Bloody hell I'm confused.
Played the demo and thought meh when it first came out, but I'm really warming to it now.
I'm just getting use to pulling in both triggers and using it to take a defender on. It's a bit hit and miss TBH but that's more my skill than the game. I've also found adjusting the camera to my personal taste actually improves the pace of the ball, broadcast V2 with the camera zoomed out slightly and up a tad really gives a realistic experience.
I have the passing on semi because i cannot find the time needed to master manual, but it still feels free. i mentioned earlier that i cannot find how the passes have increased in pace, but having hit a few thumping crossfield balls i can see its got about an extra 10% of pace.
The heading lets it down, but if you time the defenders jump right you can get some distance and power.
The positional sense is very good, often too good for me as i would love to drop a through ball over the defenders head for a chance, but i can only seem to create a chance by intricate pass movements
Anyway, i've applied a bit more patience, with more passing from left to right and right to left, going back to go forward and its become quite joy.
I still hate (with a passion) the cut scenes, the way the camera snaps to the shit celebratation mode and the corners are a bit non descript.
I'd love to see some real power on headers from crosses, downward headers where they bounce up over the keeper are so rare, infact i have only scored one in all the FIFA's and they genearlly do not leap with any power and you get this standing jump that loops rather than drives into the net.
Nets are a bit average but this usually changes on the full game, graphics are not improved but i like the crowd reactions.
Penalties are nailed in this game and so is the overall footballing atmosphere, but it still lacks that something (IMO) that I cannot quite indentify.
Anyway I am slowly getting to grips with the potential depth and enjoyment of this game.