As someone who spends months editing the game play on this game and notices any small changes to game play straight away, I can categorically state that 1.02 definitely changes the way the game plays and for the most part it’s a positive change.
Com AI has been increased. They pass the ball around more and sometimes now pass sideways and backwards instead of just playing a ball up to the forward. They will also defend better. There is now much more instances of the com controlled team playing a pass that puts someone completely through and there is far more running at you with players with good dribbling stats. In my view these last two cases happen too often on Top Player and against the very best teams this looks unrealistic and can lead to you conceding a lot of goals that you have no chance of defending against (though this is using my edited game play patch, which already has increased AI in conjunction with 1.02)
The game is very slightly slower and passing needs more concentration. Chipped through balls to the wings are no longer perfect each time and can go out or be over hit, something which rarely happened before. The com controlled teams have more of the ball.
As player dribbling and response have been slightly increased the game feels more fluid and you can work shots on goal easier, but defensive AI means the number of goals you score in kept at a realistic level.
I think dribbling speed of some of the very top players needs slightly decreased to stop players like Ronaldo beating 4 men and shooting every time he gets the ball and some of the passing speeds reduced slightly to stop 3 or 4 fast passes putting someone through with you with no chance of defending it and this game has increased potential to be a very good balanced and realistic game.
I've played around twelve games now, a combination of PC, out of the box game plus 1.02 patch, and PS3 out of the box plus 1.02 patch.
I can safely say, in my opinion, the gameplay has changed for the worst. MASSIVELY.
Before this patch I had configured the PS3 with a combination of settings including Chimps stuff, and the PC with version 1.01, PESEDIT and Jenkey's tools.
I deleted the PC stuff to give this a go fresh so to speak, and I really wish I hadn't. I reached a stage on the PC where I was 90% happy with the game, on Superstar mode with all assists off. On the PS3 it was the same.
The game is now near enough a mess. I don't know what people are smoking, but it's my opinion that on Top Player/Superstar the CPU is now just scripting far more stuff against you, and is far more rampant in surging forward like the red army. Teams like Newcastle are putting together stunning moves. I feel it's gone a bit like FIFA - the CPU will now try and manufacture a position normally in and around your eighteen yard box to give that killer pass that you just can't defend against. My personal favourite at the moment is the old through ball through the box with their striker hitting that kind of funny lobbed no power shot which still goes in as your defender runs alongside him.
On the top modes the CPU are insanely efficient in defence, I really haven't had a chance to test the shooting yet because in twelve games I simply haven't had the space to get off a proper shot. Although the times I have gotten off a shot it's been quite puny. Lucas hit one which floated, Suarez now can't score for toffee, there is definitely no oomph that Jenkey could create.
My keeper is like a fkin flid. Honestly, using the same defensive setup and patterns that say my go 10 games and concede 8 goals in the last version, I'm now regularly shipping in 3 goals a game. I feel for the first time since release that the CPU has engineered moves aka FIFA style. Their keeper is fine on the other hand, performing some great saves. I have seen too many deflected goals at funny angles go against me, I've seen me miss too many one on ones, I've seen the CPU have five shots with all of them going in (got creamed by Fulham 5-1, Danny Murphy scored a goal that Diego would have been proud of, I think he took three maybe four men on and scored).
I am absolutely gutted to be honest lol, as I had the best setup I could muster. I was playing on Superstar had half a season under my belt and was 8th, games very were realistic, I had to put the hard yards in to win, but rarely felt cheated in defeat.
This game is different. I feel literally buggered every time I play.
So, that's my take on things. This patch is off, and Jenkey's stuff is back on on the PC, and I'm just hoping Chimps can make his patch a bit harder on the PS3.
From what I could gather, from 1.01 people complained about
1) Keepers - I don't think they've been fixed at all
2) Shooting - I honestly can't see a difference
3) CPU more potent in attack - hmm yeah, they've that alright now!
The only thing I have liked is the fact that the CPU keep the ball more around the box, but I feel that is just a pre-requisite for the CPU getting into positions to play in balls into the six yard box that are just undefendable.
It's my two cents guys, take it or leave it.
