Just played about two hours of the demo, and I have to say, I can't do this anymore, this is not a proper video game.
Before the inevitable "you must be playing a different demo than...." comes out, just let me assure everyone that I am, indeed, playing the very same demo as everybody else.
The problem that is far too unacceptable at this point: direct the left analog stick *without* the assistance of any other button; result? The ball carrier actually starts moving across the pitch....
The problem that too many people fail to see, is that when directing the left analog stick *without* the assistance of any other button is enough for the ball carrier to move across the pitch, it means that your actual ability as a gamer cannot actually affect the success-ratio of dribbling, because it is impossible to actually determine the direction of dribbling, which means that the actual success-ratio of dribbling can only really be affected and determined by the stats.
Evidence of the mentioned fact, is more than blatantly evident in online play, where newbies can easily beat experienced players, by simply playing with Real Madrid and exploiting the stats of star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of course, when defending, we still need to press a COM pressure button, just so that the computer can do something that the computer should do automatically in the first place; yet, can you determine the actual direction of a standing tackle? Or do you just double-tap the short passing button and the standing tackle magically happens?
And when attacking, we still need to release the R1 sprint whenever we get close enough to a defender, because if we hold the R1 button we will crash against the defender (potentially loosing the ball); yet, when you think about it, do you really determine the direction of dribbling? Or do you simply direct the left analog stick in zigzag?
Bare in mind that directing the left analog stick also determines movement across the pitch as well as the direction of passing, therefore making it an impossibility for the left analog stick to determine something as precise as dribbling: ball positioned between both feet, positioned on the outside of the right foot, on the inside of the left foot, etc. The D-PAD system is not capable of such precision and detail.
Too many gimmicks: you need to press and hold the L2 button + press and release the passing button, in order to perform "manual" passes.... Why do I need to press the L2 button? Why can't I have the option of the computer automatically holding the L2 button down all the time, so that all the passes are "manual" passes?
Why do I need to release the R1 sprint button in order to not crash against a defender? Yet I do not need to determine the direction of the actual dribble?
Why do I need to press the COM pressure button just so that the computer does something that the computer should do automatically in the first place? Yet I do not need to determine the direction and the distance of the standing tackle?
Why do I need to press and hold the R2 button + press and hold the short passing button, in order to trigger a specific defensive "squared-up" animation? Why can't the computer automatically trigger the animation whenever the ball carrier gets close enough to the defender?
Or do you believe that pressing and holding the R2 button + pressing and holding the short passing button wherever the ball carrier gets close enough, actually requires skill? Or do you perhaps think that releasing the R1 sprint button whenever you are close enough to a defender, actually requires skill? Or that pressing and holding the L2 button + pressing and releasing the passing button, requires skill?
All unnecessary button combos, designed to hide the fact that you cannot actually determine the direction of dribbling, nor the direction of the standing tackle. PES is scripted in precisely the area where it should not be scripted, and PES is "manual" in precisely the areas that do not require any skill. The speed at which the ball carrier runs with the ball should be 90% scripted (it already is anyways), reducing speed should be 90% scripted (it currently is 100% manual), whereas the direction of dribbling and the direction of tackling should be 100% manual.
That would ensure, that even if you have Cristiano Ronaldo with the ball at his feet, that there would be a method to the game, it would be impossible to consistently dribble past defenders by simply directing the left analog stick in zigzag, there would be a method:
* direct the left analog stick towards the north (as far towards the north as the left analog stick can go) + press and release the short passing button: determines the direction and the distance of a body feint.
* direct the left analog stick towards the north (slightly towards the north) + press and release the long pass button: determines the direction and the distance of moderate dribbling.
* direct the left analog stick towards the north (neither slightly nor as far as it can go towards the north) + press and release the through pass button: determines the direction of aggressive dribbling.
* press and release the R1 button: as always, would be the print button, but it would now work as a "power bar" system, which means that it would be scripted to a great extent, but not as scripted as the current R1 sprint system.
* direct the left analog stick without the assistance of the shot button: would not determine a change of direction.
* the shooting button would be the button for determining the direction of movement through space; whereas the R1 button would be the sprint, and would not affect the direction of running, only the speed of at which the player runs with the ball.
* this would make it possible to use the 360 degrees of movement of the left analog stick, in order to determine dribbling direction, whilst running towards a given direction: for example, it would be possible to be running towards the east, and at the same time direct the left analog stick towards the west in order to determine the direction of a dribble or feint, without the necessity of affecting or determining the direction of running (thus running and dribbling would become independent elements).
* press and release the L1 button after each pass is made: the passing buttons, as well as the shot button, work for passing and shooting the ball, as opposed to functioning as dribbling buttons. Or press and hold the L1 button + press any of the buttons that are used for passing an shooting the ball, would do the exact same thing.
That's intuitive, that's easy, but most importantly, that's a method; not only would the direction and distance of the dribble or feint be crucial factors, but also the timing. It is not difficult to imagine a one vs one battle between the ball carrier and the defender: the ball carrier pulling off trademark body feints in an effort to compromise the defender, touching the ball but only slightly in an effort to compromise the defender, and the defender trying not to bite into feint, waiting for the precise moment to execute the tackle.
As a result of having more control over dribbling and tackling, it would be necessary for other aspects (that are currently "manual") to be almost completely scripted. In fact, many aspects of dribbling itself, would need to be scripted to a great extent (in order to give you more control over dribbling), but the important point, is that ability would be far more important than statistics yet without undermining the importance of the stats; player individuality? Three times better due to obvious reasons.
The R2 slow dribble is not necessary, it is something that should be completely determined by the computer; reducing speed, in most cases should be determined by the computer, with only a few scenarios forcing your input; COM pressing should not require your input as a player; you should not need to hold the R2 button + press and hold the short passing button simply to trigger an animation that the computer should trigger automatically whenever the ball carrier gets close enough to the defender; "manual" passing should be possible without the necessity of holding the L2 button, etc, etc.
At the end of the day, when the game plays like this: run, run, run, release the R1 button, press and hold the R2 button, direct the left analog stick in zigzag, then suddenly release the R2 button, and quickly after that press the R1 sprint, and then run, run, run, pass the ball, receive the return pass, run, run, shot, goal..... When the game plays like that, with no real method to neither dribbling nor man-marking, you are essentially playing an RPG game, because dribbling accuracy will be in full function (and completely out of your control) irrespective of how good or bad you are at the game.
That for me has become an intolerable flaw, I cannot enjoy the same old formula anymore, after more than a decade of doing the rounds, I can say that I cannot squeeze any more entertainment out of that D-PAD formula. A game with such limited range of possibilities, a game where directing the left analog stick *without* the assistance of any other button is enough to trigger movement across the pitch as well as determine the direction of the pass, a game where any newbie can defeat an experienced player by simply exploiting the stats of Cristiano Ronaldo, it's too "linear" and one dimensional in design, I can't say I genuinely enjoy it anymore.
Bottom line: I just want to play a video game, where I can actually use the stats, where I can actually determine the success-ratio of the stats without undermining the importance of the stats, as opposed to watch how the stats override my input as a player.
PES13 has nothing to offer in that respect, and for that reason I will not buy the finished product. PES13 is not bad at what it does, but I've just gotten enough of that type of play. Now my only other option is FIFA13, and if it doesn't offer anything in that respect, then I guess this is another year without footy sims. Shame, but there are plenty of other options.
For the record, I think that PES11, before any of the post-release patches, was the best PES game of this gen, in my opinion.
and I have never really played an NHL game so can't comment there.
