I don't want to sound rude or prudent here, but there are as many opinions, as there are asses we sit on here.
Now I want to ask question to people, what platform do you play PES on?
This is very important in this situation on differing opinions. Why? Let me just say that Xbox 360 users were presented with 3 patches before 1.04. hit the download.
This would mean X360 users, should in theory, be offered the best game already before 1.04. patch hit. As to why, I believe Xbox 360 version, despite the abysmal support for Data Pack downloads, had no stuttering, lags, slowdowns to begin with. Thus the changes perceived by Xbox 360 users will be much smaller than those on PC/PS3 who had to wait for 1.04. patch for almost 1.5 month after release of the game.
PS3 users, probably right now, are playing what Xbox 360 users were playing since game release, but slightly more polished here and there. The same goes for PC users.
However, I have concerns with what I read on WENB. If this happens to be true, KONAMI again, did something to save this engine on Current Gen platforms.
I mean and from what I saw on pictures, they degraded graphics yet again. They lowered poly count on stadiums and lowered texture resolution on players to attain more balanced frame rates. Sure, you won't at first notice differences, but they are there (yair could confirm this right?).
I haven't had chance to play the game with patch yet, but pre-patch, I could tell you that if you allowed AI to play their game, they would be more varied (understandable), but as soon as you came out and dominated them (not that hard to do, even if you're not trying), the AI goes haywire and into total panic mode, not knowing how to play football anymore.
Unfortunately, on PES 2013 I did try to do something about this with editing formations and tactics, based on what klashman69 (great job man) posted, but it didn't make that much of drastic change I expected. You could still easily dominate AI and they would still hoof the ball upwards like headless chickens.
Now on the other side, can someone with patch, confirm that Goalkeepers are vastly improved? As seeing Jimmy video, I am not convinced. They still look like they will palm ball into own net (check that backheel goal somewhere in video) or are easy to lob/chip (this I hoped that would be fixed because pre-patch it resulted in 9 out of 10 goals!).
Really happy for people who enjoy the game. As for representing real football, both games are still far from it.
There was nice discussion here about player individuality, but I will be totally honest here, both titles do it WRONG.
Stats, although important in differentiating players from each other, are not what individuality is for me. There should be more to it, but I doubt we will see what I have in mind implemented in 10 years time.
They would have to first do something what NBA from 2K (Visual Concept) does each year. Motion Capture individual players. Yes, EACH player WILL be motion captured AT some point in 2k series of NBA (and yes, I do know that DB size is much smaller than in football game - no need to tell me that and that's why I have said it would take at least 10 years to complete).
Does it matter? YES, it does. It lets you differentiate player on the first glance, from posture, ankle movement, how his body positions when he shoots, his preferred hand, how he moves into defense, how his mimics work, how lifelike he is, etc.
Basing this solely on stats, although good in differentiating bad player from good one, is lacking. Because on PES/FIFA Xavi will use same animation for passing as Pirlo/Iniesta. Nathan Redmond will be able to do moves Messi does, etc. If they did mo-cap from scratch and for each player individually, skills/player cards would be the thing of the past imho
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But like I said, it's very sci-fi at the moment, but I wonder if others had similar view before?
@Shikashi
Actua Soccer 3 was actually pretty good for it's time and that your post reminded me, we had so much more football games back then to choose from, now limited to only 2
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