Whoa.. The last few pages have been an awesome read: more of a comparison between versions, and the best aspects of each game.
I actually played some pes2013 (pc) and as chris mentioned, a definite breath of fresh air.. the ai and variations are amazing. Its interesting actually (I didn't start playing full manual until last pes2014 so previously only played pes2013 with some assistance), but this week was the first time I played pes2013 on full manual passing and shooting - wow, the manual functionality works incredibly well. Not sure if its slightly assisted or the angles just work very well, but my passing percentage was much higher than playing pes2016 full manual. My shooting was also more accurate, particularly my headers. Takes a while (few split seconds) for the L2 arrow to turn on, where as this is so much more responsive on pes2016.
Anyways, there is no doubt pes2013 is a more polished pes. The overall variations in the game (animations, shooting, outcomes, ai etc) were the highlight for me. I guess that's because it was the last game of the ps3 generation. Ok, i know Pes 2014 was the last ps3 only pes, but for me it wasn't a ps3 game. The ps3 just didn't have the power to handle it or the programming was rushed - hence all the frame rate issues particularly on the cut scenes. I think would have been better suited to ps4. Just to finish on pes2013 though.. I have to say I really like that blur effect that some people have dissed. There was something about the colours and visuals used on pes2010-pes2013 that I loved. Looked heaps better than the new visuals introduced in pes14. So I liked pes2013, but would have liked it so much more if the player physics were better. This and the running animations.. just looks so awkward. Just looks so robotic, and there is no sense of acceleration in the running. You know .. the real leg pump action u saw in the ps2 version of the game, where although there were limited animations, the players actually looked like they were sprinting when you held down r1 or double tapped r1. Everything else, the manual passing and response time etc, was great in pes2013.
Pes2014.. for me best looking animation wise. Particularly the demo versions (there were 3 demos I think.. and one was a leak.. still have em all on my ps3). Played them the other day. As everyone knows the issue was the response time. Interestingly enough, when the final version came out, I remember that, yes the response times were slightly fixed, but this was in expense of some of the animations. Yeah, it seems they took away some of the animation transitions (frames) to fix the response times, hence making the animation sequences quicker, but less smoother as a result. That's why the demo looks good (smoother than the original), but plays bad. Also I remember when pes14 actually came out, there was a slowdown issue when too many players where in the box... hence I always played in free training 11 v11, as this was the best way to play pes14. The final few patches fixed this issue however introduced overpowered shooting. Btw, best way to play pes14 is via pc as its in 1080p (+ sweetfx for colour enhancement)looks so much better than ps3 720p version. Shooting around in free training mode, in full manual, makes me think that this game has one of the best ball physics of any of the pes's. The sound of the contact with ball adds to this as its different to pes15/16.
Im gonna skip pes15, as I think pes16 is an improved version. Although ive loved the game for many months, im the same as most of you, discovering the many negatives that even edits wont fix - the big one: total lack of variation particularly with finishing. Realistically itd be at about 10% of what you'd see in a game like pes5/pes6. I have to say though, the reason ive enjoyed pes2016 so much is the fact that technically its a very good game. By that i mean the response, and well you can control your players including the manual passing and shooting. Long balls, crossing, and yeah even dribbling (despite the animations in gradual increments of speed) are a joy control-wise. Fix the variation issues(implement the variations seen in previous version eg. pes3,5,6,13), the computer ai (implement varied real life defence and attack strategies), foul outcomes (pes5,6 and13 were perfect), and finally some animations (running/sprinting as well as proper follow throughed side footed passing/shooting), and then we'll have a winner.
finally, just wanted to share which games I though had the better flow. I know you have all the patch versions of pes5/6 on pc, and yeah they are great - pes5 particularly has a great momentum about it. Ball bobbles in passing, where as its very flat on the ground in pes6 - slowing the momentum a bit. But, I have to say for me the ps2 versions flow the best, particularly the winning eleven versions. WE2007Club Championship was one of the best for me..basically the most updated version of pes6 there was. It came out just after we10JL. In terms of building on pes6 though, I have to say for me the most complete version ever was..... WE2009JL.. not sure how many of guys played this, but it had amazing variations. WE2010JL was ok, but for some reason there was an introduction of slowdown in the box... didn't occur in we2009JL. after this we2011,2012/13/14 were pretty much all the same.. all just updated kits etc, but no real change, and all having the slowdown in the box at various times.
Btw, Id also like to mention the wii versions of pes. Quite a bit different to the ps2 versions. Similar in some ways, particularly the way the games flowed (nice), but pes2011/12/13 incorporated 360 movement for the first time. Actually more like 16way instead of 8. I wouldn't say the wii versions were better than the earlier ps2 versions (some people do), but they did have a similar flow and weighty feel that the ps2 versions offered. The variation in ai as well as ball physics are the things I particularly loved about these versions.
really went off on a tangent there..
Well it very much sums up this year how good PES 2016 has been really.
