It seems to me the AI is smarter, which makes the game harder. It's harder to pass by them when dribbling and to tackle them when defending (also because now the ref actually calls fouls). I've downgraded from Superstar to Top Player and the AI still seems harder to beat than in last year's Superstar... What do you think?
Is the game harder this year or is it me?
- Thread starter pEst410
- Start date
Definitely harder this year AI makes it harder for you to score, and actually they frustrate you holding on for a point not really trying to score against you. I notice this in the Serie A a lot the smaller teams will just sit in looking for a nil nil very annoying but realistic.
It's a combination of things.
1) Goalkeepers have improved.
2) AI is now very good with their defensive positioning. They hardly leave any gaps and always double up to cover their team mate...ie if you beat the marker and cut inside, there will be someone else to cover him so you can't have a free run or free shot.
3) both standing tackles and sliding challenges require more precise timing to be successful.
1) Goalkeepers have improved.
2) AI is now very good with their defensive positioning. They hardly leave any gaps and always double up to cover their team mate...ie if you beat the marker and cut inside, there will be someone else to cover him so you can't have a free run or free shot.
3) both standing tackles and sliding challenges require more precise timing to be successful.
I've done 4 games so far, 9 minutes long in Top Player, normal speed (speed seems just right this year), won all by 1-0 only! Last year I would have got 2 or 3 goals in Superstar, -1 speed! May have to increase game time to get more realistic scores of 2 or 3 goals as the norm...
And yes, it's a pleasure! I haven't started a Master League yet but this is shaping up to really be an outstanding game.
And yes, it's a pleasure! I haven't started a Master League yet but this is shaping up to really be an outstanding game.
Ok, well after much testing I think I've found something that works for me...
Last year:
Superstar
-1 speed
9 minutes
Manual Shooting
What I was doing so far this year:
Superstar, then Top Player
0 speed
9 minutes
Basic Shooting
What I've settled on now:
Professional
-1 speed
9 minutes
Basic shooting
I find Professional gives me the most realistic player contact. I can muscle adversaries off the ball. In Top Player and Superstar it always seems the adversaries can do that to me but I can only barely ever do the same to them. Feels the body strength is unbalanced. That's the main difference I notice.
I'd been playing this year with 0 speed because it feels the best ever but again as in the previous years, lowering it to -1 gives me a more tactical game. And Professional at 0 speed feels crazy fast and unrealistic, at -1 it feels great! I also tried in Top Player to lower speed to -1 but got no real improvement.
I tried increasing game duration to 10, 12 and 15 minutes but didn't get much improvement in goals scored, although I got a lot more shots in some matches.
I'm still getting only the 1 goal per game though. I also feel (maybe I'm wrong) that basic shooting this year is not as guided as before, it's somewhere between last year's basic and manual. You have to aim better.
Last year:
Superstar
-1 speed
9 minutes
Manual Shooting
What I was doing so far this year:
Superstar, then Top Player
0 speed
9 minutes
Basic Shooting
What I've settled on now:
Professional
-1 speed
9 minutes
Basic shooting
I find Professional gives me the most realistic player contact. I can muscle adversaries off the ball. In Top Player and Superstar it always seems the adversaries can do that to me but I can only barely ever do the same to them. Feels the body strength is unbalanced. That's the main difference I notice.
I'd been playing this year with 0 speed because it feels the best ever but again as in the previous years, lowering it to -1 gives me a more tactical game. And Professional at 0 speed feels crazy fast and unrealistic, at -1 it feels great! I also tried in Top Player to lower speed to -1 but got no real improvement.
I tried increasing game duration to 10, 12 and 15 minutes but didn't get much improvement in goals scored, although I got a lot more shots in some matches.
I'm still getting only the 1 goal per game though. I also feel (maybe I'm wrong) that basic shooting this year is not as guided as before, it's somewhere between last year's basic and manual. You have to aim better.
Yes, and it's about time.
This game was always about exploiting the AI's flaws.
Now the AI exploits you.
It's smarter. More dynamic. And can adjust on the fly. Rather than make the same mistakes over and over again.
It's amazing. Very well designed. Best football simulation ever made.
Mini review
For what seems like the first time ever in the history of football games the CPU defends as a team and as a unit and it seems like it does adapt and react on the fly depending on how you're playing at any given time. This and the improvement in goalkeepers is the big difference from last years game in my opinion. The CPU defending and its intelligence is also the big draw to the game instead of FIFA 17, where its still very much one single CPU player chasing you around for the ball, like a dog chasing a bone.
The CPU can press as a team and so can you. Pressing off the ball is actually really satisfying. If it works. If not and you commit too many players to the press, you could be efficiently punished at the other end. You can play LIKE Liverpool do in reality and you can be caught out LIKE Liverpool do in reality also. In fact you can play like any team does in football. Can you do this so much on FIFA? You can try but it dont look anywhere near as good!
The CPU defence is harder to penetrate this year, if you start playing possesion football in the opponents half or in and around their box, they will sit deep in a low block making it very hard to pass forwards, dribble a way through or create space for a chance at goal. They will also get wise to certain players traits or your playstyle. If you think you can keep cutting in from the wing with a pacey player and shoot on your stronger foot, the CPU will adapt and double up on that player with a player covering behind to make it difficult to cut inside, sending you down the line.
