What is everyones preferred method of control; assisted, manual, or semi-assisted?
I was playing on assisted, which is (if I'm correct) the method provided in PES, and upon switching to semi-assited (and manual were semi-assited was not an option) it was a world of hurt, as well as a world of change. What that change did highlight, though, was how "on the rails" PES has been, and still is. In PES 2009 and on the PES 2010 demo you simply have to flick your analogue loosely in the right direction and the computer does the rest for you. The computer can even put your pass to the incorrect player simply because they are calculated to be the better option, even though the pass you wanted to play was one hundred percent on.
I was specifically aiming my pass to go x amount of yards behind the player to recieve it, and it was still being put right to his feet. The same attempt in FIFA 10 (on semi-assisted or manual) will actually go x amount of yards behind the player on the receiving end of said pass, meaning it brings gamer skill into the frame much, much more.
Perhaps there has been/is an option for this on PES 2009/the PES2010 demo?
The one area where semi-assited and manual leaves me a little confused is in regard to how player stats then come into it. Does the gulf in class then become more blurred between players like Xavi, one of the games finest passers, and Momo Sissoko, a player who can't pass for the life of him. If we, the gamer, have more control over directing our passes, are player stats still brought into the equation to determine just how accurate, crisp, and properly weighted the passes shall be. I would hate to lose player individuality as such.
Then there is semi-assisted and/or manual shooting. That made the passing look like a walk in the park!