Right, I'll weigh in with some of my thoughts after having a few lil sessions on the demo. I like it, it's fixed the main gripes I had with 09 (mainly response issues and over lengthy/laborious animations) and the inclusion of the 360 degrees is nice. The pace of the game could possibly be slowed slightly but it aint too bad if you actually slow it down yourself and not head for the wings or killer balls from back to front quickly.
Shooting seems better now too, the LT and shoot results (alternate control scheme) in quite a nice drive that lacks the floatiness that was found in 09 most of the time with long shots. Long balls seem alright to me, they do float a lil crossfield sometimes but I think the perspective doesn't help there as you get the same feeling watching a game on the tv sometimes, it's the vertical depth on a 2D presentation causing the effect mainly methinks.
And now, to the not so good...
Aerial battles. Lifeless. I've stopped counting the amount of times I've had a corner/free kick high up the pitch and the opposition keeper has cought it, just to launch it long where one of my CB's is standing waiting right under it uncontested and even a near full power bar results in a non jumped, limp header that travels maybe 10 yards back up the pitch. In fact sometimes they even chest the ball for some reason, whats that about?! Contested headers are even worse, how many times can both players go for the ball and miss it with their heads, resulting in it bouncing off their upper bodies somewhere and bobbling away somewhere (unscripted though, which is quite nice
).
The AI annoy me, there I said it. It's not the fact that the players lack individuality, I actually think thats there now for once, in more than just a pace sense thankfully, but in the fact I dont find the AI teams playing any differently against me. Chicago ping the ball around and work space the same way Chelsea/Barca do, and it just feels to me the way every other Fifa game has, in that once you get over the initial
newness and novelty, every game is gonna feel the same.
The other thing the game still lacks is what other people have mentioned (and been shot down for), intensity. I still just feel detached from it. I enjoy playing it, it looks well, it sounds well, but it just doesn't grasp you and enthrall you within it. It's always been the same with Fifa so this isn't something new I'm feeling but scoring just doesn't give you the satisfaction it should (no matter what type of goal you score), it just feels a little soulless and detached. To simplify it down, it feels like I'm watching a match, not playing in it.
Overall I am actually quite happy with the Demo (I know, doesn't sound it) and will for sure be getting the game, I'll more than likely be playing mostly Clubs and Be A Pro, but with the new response times and ability to actually turn a player with quick second/third touch rather than needing a perfect initial one, I may actually find myself playing the regular leagues/cups/MM a bit more this year.
Looking forward to Oct 2nd.
amazing goal there mate.
was still semi shooting though.
