So after spending the last few months playing both, this year for me, for the first time in years I may add, Pes is the more enjoyable game for me. And I can't believe I've just said that.
Going back to Pes, the passing is just more organic, the outfield play is just more organic. The way players move and link play is superb. Yes theres AI problems which I hope will be fixed next week, but the game is challenging to me, and in short bursts of single matches it really works for me.
I love the graphics and the individual looks of the players and their traits. I can tell its Salah, Costa, Firmino or Insigne. The camera is also more suitable and I love the little touches of the players with the outside of the boot.
Thats not to say Fifa doesn't have those because they do, in fact more so, the animations are varied and beautiful, but the thing that kills this years version for me is the motion capture of the players. Its absolute dogshit. The transition between walk, jog and sprint is jarring. The touches are often heavy when running with it, I don't know what it is but it feels gangly and unwieldily. The 360 degree motion of the players lacks the organicness of Pes and its so difficult to play with. Add in the ball physics where they seem to have removed the bobbleness of the ball and now its like a heavy bowling ball when passed, it slows down to quickly too across the turf as if attached to Velcro strips.
The CPU play is more varied but it seems easier to win games. Playing exhibition games and my record agains the CPU even on full manual is massive compared to 18, and I think it is because the AI tends to just hit first time shots rather than assess their situation like in previous Fifas. This year they play the ball into the box and no matter what they go for a first time shot. Last year they may have held the ball up and played someone in. Or dribbled and then hit a shot.
Fifa is enormously disappointing for me this year, it really is. For me its gone backwards. The motion of the players really grates. I hope this forthcoming patch for Pes fixes things.