PES 2015 Veteran's review

[Culecontrol]

There have been quite a few statements bandied around in relation to describing this game, for example...."A genuine return to form" or "Launching the counter attack" (Sorry John) ...and so on.

But in reality…

.....no sorry it's not a return to this.... or that...

It's just bad, really bad - ok I think we can agree that PES 14 got it wrong on so many levels but at least there is an argument to suggest that there was something new, something to build on. Sadly however, PES 15 is just a big leap back.
After playing for 1 week here is a quick review of the game so far:

At a glance…

The animations are wooden and completely unrealistic, players have to actually micro-stop before turning and there is jittering, and inconsistent movement, the players move in such a slow, clunky manner and the animations simply don’t match what is happening plus the entire game is just so god-awful to look at.

Player movement and control feels like is has been practically removed, because for the most part it feels as though the computer is in charge – In game, response times are so slow that by the time your player reacts you have missed your chance and end up chasing the ball again. Online co-op play feels like this every game and practically every situation, you may as well put the controller down because the computer seems to be controlling 90% of what is going on and those playing are basically fighting over the scraps (oh and everyone seems to want to be a forward...funny that). The passing is a mess, the movement is a mess, the animations are a mess

Someone said before the pitches looked like a cement yard, I would have to agree.


What about the passing? Passing, supposedly revamped?

Through lobs tend to go straight up in the air like a balloon (practically every time - there is no low arc), the low passes are either straight to the player to just in front, doesn't matter which pass you execute, through-ball or normal they both do the same thing – oh I forgot the computer is in control. The shooting has no weight to it (perhaps a homage to the days of PlayStation PES?), and the actual player responsiveness is shocking, change cursor (like PES versions 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 and 14), particularly, but not exclusively, when playing defensively, seems to do nothing until the last third (pssst that would be the computer control). It always seems to miss the player I want to select until the moment has gone (…cc).

I really feel that a genuine opportunity to put things right has been sorely missed. Over more recent years there seems to have been an increasing level of mud throwing between both sets of football game supporters (that being PES and FIFA), however if both actually looked at their own game and demanded more by venting their frustration directly at the developers instead of rival fans they would probably see a greater increase in improvements.

At this point however, I'm rather fed up at how many times both companies (EA and Konami) have gotten it wrong. As I have been playing PES since 1995 (ISS deluxe), I have a soft spot for Konami, but still I feel they keep feeding us rehashed versions of the same game, it feels as though they just keep missing the point and then trying to cover over it with clever marketing ideas "The pitch is ours" etc. Or making claims that they have somehow 'put it right' with the next upcoming instalment. The reality is PES 2015 houses the same problems and same lack of intuitive development that all the previous versions did. Yes, there is developmental progress (graphics, interface, sounds and animations) but there is nothing here that is new, nothing that challenges or empowers the user. Thus, the core problems remain. It still feels like wooden dummies moving and kicking the ball around in an extremely dull and linear fashion. It's like a graphically superior PES 2008, minus the playability. If anything player control has dropped throughout the series with PES 2015 really sinking to an all-time low. Now I understand there are problems with balance and trying to allow all players to have a fair game, but these 'balancing issues' arise from inconsistent scripting that has plagued the series since its move to the PlayStation. Examples of poor scripting include, players not responding at crucial moments, player slowdown down or speeding up, unrealistic ball physics coupled with meaningless controls and overly favourable situational outcomes (ever make amazing consecutive tackles only to see the ball go straight back to the opposition each time making your efforts seem pointless?). So this begs the question, in current football games does gameplay balance and consistency come at the cost of player control and ability-related empowerment? It feels like it. For me that's not good enough, I want control over what I do - complete control. In this game it feels like I am being tunnelled now more than ever.

Looking around at the comments and reviews, I must mention that I am talking about the PC version, a lot are very positive so I say two things, that it's either: 1). The current state of the Gaming industry today (that being you can't actually get an honest review from a big title release), or 2). This is what people actually like these days, which if is the case then I believe standards overall have dropped, and if so then good luck to them.

