menu screens are practical but not exciting and the level of options is basic. There is a play a round, tournament, career etc with the ability to have a basic character created from preset designs. In comparison to Tiger Woods it is very basic in this department and the player designer is not on the same planet as TW.
You can choose to play against 8 Pros in the game inc Ryder cup captain Ian Woosnam, and winning team players Colin Montgomery, Sergio Garcia as well as seasoned pros like Justin Rose, Ben Curtis, Thomas Bjorn, Lian Wie Zhang and Mark O’Meara.
Once on the course things start to pick up, I have seen a lot of reviews criticise the graphics but to me they work well, in fact the trees in the distance seemed to be more hi res than in TW. The scenery is bland but feels like a golf course.
Where Prostroke comes alive is its control system, I can't actually believe that Gamespots reviewer actually said it was like TW control system but sidewards!!! Because anybody who has played the game will realise it is anything but the same.
You begin your shot in caddy view looking down the fairway in 3rd person mode, here you select your club, direction etc and can zoom to target etc like in other games, when your shot selection is correct you then move to the prostroke view, this takes you to a top down look at your ball, club, stance etc just like in real life.
From this view you use the right analogue stick to swing the club from right to left, the left analogue stick controls which foot you apply your weight from. The D pad left or right placing the ball position in the stance and the up and down on the d pad can change foot placement. This leaves any up and down on the left analogue stock to open and close club face or to flick the wrists on impact etc. It all sounds complicated but it is really easy to get into although difficult to master and always makes you think about each shot.
What it is NOT is anything like TW, it is far in advance of any control system in any golf game and it’s what really stands prostroke out from any other golf game.
Using the Prostroke controls you can craft any shot you need without the need to select any options and all the shots types are based on real golf set ups. For example if you are under a tree you can select a low iron like a 4, place the ball in the front of your stance to keep it low, use the left analogue stick to lean your weight on your front foot and swing the club to punch it under the trees.
The club swing also has to be timed so it’s a smooth arc or the power and accuracy will be impaired, swing it up to the top and the swing down again with a delay will result in a less effective shot that if you swing up and back down again in one smooth movement.
I can only think this is why the gamespot review probably had differing results because he probably didn’t understand the control system at all.
Even now I find myself thinking of new ways to approach my shots, experimenting with different combinations of ball placement and weight distribution. All shots are possible, bump and run, pitch with backspin, fade/draw etc etc.
Putting feels really realistic as well as you can look up from the prostroke view at the hole and the swinging the putter feels right, there are no gimmicks here and it just feels natural
Playing against AI opponents is pretty interesting as you get to see their shots as well, some people don’t like that this is not optional and maybe there should be a toggle here, personally I like to learn what shots the pros do and the AI is pretty intelligent.
Overall the gamplay is amazing and its the reason why Prostroke has got so many good review scores, personally its the gameplay that I have been craving a long time in a golf game and although graphics and options are not the best it does not take away from the sheer appeal that prostroke has and the feeling that you are really in control of a golf club.
Career mode is good with lots of little challenges to build renown points for your golfer as you progress to turning pro and competing for money. Again there are probably more in depth career modes in other games but it’s still pretty good.
There are a few annoying bits in prostroke like being not able to take a drop when you go in water etc but overall if you have been looking for a golf game that plays like a golf game, is difficult with a good learning curve etc then prostroke is definitely the game for you.
There will be many opinions about this game particularly from people that are staunch tiger woods fans but nobody can deny how immensely playable this game and that it has something that no other golf game has.
Prostroke golf is well worth a look and if it is to become a franchise then its a fantastic base of quality gameplay to start from.
Can't wait for the next Prostroke 08