I agree with you completely here Jimmy.
You have to adjust your tactics and settings all the time to force the AI into playing differently, so that good results are achievable. Also, if you play fast counter attacking football they will, in turn give you a double dose of it straight back. Defending is absolutely key in 2012, whether it be human or AI opponents. Against the AI though it becomes even more crucial that you set it up right and defend patiently, while adjusting tactics and formations accordingly.
The same people that want the AI to adopt a more subtle attacking approach are the ones that would be saying that game is now to easy. The developers have deliberately given us an intense, attack minded computer controlled AI so that we don't quickly become bored of the game. Instead we have to work out how the fuck we are going to suppress their sometimes overwhelming attacking prowess and in turn score goals ourselves to win games.
I'm using Professional all assistance off btw.
My only concern is that while there are still millions of PES hardcore out there of our generation who keep this game alive. Are their still going to be millions growing up now who love the game as much as we do. Or will they all be sold out to FIFA?
Err no. Lol.
I couldn't agree less.
It's not a question for me about becoming quickly bored, it's a question of the game portraying reality. It's not about results for me, because I can play the CPU at their game.
For me, to win in PES, you need to play the counter game at blistering pace. Anything else is asking for trouble.
A couple of things I'll highlight from your post, which in effect is what is wrong completely with the game.
1)
You have to adjust your tactics and settings all the time to force the AI into playing differently - Why? Why can't I impinge MY tactics onto the CPU? I know there's give and take, but this game is all take, in that you have to bend to whatever game the CPU dictates.
2)
Also, if you play fast counter attacking football they will, in turn give you a double dose of it straight back. - Again lol, why? What laws of physics or earthly mystical powers gives the CPU 'double powers' over the user, this is just silly. So we are in fact giving in to the fact and acknowledging that there is immediately a discrepancy between the CPU play and the human in terms of ability and penetration. I don't want the CPU to attack directly ALL the time; this isn't realistic. If it was realistic then everyone in world football would just get the ball and dribble. They don't, they pass backwards, sideways, forwards, dribble etc etc.
3)
The same people that want the AI to adopt a more subtle attacking approach are the ones that would be saying that game is now to easy - Err, again no. We're in 2012 now, and arguably PES 5/6 had much better more realistic build up play than now. There were set rules which governed both the human player and the CPU. If the CPU had the ball in position in it would be wise enough to pass the ball backwards/sideways to continue the move, and not just plough on regardless arcade like straight on without any concern for losing possession.
In this iteration, it's as if all the CPU have a side bet as to who can hold onto the ball the shortest! PES 2011 had faults, but it was intelligent in the fact that you could apply pressure, cut off passing lanes, and gradually work the CPU back - like IRL. I've been playing the game since it was released and I honestly can't recall the CPU putting together more than ten passes and making me run after the ball.
4)
Are their still going to be millions growing up now who love the game as much as we do. Or will they all be sold out to FIFA? - I'm a PES man, always have been. But there's no denying that the PES brigade are leaving in their droves. Is it because of accessibility, because PES has become too hardcore? I don't think so. I think it's because we are where we are in the world in terms of things on demand, and the expectation of the consumer. People were pissed off this year because of really shit keepers, blurry graphics (I mean WTF), scripted games, too much offensive dribbling etc etc. Things like the defensive play this year was just something that had to be learned, if people left because the game was too hard then that's their problem. But I can't deny that although there is a decent game in there, there are so many quirky, niggling, just downright shit things going on. Shooting not going where aimed, the issues with the patches to save face with the goalies (who were better ten years ago), the abysmal animations etc etc. I mean Jesus Christ, it's 2012, and who is doing the mo-cap for them...? Stephen f'kin Hawkins it looks like! Nobody kicks a ball like some of the animations, which are inconsistent together with the way the ball behaves.
You then either get the game where the CPU camp back in which it's depressing trying to break them down, or you get the constant see saw counter v counter v counter game against the top sides. The midfield in PES 2012 is just totally inconsequential. I could put 7 men in midfield, which in real life would provide a total pain to get through, but in PES it doesn't make a difference. The midfield is like a god dam ghost town, with hardly any battles going on.
Again I'll stress, it's not PES bashing for the sake of it. Buit what the hardcore want is a return of three things primarily -
1) Balance between attack and defence. It's way too arcade now. End to end slugfest. The midfield showdowns should be the show stopper for me, not some afterthought and crap obstacles but in the way of the speed merchants. I want the human and the CPU to be on an even keel in terms of natural laws of physics, governed only by stats, and team styles. Why the fk hasn't ANY game perfected Barcelona yet? Just get them to keep hold of the ball lol.
2) Individuality - straight forward. Heskey shouldn't dribble like Messi, but he should be strong. All non dribbling players (like 70% of footballers) should do what they do best, pass and move.
3) Control - give us control. If I want the shot to go right, then it should go right. I don't care if it goes slightly by the keeper, goes in the top corner/bottom corner, hits row Z, or goes into orbit with my player crumpled in a broken heap with a broken ankle cos the technique was all wrong; I don't care, as long as it goes right and NOT LEFT!!! And if I want to hit a long ball over the top which goes miles overhit for a goal kick, then I should be allowed to do it.
This is why the hardcore are leaving.