Had the game a whole day so far and very good impressions and some of the same concerns regarding A.I but nothing that i don't feel ruins everything for me.
Firstly, A.I in football games since PES 6 has been lacking - in FIFA/PES there's clear patterns of behaviour that fall under the very unrealistic and ruins immersion, we're in a day and age where because games look stunning the AI behaviour sticks out like a sore thumb, so simply put there is a long way for both games to go to recreate proper varied ai opposition without making it feel "cheaty".
I've had some really enjoyable games on top player especially where it seems the games have real ebb and flow and the AI change their tactics depending on what you do, i.e if you cross alot you'll see "swarm the box" becomes a defensive tactic, pretty impressive.
On the other hand around 60 per cent of the AI crosses today or more than half have been low, however these can be easily defended with use of triangle and also controlling a second player. Since i've become a bit wiser to this, the AI has been adapting somewhat and putting in higher balls or simply not crossing.
Headers - i'm going to say this, the most satisfying part this year is scoring headers there's a real skill to it, you have to use timing, super cancel at times and really aim your cross and have an idea of where your striker is. We've become too used to simply pressing cross and hoping for the best as they were easy goals on PES17 and 18, if you can get good at headers it will take people by surprise online and also the AI. High crosses are a good tactic to use if you time them well, also knowing the pace of your cross can often be key to a bullet header or a floaty one. It's also not limited to simply having a target man, i've scored headers with Danny Ings, Harry Kane, Messi, Nathan Redmond, Mark Noble, Oriel Romeu - all sorts of builds of players! - the variety in the headers is stunning. AI marking is MUCH stronger this year, and also it pays to get a yard on the defender with a feint or trick to surprise the defence.
The keepers - some come off their line, but most don't when one-on-one it is a clear bug, and one which i am hopeful will be fixed. To be fair i haven't scored too many one on ones so it hasn't completely ruined things for me.
Online - no lag and also in exhibition matches i played Anderlecht, Celtic, Lazio, Napoli, a real mix and i played as West Ham and Southampton, so nice to not be paired with Barca/Real/Liverpool or massive teams.. - also i love how if you slow the game down it really throws people.
The ball physics this year are the best i've ever seen in a game, and the players have so much weight to them, stats really matter, the individuality is brilliant as each player feels different.
Negatives - lack of stadiums and Konami stadiums are poor, can't they recreate more smaller grounds!
- Menus - commentary - presentation - offline modes (Master League needs a revamp! and BAL)
Atmosphere - sounds the same since PES 6 frankly
- edit mode needs more options
- exhibition mode, more weather needed and net types etc
- broadcast camera wtf is with the zoom in that needs to go
- commentary, no change same old lines "when the body gets tired the brain goes with it" and i was playing as Real Madrid VS Everton and the commentator said the player that is key is Seamus bloody Coleman!
Overall the gameplay has gone up a notch - work on a couple of ai issues low crosses and keepers and i'd be happy but Konami HAVE to improve the easily fixable negatives i've mentioned. If they have licenses for leagues why can't they have more stadiums!