Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

PGA Tour Golf II refines the core mechanics of its predecessor by introducing a more detailed shot system that leverages a Draw and Fade meter. This addition allows you to deliberately shape your drives and approaches, giving you greater control over ball trajectory and spin. Whether you’re teeing off on a wide fairway or navigating a narrow dogleg, the new meter rewards precision and strategic planning.

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The game expands your roster of opponents to 60 professional golfers, up from 50 in the original PGA Tour. You can compete against these actual pros across seven officially licensed courses, each featuring its own hazards, elevation changes, and strategic nuances. Five distinct tournaments offer varying formats and pressure situations, making every event feel like a real stop on the PGA circuit.

Beyond the standard plays, PGA Tour Golf II introduces special shots—chips, punches, and fringe putts—that help you escape tricky lies and tight pin positions. The automatic caddy has been adjusted to provide smarter club recommendations, while dynamic wind conditions and different ball lies keep every round fresh. Thanks to the battery-backed save feature, you can track your progress through multi-round tournaments without worrying about losing data.

Graphics

This sequel debuts a new graphics engine on the Sega Genesis that better captures the look and feel of real golf courses. Fairways and greens are rendered with richer textures and more natural color gradients, making hazards and rough areas stand out clearly. Subtleties like sand trap contours and tree shadows are more pronounced, helping you read breaks and slopes at a glance.

Player sprites move with smoother animations, and you’ll notice more lifelike swings and follow-throughs. Ball flight paths are now animated to show an arcing trace that corresponds to your Draw or Fade inputs. Watching the ball spin and land gives a satisfying sense of feedback, making well-executed shots feel truly rewarding.

Course backgrounds feature small touches—fluttering flagsticks, animated water ripples, and distant panning camera angles—that enhance immersion. While the Game Gear version scales down some detail to fit the handheld screen, the Genesis release leverages its stronger hardware to deliver crisp visuals and stable frame rates, even when scrolling across large stretches of terrain.

Story

As a sports simulation rather than a narrative-driven title, PGA Tour Golf II doesn’t have a conventional story mode. Instead, it immerses you in the journey of a PGA Tour pro aiming for the FedEx Cup—or its 1992 analog—through consistent performance and clutch shots at key moments. Your “story” unfolds in the leaderboards and tournament standings as you rise from local rounds to major event contention.

Each tournament setting provides its own flavor, from breezy seaside courses to tree-lined parklands, conveying the globe-trotting lifestyle of professional golf. Competing tournaments have unique trophy presentations and crowd reactions, creating an atmosphere that reinforces the stakes of every putt and drive.

The digitized sound effects—club hits, ball thuds, and crowd murmurs—help to build an authentic ambiance, while the in-game caddy’s voice snippets offer a semblance of personality. Though there’s no cut-scene drama, the ebb and flow of tournament play gives you a personal narrative: Will you chase down the pros or fall just short on the final green?

Overall Experience

PGA Tour Golf II represents a significant step forward for EA Sports on the Sega Genesis. It refines the swing mechanics, introduces a more comprehensive player roster, and adds visual polish that enhances every round. Whether you’re a golf aficionado or a casual player, the game’s balance of depth and accessibility keeps you engaged through multiple tournaments.

The improved caddy advice, detailed statistics tracking, and battery-backed saves make it easy to dive into long-form tournament play without friction. The enhanced graphics and digitized audio complement the gameplay, creating a cohesive package that feels both authentic and responsive.

For anyone seeking a solid golf simulation on the Genesis or Game Gear, PGA Tour Golf II stands out as one of the era’s best. Its expanded features and refined mechanics ensure each round is a strategic challenge, while the presentation captures the spirit of professional golf. Whether you’re chasing birdies or battling the wind, this title offers an engaging experience worth teeing up.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10