I'd say those games captured football as best possible given the tools at the developers disposal.
A match in a football videogame lasts 15mins(avg.) real time but looks to capture 90. That requires balance and yes, even some videogame license in order to make that so.
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I've always thought that classic PES looked to capture the essence of actually playing the sport whilst using videogame license in order to make it so. I mean, what makes a great player in real life? You could argue that it is in some cases what makes a great videogame player. Obviously not the physical demands but reflex, instinct, composure and all round natural ability are necessary in both in order to stand out. Do you think Xavi thinks methodically or do you think he has a more ''arcade-y'' approach such is his command of the sport? Do you believe he thinks out procedurally how is going to find that pass or that his quick minded-ness, composure and natural ability make him stand out over other players?
To be honest, this is why I never really ''got'' FIFA bar 08, UEFA and FIFA09 - I just feel they look to over-sim the mechanics of football player with ball at feet. FIFA has multiple dribble speeds and styles all mapped to different button combos. Where PES encourages natural flair and ability, FIFA over-prescribes to the notion that football is incredibly complex for an individual and that flair has to be ''engineered'' as opposed to it being something that manifests through natural ability, agility and instinct. Football at a base level is an incredibly simple sport, especially when considering individual ability. I never ''thought out'' my skill on the ball before execution when playing, it just happened due to ''arcade-like'' instincts to situations and spacial awareness working in tandem with my natural ability and agility. The real complexity of football lies in teamwork, tactics and formations.
I think PES looks to understand that and PES2012 is a huge step forward for the franchise.
Thats true and also I remember in old PEs if I got a player sent off or 2 it really made a huge difference on the picth, If I got a CB sent off and dint replace him by moving an CF to CB then Id get murdered. However with 1 Cf it was hard to score.
ALso individuality of player should be basic difference eg old pEs.
Every player should have standard abilites then extras
eg..
Jan Koller...would win many corners, long balls, crosses but he was slow and poor dribbling
Giggs...Could dribble at high pace, very agile, beat defenders easily
Beckham...crosses and long balls are pinpoint accurate
Roberto Carlos....Shootign form long range has high power and accuracy
Jaap Staam..Wing most Ariel challenges, hard to get past with strength/physical challenge only speed/dribbling.
Ronaldo (fat)...amazing speed and accelration can phsycialy push past defenders, great finishing.
Van Nistelrrooy,,,Accurate and powerful shooting and heading
Zidane...100% accurate passes all distance, accurate long shots.
etc..
I mean in old PES it was like if you press Shoot too long and the wrogn direction with a player like Recoba from distance you could still score or get it on target at least...Whereas with a player like G.Neville if you pressed correct amount of power on Square and correct direction on d-pad the shot will most likely not score.
Basiclaly the better the player at shooting the more margin for error on the control pad you had...and vise versa
This is great indiviulaity..and realistic...This needs reimplemented 100% same as it was.
Then Team overall...For exmaple it made a huge differnce with formations. I would someitmes be losing a game but swicth 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 adn the game would completely change.
Or soemtimes Id get a fast winger and play him on the tocuhline up fornt out wide and fire long balls to him as he would be unmarked or find easy space.....sacrifising a steady formation but enabling a individual to get space etc......
I dont think the new games replicate this well but I have not tried much Pes since PEs4/5 tbh.