I've been playing WE9 for a few days now (since Friday) and I'm kinda surprised about it.
I like the game, let that be clear. But I do have the feeling that I have to relearn the game when it comes to dribbling and passing... I think it's more realistic though, but I do have to adjust my playing style. So it'll take a little bit of time before I'm able to play on the level that I've been playing PES4.
So my experiences based on 10/15+ games against another human player (usually AC Milan versus AC Milan) on 5*'s can be found beneath.
I never play ML and only play friendly matches against the computer if I want to practice. I usually play just against my friends, because that's the most fun to me. And usually we play w/ the standard clubs or countries (AC Milan, Brazil, Barcelona, Arsenal, France, Real Madrid). So now you know my background as to what type of usage I get from PES/WE.
So the things I've noticed:
Overall:
+ The balance between dribbling and defending is much better. In PES4 it was too easy to dribble past defenders. Now, it's still possible, but you'll have to anticipate your opponents moves even more!
+ Overall I feel that you have more control over your players. For example: pressuring my opponents backs w/ my 3 forwards is much more useful, intercepting a pass is easier.
+ Defensive AI is a lot better.
+ You can really notice the difference between a good player and a bad player. E,g,: defenders are really slow to turn on the spot, as opposed to e.g. Kaka whos a lot quicker.
+ Offside is implemented so that you'll only be offside if the player touches the ball. A really good implementation in my opinion! This means that you can stop a player in his tracks if you see he is actually offside and use another player to run after the ball!
+ Advantage rule is implemented better than in PES4. Getting a card or seeing an injured player taken off will occur after advantage has not been used. Advantage rule is so much better.
+ Injuries will not only occur after a sliding tackle, but also by straining a muscle after shooting, or after being pushed over w/ an X nudge. Inzaghi is more prone to injuries than he has been before
+ Players don't turn on the spot anymore. There's a bit more delay. You can use this to your advantage in both offensive terms (know that a defender can't turn on the spot) and defensive turns (a player w/ the ball can't immediately go past ya).
- Keepers are not very good. Even Dida has problems w/ shots from outside the box. He'll usually knock 'em corner and not grab the ball w/ two hands.
Running/dribbling:
+ A lot harder then in PES4!!! When you turn 180 degrees, they skid a little bit because they're not able to stop immediately, especially when running w/ R1. So this means that players don't stop the ball immediately when you turn.
+ Using R2 gives you a LOT more control, compared to dribbling w/ out R1 or R2. Big difference means other usage. Default dribbling is a lot harder now (seems as if players make one more step while dribbling).
+ You can't just run, run, run anymore when you have the ball. You have to find a new balance between running w/ R1 and just walking around. The default sidestep w/out R2 helps in this.
+ New controls when receiving the ball w/ R1 or R2. Receiving w/ R1 means knocking the ball forward (as was the case w/ R2 in PES4). Receiving w/ R2 means control (as was the case w/ standard receiving in PES4).
-/+ Some players will have to relearn how to walk/run w/ the ball and how to do tricks. For me this is something which I'll have to relearn. This control system is more consistent w/ the buttons (R1 being really fast running, so also faster acceptance and R2 giving more control).
Passing:
+ More realistic passing. Not every X pass ends up in your players feet. You have to position yourself really well and pay attention to where your opponents are to give a good pass.
+ Through balls w/ Triangle are also a bit faster in my opinion. Use wisely.
- L1 + Triangle passes are hard to use. In PES4 I used it quite often, but in WE9 the passes go way too hard and end up in the keepers hands.
- Triple tap w/ O doesn't work that often anymore
But I found it too easy in PES4 actually.
- Throwing the ball w/ the goalie isn't that safe anymore. You'll have to watch out w/ throwing the ball because it'll often lead to a throw to a player who's covered by a forward who'll be able to take the ball quite easily.
Heading:
+ Much more control over heading. Using R2 is much more useful.
+ I feel that heading is more precise. I can now control more which way my player will head the ball w/ X.
Shooting:
+ Shooting from outside the box is much easier. You can really blast 'em in the goal if there are no opponents around. In PES4 I almost never shot from outside the box, but because it usually ended up in the scramble or against one of my own players.
+ Lobs (w/ L1) are much better to control. If you only tap it like in PES4 the ball goes really slow and low and definitely in the hands of the keeper. You can use the bar just like a normal shot which means you have to press Square longer.
Free kicks:
+ More as in PES3, perhaps even EASIER than PES3... Way easier then PES4. PES4 was too difficult in my opinion, so tackling somebody and giving up a free kick wasn't that much of a problem. But now you have to be a lot more careful again.
+ New control system (selecting a player w/ R2 and passing to your shooter w/ L1 + X) is a lot better than the controls in PES4.
+ Bar when passing short w/ X. Now your opponent will not know whether you're gonna give a high pass w/ O or just a short pass w/ X.
- When getting a free kick around the midfield, your players will not be standing near the opponents box. They'll hang in between both the box and the midfield. So a O pass for a header isn't really possible. You have to wait longer for them to walk to the box.
Corners:
+/- Same as in PES4 in my opinion. But again the bar is seen when giving a low ball w/ X.
Defending:
+ Best ever controls! I feel like I control the player, as opposed to the control system in PES4. If I'm now running behind somebody, I"ll know that pressing X will lead to a soft tackle/nudge w/ the player falling down and getting a free kick, but w/out a yellow/red card!
- Using X leads too easy to penalties and sometimes makes your player slide tackle. A bit too much perhaps.
-/+ Some players will have to relearn how to defend. Pressing and holding X will lead to a lot of free kicks given which can be frustrating. YOu'll have to learn to walk near your player and only use X when in front of the player. For me it hasn't been much of a problem, but for my friend it has been.
Throw-ins:
- Same bad control system as in PES4. I liked the PES3 system better where you controlled the player in the field and not the thrower.
Graphics:
+ Much more detail in movement. New moves added (e.g. tapping the ball away from a defender w/ the outside of the boot)
+ More detail in player-faces (not that I care or anything).
+/- Better looking menu's, but I could not care less. It's all about the gameplay in my opinion.
Sounds:
+/- Can't really compare it to PES4, since there's Japanese commentary. Sound effects are about the same (haven't noticed any big improvements or anything).
CONCLUSION:
I think Konami have made a lot of differences in the game, especially when it comes down to playing the offensive game. I think it's a BIG improvement (more realistic) over PES4, but this DOES mean that some people will have to relearn the game. The improvements on the defensive end are also huge. So there's a good balance between offense and defense I think.
I can't make a good judgement of course, since I haven't played the game as often as PES4, but for now it seems like a good improvement.
But don't think that you can pick this game up and play on the same level as PES4. You'll to put some time and effort in it, to adjust to the new controls...
