Wasn't sure whether to put this in the "comparison" thread or here, but considering that I talk about my FIFA offline career mode game, I've put it here!
I've started really enjoying FIFA 19 again with the sliders I posted in the sliders thread. It's far from perfect obviously (RIP fouls, u r wiv da angles now, miss u free kicks, neva 4get) and the extremity of the sliders does break other things.
The game still bases logic around what it expects speed/acceleration to be (plus ball speed), so occasionally when hitting a pass - especially on semi-passing, which I had to abandon - the recipient jogs forwards and backwards in a cycle while they wait for the ball, as if they're "fighting" the sliders ("I WANT TO RUN AND GET THE BALL, WHO PUT THIS INVISIBLE WALL IN THE WAY").
But here's something that's a big deal for me - if I play Man City on PES, I can play on the "normal" def/att level and not suffer hugely for it (beyond the AI scoring one of their unstoppable goals that feel forced as all fuck).
On FIFA, as Newcastle, I HAVE TO go all-out defence from kick-off. I've said it before in the FIFA 19 thread, but I managed to hold on against Man City until the last minute and it STILL felt like an achievement to just get beat 1-0.
Because when I played them again and forgot to change my def/att level, I got absolutely pummelled. I was 2-0 down in ten minutes and ended up losing 4-0 - proving that tactics do actually matter, even though the skateyness of the players makes them feel redundant.
Watching Match of the Day last night and looking at the analysis of how Everton were transitioning from defence to attack, with Richarlison starting off one move in a CM position before sweeping back to a RB position to make an interception and then pounding up the wing as a RW, you realise how PES is so locked-down positionally whereas FIFA allows for this kind of thing to happen (and when I've seen it in FIFA before, I've shouted "how unrealistic is this shit, players are all over the place").
I was finding FIFA way too easy (and may well do again) but slowing everything down has made a big difference for me - lots more passes are intercepted because of how much slower they are. Without sliders, I wouldn't be able to play the game.
In terms of the career mode I've got going, Mike Ashley has told me he wants me to finish with a £100m profit margin at the end of the season, and to achieve that, I can only sell players and not buy any. When I have sold players, he only adds 50% of their value into the transfer kitty, just in-case I'm tempted.
The only players I've been able to attract (because fuck you, Mike Ashley - I need players) are realistically-interested players with realistic budget demands. I managed to sign Benteke (who I'm hoping I can turn into a decent target man) and Bertrand (to replace Dummett, who's gone to West Brom), but we have big problems on the wings.
I tried to sign Mendy from Man City and Pep (via the cut-scene) just stood up and left my office as I made my initial offer (what an idiot for getting the train up to Newcastle in the first place, we could have spoken on the phone first).
Ritchie (RM) is injured, Yedlin (RB) is injured, and half the first-team squad are on loan and leave at the end of the season (e.g. Rondon, the main striker). Plus, my "manager score" is plummeting because Mike isn't happy at me spending money. So it's a real challenge on and off the pitch.
By contrast, on PES (still as Newcastle), my scouts recommended four Real Madrid and Barcelona players (two of them first-team players), all in the first few weeks, all of them "very interested" (4/5 bars) in moving to us.
I signed two of them in the very first window (two wing-backs), and it made absolutely no difference. They were as "locked up" as my standard defenders in defensive situations, and as easily dispossessed when attacking.
So I'm in deep now, fighting in mid-table and trying to build something for a Europa League push next season - if Mike keeps me on. I feel attached to a career, and the gameplay is deep enough to keep me going.
glad you made it happen at the end!! Thrilling stuff!