First off I'd like to say that I love this franchise! The 2003 edition was my very first game purchased for xbox, and even though I've gone through more than 20 games since, I keep on coming back to it. I just wished that there were more courses and the game play was much more challenging.

I rented the 2004 edition last week. I'm happy to see that there are indeed a lot more courses, nice ones too. I really like the Game Face creator too, nice touch! But I was disappointed in the game play. Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the game play, I just think it's not challenging enough.

Upon playing the 2004 edition for the first time I went through the whole World Tour mode without losing a single match! And my character was completely stock! I did upgrade my stats during the course of the World Tour, but I was hoping for a bigger challenge.

And after that, I played in just one tournament in career mode, at Kapalua. I ended up shooting 73 under par for the four day tournament and beating second place by 65 strokes! And my character's stats isn't even maxed out yet!

I had to return the game this morning and I still plan on buying it, but I really wish it was harder.

On last years edition I think my round average was around 46-54 strokes per round of golf. I ended up trying to play weak characters against Super Tiger Woods with EA play turned off, so all of the play condition indicators were turned off. So I had no idea what the wind was, or elevation, or caddy tips on putting, or even percentage of club swing to shorten up a club. But I still end up winning by 3-12 strokes! It got to the point where the only time I shot a par or bogey is when I take a chance on trying to drive the green on a short par 4 or try to get closer on a long par 5 so I can shoot my approach on the next shot. Other than that, I shoot a birdie or eagle every time. In fact, if I shoot a birdie on a par 4 or 5, that usually means that I missed a putt.

For all those gamers that have played this franchise too, do you find the same problem for yourself? What have all of you tried to make the game more challenging?

Daro

This message was edited by daro0880 on Oct 03 2003.

your right its sad but true. they really could have made a more challenging game. i enjoy playing with friends its always more fun[link name=][/link]

they don't have a difficulty option?

Yeah, a difficulty setting that would effect the sensitivity of the analog joystick would have been sweet. So even if you're just slightly to the right or left it would hook or slice. I think that would have been perfect! Just turning off your indicators isn't enough to increase the difficulty.

Daro

I'd have to agree with you on that, The difficulty of this game is way too easy but some of the courses have some pretty tight fairways and greens but at one course i had something like 53 under par and was a ridiculous amount ahead of all the players.

I totally agree with everything said in this thread. 2003 was the best ever, and 2004 is just too easy. Too bad b/v I love these games.

thats the trouble with most EA games, they tend to be more arcadey and easier to play.
im not a bit fan of EA myself, but i do like this game... it may be because im not a really a golf fan, although i do like to play golf games.

which is why i never buy any FIFA games, as im a huge football fan and the FIFA games just don't feel like football at all.
you can run up the length of the pitch with your 'keeper and bang one in the top corner straight away... which is not true in reality.

Yeah, I regular shoot between 55 and 75 under on the PGA tour--and this is after it's supposed to get harder. It does, but I'm looking forward to 2005 b/c I hear it IS harder. I challenge any of you to LIVE--whaddya gonna do when you're dormie 8 coming around the turn, punk?

I'm just kidding I had to throw that in for fun. Seriously, though, I'm trying to break 80 under. (Keep in mind I use the caddy read option--my eyes aren't so good after a tragic falconry accident.)

Good luck guys and let's hope that by the time we get 2005 (unless you already have it) things will be different.

Try 2005, it is much harder. But just a warning, don't buy the nose rings, you can't get rid of them. I just had to start a whole new game because of that. I was more than 100% into the game when I bought the nose rings. You can't unequip them and they look horrible. Other than that, the game is so much better than 2004. Except for Justin Timberlake being in the new one.