Played a few games as Napoli this evening after feeling like I am getting just a tiny bit better and both understanding and utilising dribbling. Fuck me! Hamsik and Insigne in this game are possibly the two greatest examples of realistic player individuality in ANY football game ever created. Sure there is plenty more out there that may inspire similar feeling, like when I watched the Dutch bring on Robben for a cameo against my Croatia last night and while he never got the chance to do that move of his, he was playing just like him and had me defending with greater uncertainty than I am already known to do. Terrific stuff. Just amazingly rewarding both visually and in gameplay "feels" when that stuff happens. I know PES has always had the edge in this department, and say that as a 41 year old who goes waaaaay back with this series (and others) to the point I literally changed how week nights without the other halves back in the day would go down with my circle of friends.
If there are 22-31 year olds out there who love their footy videogames like me and my mates did during that time between 1997-2006 specifically, and are won over by PES as opposed to FIFA, then I am going to say something I haven't said when considering football videogames of late: I might be a tad jealous. I say that as life moves on so me and those close friends of mine, while still great friends to this day, have other commitments these days (as do I) meaning such evenings are rare... and we maybe don't partake in the consumption of a certain recreational substance that would just make it all seem so much more a zen-like experience playing PES back then.
At least this game (for the moment: I feel like I need to say that just in case it all goes horribly wrong) has me both enjoying a football videogame again and has me think back to those times and arriving at the conclusion that we made an excellent life choice back then. I can look back at those classic PES' and while they probably still are the best due to the era, the time allowed, and environment I would play those games in, this game is doing a damn fine of job allowing to me to appreciate how good football videogames can still be.
If nothing else, if this game holds its form as it is currently then maybe if Konami or EA completely fuck it up from here on in there will be a game from the modern era that can prove a goto.
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.. photo doesn't lie.
