I think it's a grand effort from FIFA this year in fact I must say, but I think I'll find more variation (and frustration) with PES.
I've been switching back-and-forth between the two over the last few days to come up with a list of the things that each does better than the other in my mind.
One of the biggest (and most positive) things PES does differently, I've found, is just... Letting you make risky passes.
I realise the FIFA guys have stamped down on letting silly passes get to their target because otherwise online matches would be awful (and the PES games I've played online have all had a minimum of five goals - I've long-since given up on playing this PES online).
But I play primarily against the CPU, and when I'm playing against a lower league team in FIFA, I still have to pass the ball around to beat them - because if I try hitting a long pass to a forward, it's usually intercepted, and if it isn't, it's because the forward is well-marked enough for the pass not to be a threat.
You play the same match over and over, and it's a slog, even though there's satisfaction in grinding out wins.
On PES, I'll hit a pass instinctively, and because of my FIFA conditioning I'll think "shit, that's going straight to their midfielder", but then the pass is hit with enough pace and at enough of an angle that it actually makes it through, because the midfielder can't see into the future and know exactly where to be.
I find that much more realistic, and much less frustrating.
The downside, for me (and my experience is with the Master League because I want to play a career mode), is that even though the matches do provide variety, some games are just insane. If your team chemistry is over 30 points different from the opposition, you're either going to destroy them with no effort, or be destroyed with no control over the result. In my experience.
I played as Liverpool yesterday against Norwich (team spirit 85), and set up three formations - one with a team spirit of 97, one with 85, and one with 50.
On the first formation, Norwich misplaced a ton of passes straight to me, and every player stood off me. I was 2-0 up at half time and they had a pass accuracy of about 65%. For the second half, I switched to the last formation, and at the end of the game, their passing accuracy was around 90% (which is a figure for both halves combined, so imagine how many passes they made in the second half, and how accurate they were). They were passing around like I wasn't there.
It finished 2-2, and for both of their goals, my defensive line - despite being set to the lowest setting, and despite me pushing it all the way back using the D-PAD literally 10 times - kept sitting on the half-way line and letting through for easy one-on-ones.
They started outperforming me by magically boosting their passing accuracy (there was no tactical reason, they just suddenly became more intelligent because of their "team spirit" advantage), and by taking control of my defence.
So, when you pick a team with a bad team spirit... You don't have control over your results - and that's what always makes me switch off the game, the feeling of "if you're going to take control off me, just don't give me control".
I've said it before and I'll say it again - thank God for Football Manager. Always good for that digital football fix...
