Like i said in a previous post, the difference of opinions on this game are quite startling. Some like it, some don't. Some like it then don't.
Patch 1.02 has definitely made the game more football orientated, and much more difficult. The balance between open attacking football, or defensive patient build up styles of play are there for all to see. The delicate balance between arcade and simulation is also there for all to see.
Post ps2 era, there has been absolutely nothing on this generation of consoles that has even touched this.
Pes for life and death.
I disagree.
I have two versions at the moment, a modded PC version (with Jenkey's) and a PS3 version.
For me, balance is the key in football games, I am aiming for as close to simulation as possible with regards to all sorts of areas.
1) The modded PC version - Superstar, 17mins, zero assists
Key word - BALANCED - games ebb and flow, I have periods of possessive dominance, the CPU have periods of possessive dominance. I don't have to MAKE the game do anything, I just plays out and things fall into place. Because of the added ball weight and shot power, shots are now more realistic and stay lower and passes are more crisp.
After 17 minutes against a good/world class team, possession is normally around the 52/53% mark for me, I can play a free game and mix things up with short passing, long ball play, because I know that the CPU in Superstar is totally fair. By fair I mean this; headers are won equally, the ball bounces equally, I have as much chance of skinning their players as they have of skinning mine. I can use momentum/inertia against the CPU and craft moves in tight areas to give space somewhere else because the CPU is very good, but has that human touch.
I can counter them if they dish up possession in the wrong areas, I can press them high up the pitch if I wanted. Players move about, from the midfielders to the strikers, goalies are more robust, the stats at the end of the game show a realistic affair. I have mentioned possession but things like shot count are realistic, cards and fouls realistic. All this is included whether I win, lose, or draw. It's about as close to realism as I can get a game.
2) PS3 version - Superstar, 20mins, zero assists
FUCK ME....this is the general pattern, because passing isn't crisp etc it allows for the CPU to get behind the ball easily even if you have crafted the space. I had a match against Norwich last night....I had 68% possession lol.
Norwich rarely attacked apart from the good old counter. To win at this level, you have to keep the ball for ages, I mean like 5-7 minutes of actual in-game time. The game inevitably falls into me attack for long periods, them counter pattern for the full 20 minutes. Shots are blocked, the CPU have an advantage over you with regards to fouls etc where the referee waves play on when they barge you out of the way. Players like Gerrard get constantly dispossessed as the CPU man just runs through him.
Shots are still floaty, there's much more noticeable scripting. Headers are generally won by the CPU, your defenders get pulled about left, right and centre, and if the CPU gets to the wing and crosses just watch in awe as your red arrow CB tries to play the offside trap inside the six yard box. I won 1-0; enjoyment factor 0, game soul factor 0.
So there's my side by side comparison of the two modes I have at my disposal. One mode I just play the game and it feels alive but with everything turning out realistic, and the other mode where I consciously have to MAKE IT WORK.
Now, if the PS3 mode had the CPU keeping possession as much as you have to, then it may add to the overall experience, but at the moment I see no joy whatsoever in me camping 25 yards from their goal, and having close to 70% possession.
