Some observations about the gameplay:
- Seems that the aerial barge button has been removed, so you have only to move to get the better position. Anyway, the CPU consistenyl wins most of the crucial aerial battles. There's something to improve here, as many said. Or anyone found a way to really barge the position and push the opponent?
- Long passing depends a LOT on the player stats AND the context, balance and speed of the passer. I've managed to do zippinf driven long passes, floating and normal ones. Still investigating this. But long passing is just great because you have to be damn good at it to perform it well.
- How great are trapping movements with bouncing balls? I'm marvelled at how good players can control and go on with an incoming bouncing/long ball without loosing much speed. I've have many header controls and subtle touches to control these kind of balls, even touching the ball to a controlled bounce ahead. Great!
- I only play in Professional, I don't have fun playing world class because the stupid infinite pression and cheats of the cpu kill the experience. Plus, you can't really hold the ball properly wich leads to play only direct or ping-pongey football in my opinion. In Professional I have the time to see passes and perform incredibly rich team moves. Loving it right now.
- About the strength > skill debate I started some pages ago: I've improved massively in my dribbling and slow movements, and now I'm really able to dominate the midfield as I like. I still find strength overacted and would love it to be tuned down a little. The next point is also related to this.
- Individuality is quite good; my main concern is that players are generally too good at moving with the ball. Even if there's a massive difference between Messi and Molinaro, there should be more irregularities in poor skilled players. Chicago players, for example, are still too good a trunning with the ball and changing directions. They should spill the ball a little when trying difficult turns or running to much with the ball. Or when passing (as trance suggested) there should be an incresing difficulty in a streak of first time passes.
- Finesse shot is really too effective. Not that you score every time, but every time you pull a very good shot. Even for skilled players, most of the times the shot should go wide or missing a little strength as in real life.
- Finally, my main concern is still there, tactical stiffness. Players mantain too much their position. I'm not saying Ibrahimovic should go to the wing. I'm saying Ibrahimovic is ALWAYS some meters before the CB and able to receive. There is no fight for the position between players. In real life, one of the things that occurs more often is that a players receive with the defenders sticked to him and already pushing him. That hardly happens here. That's also the reason why there are so little interceptions / anticipations, because players are somehow "always" in the same positions between them. Don't know if I'm being too clear, but it wouldn't be so difficult to have more "randomness" in the positions of players, and more awareness of defenders to close spaces.
- Related to the previous post, player runs, on the other hand, have improved a lot, I'm finding incredible moves and smart runs that open spaces One of the videos below shows a great and smart run of Iniesta that creates space for Henry to end the play.
Finally, some videos to entertain you. I'm not posting great goals or plays, but some videos to illustrate some things I like / dislike.
Video #1: TRAPPING / CONTROLLING THE BALL
Great pass from Alves (it's difficult to manual pass this, but so gratifying...). GREAT first control of the ball by Messi. Never seen such fluidity in a running footballer in a game before. The subtle touch to gain control of the bouncing goal is genius. And finally good lob to finish the play.
http://www.easportsfootball.co.uk/media/play/video/9225650
Video #2: SMART RUNS
Iniesta does a great move inside to let Henry alone to score in a fast-break.
http://www.easportsfootball.co.uk/media/play/video/9222742
Video #3: FINAL THIRD ACTION
Here I post something you would hardly see in Fifa 09, a header goal contesting the keeper in a early cross.
http://www.easportsfootball.co.uk/media/play/video/9200630
Video #4: FINESSE SHOT
I found them too easy with players like Xavi or Messi. I've scored this kind of goals many times. I would prefer this shots to be tuned down a little.
http://www.easportsfootball.co.uk/media/play/video/9199265
Overall, deifnitely a great step forward for the series, loving it so far for the impressive controls. EA has improved almost all of the most critical flaws of the game in one single year. They work hard and it shows. Let's hope the final build irons out a little my nuances with the demo.