Received my 360 copy this morning from Shopto. After a quick install and product update, we're good to go.
Its worth pointing out that I was a PES player up until the disaster that was the first 360 version. Since then I bought one more version of PES before giving up on it and buying Fifa. That said, I have always downloaded the demos of new PES and given them a try, but so far I've not seen anything that's made me swap back from Fifa. I just think its important to point that out as I've seen people commenting on PES or Fifa and their comments appear like they're playing a completely different game to the one I've played. I think that's down to the fact that they're commenting on the version of the game they're most used to playing or the one they want to be the best, both of which mean a newcomer to either may feel different about how they play.
Main impressions after a few games at lunch were that Fifa is now in the same place that PES was just before its first next-gen version - i.e. they've got the basic game engine sorted and are now making refinements with each one. In games I'm noticing an improvement in passing, crossing and shooting. Players not under your control seem to be a bit more intelligent in the runs they make (both offensive and defensive). Its the little touches like the way tackles are made now where I can see an improvement over Fifa 10 and the WC game. Players' individual abilities seem to be more obvious when playing with/against them than in previous games. And so far the defenders don't seem as physical as they were in the WC game.
Playing as a goalkeeper works surprisingly well. Just as in the other Be A Pro modes, you can influence the decision of other players with the buttons for pass, shoot etc. But I find on this screen at 720p, its all a little bit pixel-ly when play is at the other end of the pitch. I think the keeper mode is implemented very well, but I'm wondering how interesting it will be to be one over the course of a season unless you're maybe with a smaller team who will give you more to do in each game?
Squads and strips are obviously as they should be at the end of the transfer window and there's no jerkiness or slow-down, I think its looking good. The players feel like they move very naturally and there's some nice extra touches to the animations which add to the believability of the whole thing. As with previous games, it rewards patient build-up play, but the tweaked passing (and interceptions) seems to give you more control over where you play the ball. When combined with the improvements in AI, there's something about the feel of the game which is massively improved.
So all in all I'm impressed, but not in an unexpected way. Nothing has surprised me yet, its kind of what I was expecting and hoping for in an update like this, which is just how I used to be with PES. I'm sure with hours of gameplay some of the subtleties and improvements (and frustrations) will reveal themselves just as they did with the last couple of Fifa games.
Its worth pointing out that I was a PES player up until the disaster that was the first 360 version. Since then I bought one more version of PES before giving up on it and buying Fifa. That said, I have always downloaded the demos of new PES and given them a try, but so far I've not seen anything that's made me swap back from Fifa. I just think its important to point that out as I've seen people commenting on PES or Fifa and their comments appear like they're playing a completely different game to the one I've played. I think that's down to the fact that they're commenting on the version of the game they're most used to playing or the one they want to be the best, both of which mean a newcomer to either may feel different about how they play.
Main impressions after a few games at lunch were that Fifa is now in the same place that PES was just before its first next-gen version - i.e. they've got the basic game engine sorted and are now making refinements with each one. In games I'm noticing an improvement in passing, crossing and shooting. Players not under your control seem to be a bit more intelligent in the runs they make (both offensive and defensive). Its the little touches like the way tackles are made now where I can see an improvement over Fifa 10 and the WC game. Players' individual abilities seem to be more obvious when playing with/against them than in previous games. And so far the defenders don't seem as physical as they were in the WC game.
Playing as a goalkeeper works surprisingly well. Just as in the other Be A Pro modes, you can influence the decision of other players with the buttons for pass, shoot etc. But I find on this screen at 720p, its all a little bit pixel-ly when play is at the other end of the pitch. I think the keeper mode is implemented very well, but I'm wondering how interesting it will be to be one over the course of a season unless you're maybe with a smaller team who will give you more to do in each game?
Squads and strips are obviously as they should be at the end of the transfer window and there's no jerkiness or slow-down, I think its looking good. The players feel like they move very naturally and there's some nice extra touches to the animations which add to the believability of the whole thing. As with previous games, it rewards patient build-up play, but the tweaked passing (and interceptions) seems to give you more control over where you play the ball. When combined with the improvements in AI, there's something about the feel of the game which is massively improved.
So all in all I'm impressed, but not in an unexpected way. Nothing has surprised me yet, its kind of what I was expecting and hoping for in an update like this, which is just how I used to be with PES. I'm sure with hours of gameplay some of the subtleties and improvements (and frustrations) will reveal themselves just as they did with the last couple of Fifa games.
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