My thoughts on the PES demo.
First, something dedicated to Jack: Funny how you're scoring more than me on PES and I'm scoring more than you on FIFA.
Right, my take on it (this opinion is coming from a PES die hard who's been enjoying FIFA08, as my avatar suggests):
Positives:
> Quick responsive gameplay. (arcadish? don't think so, play some virtua striker and compare).
> Human Defence is improved, I've been able to head the ball clear out of the box most times, which almost never happened on PES6. Reaction times of defenders are better too, they turn around quicker etc.
> Very nice new animations. (when fighting for possession, falling on the ground, jumping in front of a shot while trying to protect their body, etc.)
> I like the way the crowd gets up when they think something special is gonna happen.
> The sound of bodies colliding, the tackles, etc, makes you feel like you're right there on the pitch in the heat of the battle.
> I've had breakaways with Messi and Ronaldo and the defence could not catch me.
> (Compared to FIFA) I like how GKs react quickly when I order them to come out.
> Body proportions are better than FIFA, faces are amazing. Player expressions and emotions are very well portrayed.
> You can adjust the colors of the game.
> Pitch seems bigger.
> The game is fun.
> The refs and linesmen are great.
> Numbers and names on the back are accurate.
> Portuguese menus.
> THERE ARE UNTUCKED SHIRTS
Negatives:
> The running animations
> The game is a tad too fast (Fifa is a tad too slow)
> The pitch and the grass don't look like much.
> The 360's dpad sucks. As does the blue ball.
> The ball doesn't feel like a marble or whatever Jack said, but it does feel a little heavy.
> Overall look of the game isn't as realistic as the "other one", animations aren't as realistic.
> Don't fix what isn't broken is true and all that. But how long before a new engine is really required? Specially to take full advantage of the 360 and PS3? Seabass is probably thinking about this right now, and if not, he should.
> Music is AWFUL.
To sum it up, and my opinion is subject to change due to the fact that the full versions of the games have to be played to really have an honest and well funded opinion, i will say this:
For the first time in many years I will buy two football games. And this is due to the fact that FIFA has become a very good alternative, and a genuine alternative as the game looks and feels different. PES is still PES, It keeps all of its qualities, has improved here and there, and also keeps most of it's flaws.
Some guys from the FIFA side are blind with hate for PES, coming here and calling everybody fanboys, they are wrong. PES still has a lot of qualities, there are a lot of things in PES that are better than FIFA.
Some guys from the PES side haven't even given FIFA 08 a real chance before saying It's a load of crap, calling FIFA fanboys to whoever likes it, they are also wrong. FIFA has improved a lot, and depending on what you want out of a football game, it can be a better game than PES.
It all depends, and I think the balance is in between, both games are still far from perfect in many ways. And bar some unforseen merging of EA and Konami, the perfect game will likely never show up.
Ideally you should buy or at least give both games a fair chance. And you should also be mature enough to admit the qualities of the game you like the least and the flaws of the game you love the most. And you should respect other peoples choices and opinions. And this forum would be better for it.
I think I never wrote this much before.
Peace out and enjoy football, whatever club, nation or game that means for you.