The CPU's variety of play WITH the ball is also a highlight for the game. If they sit back in low block like I explained earlier, they will look to hit you on the break with pace and longer balls if you ever lose the ball when they're in that system. They will also utilize players strengths and play to their abilities and size. On a few occasions I've seen the CPU target my fullbacks, sometimes straight from kick off with a direct longball in behind my defence between centreback and fullback. This is all very unique to Pro Evo and a big selling point over FIFA 17.
Another thing i've noticed is how your front foot defenders step out of defence to attack and win the ball. For instance you're playing against Man United and Ibrahimovic as Liverpool and they play a ball from midfield into Ibrahimovic's feet. Matip or Lovren will step forwards out of defence and try to take the ball away before Ibrahimovic can get a touch, lay it off or turn.
Gameplay is pretty much bulletproof. It shines in this area above all. Its improved in one of the key areas where Pro Evo has struggled for eternity. Goalkeepers. They are a lot better. Maybe not as good as FIFA in terms of animations. But they are the best they have ever been in a Pro Evo. I know that for certain.
Its actually very realistic in the small details of football. Something which FIFA falls wide of the mark on. It falls short in the core aspects of football and how its plays and moves on the pitch.
The only thing needed is to put an option file on the game.
When you've done this I dont believe anyone can claim that FIFA 17 is the better FOOTBALL game. The things a FIFA player would hit Pro Evo with a big stick over for years are no longer issues or excuses now.
Option files are the leveller. But the gameplay of Pro Evo 2017 speaks for itself. With or without licenses.
If you put the time and effort into getting a option file on your game, it will transform how it looks. But how it plays remains.
For what seems like the first time ever in the history of football games the CPU defends as a team and as a unit and it seems like it does adapt and react on the fly depending on how you're playing at any given time. This and the improvement in goalkeepers is the big difference from last years game in my opinion. The CPU defending and its intelligence is also the big draw to the game instead of FIFA 17, where its still very much one single CPU player chasing you around for the ball, like a dog chasing a bone.
The CPU can press as a team and so can you. Pressing off the ball is actually really satisfying. If it works. If not and you commit too many players to the press, you could be efficiently punished at the other end. You can play LIKE Liverpool do in reality and you can be caught out LIKE Liverpool do in reality also. In fact you can play like any team does in football. Can you do this so much on FIFA? You can try but it dont look anywhere near as good!
The CPU defence is harder to penetrate this year, if you start playing possesion football in the opponents half or in and around their box, they will sit deep in a low block making it very hard to pass forwards, dribble a way through or create space for a chance at goal. They will also get wise to certain players traits or your playstyle. If you think you can keep cutting in from the wing with a pacey player and shoot on your stronger foot, the CPU will adapt and double up on that player with a player covering behind to make it difficult to cut inside, sending you down the line.
The CPU's variety of play WITH the ball is also a highlight for the game. If they sit back in low block like I explained earlier, they will look to hit you on the break with pace and longer balls if you ever lose the ball when they're in that system. They will also utilize players strengths and play to their abilities and size. On a few occasions I've seen the CPU target my fullbacks, sometimes straight from kick off with a direct longball in behind my defence between centreback and fullback. This is all very unique to Pro Evo and a big selling point over FIFA 17.
Another thing i've noticed is how your front foot defenders step out of defence to attack and win the ball. For instance you're playing against Man United and Ibrahimovic as Liverpool and they play a ball from midfield into Ibrahimovic's feet. Matip or Lovren will step forwards out of defence and try to take the ball away before Ibrahimovic can get a touch, lay it off or turn.
Gameplay is pretty much bulletproof. It shines in this area above all. Its improved in one of the key areas where Pro Evo has struggled for eternity. Goalkeepers. They are a lot better. Maybe not as good as FIFA in terms of animations. But they are the best they have ever been in a Pro Evo. I know that for certain.
Its actually very realistic in the small details of football. Something which FIFA falls wide of the mark on. It falls short in the core aspects of football and how its plays and moves on the pitch.
The only thing needed is to put an option file on the game.
When you've done this I dont believe anyone can claim that FIFA 17 is the better FOOTBALL game. The things a FIFA player would hit Pro Evo with a big stick over for years are no longer issues or excuses now.
Option files are the leveller. But the gameplay of Pro Evo 2017 speaks for itself. With or without licenses.
If you put the time and effort into getting a option file on your game, it will transform how it looks. But how it plays remains.
I agree, the defence has definitely improved and that causes both me to struggle to score and the AI. So most of my games in Top Player have ended 1-0. In Professional I've managed to score twice a couple of times but then it's very unlikely the AI will score at all... Trying to find a balance with this... Basically for me what would work best now would be my attack in Professional (scoring a couple) and my Defence in Superstar (taking in one) 
What game length are you using?
just moved it up to 11 minutes that little bit extra gives me more efforts at goal, last 5 games played on 11 mins 2-1,1-1,2-0,2-1,1-0.
I have to revise my position. The actual PES2017 game is a little bit easier than the demo. I find it slightly easier to make tackles in the full game....and the AI opponent players are marginally less precise with their tackling. In the demo I was really struggling to tackle cleanly. Gave away lots of free kicks. Now I'm winning the ball cleanly outright a little more. Maybe I've just gotten better hahha.
You're getting better take some credit :laugh: