I've had the game for almsot a week, just finished my first master league season, and out of interest, does anyone actually like the single player gameplay? Like, find it more fun thatn WE8:LE? I know the game is great in multiplayer, but after one full season of 15 minute games, I'm not convinced I'm up for a second (and not just cause ML is virtually identical to last year).
CPU cheats are far worse than in the previous versions. You cannot pressure them from the side, and from behind is a foul everytime. Which woulnd't be a problem, except that they can challenge from any angle, and your players will stumble and lose the ball. I play with United, and Rooney can't stand up to a single challenge, last time I checked he was a fairly hefty lad. Plus speed ratings have no bearing on the game. Your players are simply slower than the computers, regardless of who they are, and you will be beaten to loose balls/caught up on the break.
I think I've worked out how Konami have implemented the more 'random touch' defence, ie deflections through the roof. Your passes and shots actually go towards the opposing players. I've slowed down replays where a clear through ball opportunity was presented, watched as my player goes to play a ball to my open attacker, and instead plays is just to the side of the defender. And so it clips the defender and wow, isn't that realistic. I have a sneaking suspicion shots are the same. I've yet to score with a normal shot from 1 on 1 situation. Every single shot has hit the keeper (other than chips). And that is using the R2 button of course, because without it you might as well not bother shooting from within the box.
I loved WE8:LE because you scored once in a lifetime goals. You'd burn a defender look up, chip to your striker and he'd have volley it in. I haven't had a single one of those in this entire season. Not just because Konami clearly never even tested the L1 + triangle through ball which is utterly useless from within the oppositions half. Its more because the only way to score is to sit around the edge of the area, wait for an opening and crack a 30 yard shot. I've scored more goals from outside the area than in. And I was damn good at the previous versions, won master league's on 5/6*s regularly. But I can't feed my attackers because they react slower than the defence, and without a chip I can't really get them the ball anyway. Plus when they do get the ball they'll just be somehow taken off of it, no matter what the situation.
I'm happy for all of those who only play multiplayer, I agree the game is great in that respect. But it seems as though Konami forgot all of us lonely players, and have created, IMO of course, the worst single player experience of the PS2 era, possibly all of them (i've only palyed since WE6, so can't really say earlier). Add to that the $130 I paid for the game (with best shipping, import duty, handling) I kind of wish I'd waited. Here's to hoping they improve the engine for PES5!