So many reviews even here are talking about amazing play/passing and this and that about the gameplay. It just makes me wonder who is actually playing these games for if I am right and AI control has increased significantly then the game has simply been dumbed down to allow (oh I’ll just go ahead and say it) stupid people to play.
I don’t have the energy to go into too much detail about the Online system other than to say it’s a complete and utter diabolical shambles, a dark place where idiots dwell, game crashes occur every 1 out of 3 games and nameless players pause and sit being indecisive with your time AND YOU HAVE NO WAY OF QUICKENING UP THE WAITING PROCESS! So basically it is nothing more than a time vortex that consumes your life-force – trust me stay away.


Summary:


Gameplay – Poor, sluggish, ropey, and inconsistent, computer has too much control

Animations – Glitchy and inconsistent

Presentation – This area doesn’t bother me, I prefer the rest but compared to some other games it is rather basic. Then again it’s always been basic.

Music – Not bad if you like current UK teen-pop teen-DJ stuff and/or strange Japanese FX music – I like neither

Affordability – Cost £30.00 here, normally I wouldn’t think that was bad. However, since this game has glaring issues abound not to mention the completely broken online time-consumption vortex then yes it’s very annoying that I paid that amount of what was received.


VERDICT: 6/10 ....Avoid

You said what I had exactly in my mind.

Also, if you notice carefully, Konami has tried its best to manipulate the gameplay in favour of the the AI:

1. When you look for players to pass, they simply hide behind the opponent, thus hinder you from building up your play (which, in any way, doesn't happen in real football).

2. Need I say more, the passing is utter shambles: when you press your side arrow key to a player diagonally front of you, you somehow, end up giving it away to the opponent (now that's completely new? I don't remember this in Pes 2014 or its eralier versions!).

3. When you (defender) pass a short through ball to your backs, the through ball will cruise by him, and by the time he catches up with the pace to retrieve, the next thing you know is it's beyond the sidelines (Really, Konami? :huh: How dumb is that! All the professional footballers playing this game would be laughing hard :laugh: ).

4. The through balls, which was the beauty of playing this game is sadly no more. Now, the throughballs are more like taking a leak in a public bathroom when you are drunk (it always misses the target!).

5. When the keeper rolls the ball out to his back (especially when there's a threat of a striker nearby) it purposefully throws it with exceeding power, where the backs cannot control the ball and ends up opponent strikers' comfort.

6. Well, I could go on and on, but I'll leave it here. At least you know what I mean.



This game is complete devolution of the Pes series, and sadly its heading towards nowhere. It's just survivng by the hype, and huge marketing push from the developers. And trust me, the ones who are saying the "King is Back" have no idea what its like to play a game, especially when you're a long time follower and know absolutely nothing how it works in the real pitch. All they know is select a random formation, advance their strikers like a madman with chillies stuffed in their pants and try hard to score a goal. No way - that's how amateurs play!


To be honest, If somebody mentions me that he/she has invited a very good friend for a dinner, who has designed the lates Pes 2015 game; the moment I see him, I'll stuff a whole carrot down his throat.

That's how pissed I'm with this game. Period.

 

[princo45]

You said what I had exactly in my mind.

Konami has tried its best to manipulate the gameplay in favour of the the AI:


That's how pissed I'm with this game. Period.

It seems to me the whole philosophy of gameplay design of each iteration is a sole focus on how to INCREASINGLY handicap the player and sabotage his control without looking blatantly bad by introducing all sorts of new smokescreens and unnecessary gimmicks show-offs which have turned the game into a frustrating mess.

The level of blatantly, defiantly and unashamedly biased and borderline cheating game mechanics is displayed with more extreme at each iterations.

I could not see why they should design their game in an alternative sophisticated and honest way. If they can get away with it, they will continue to push the envelope on their cheap, obnoxious, annoying cheating game design philosophy and continue to frustrating and taunting the players/consumers.


No honest game play designers worth their salt would overlook all the ridiculous and absurd events which defined decent common sense throughout the always one-sided scripted match.

 

[topkop]

Hi, I never really post on here but I have the game on PC (on professional difficulty) and I love it.

To me, it's about finding the right settings for your computer.

I had to do a lot of research and try out so many different nvidia configs I don't even remember.

I also had to avoid playing at highest resolution. 720p always works very smoothly with no lag and you don't lose too much detail.

It's a bit annoying that the game doesn't work perfectly right out of the box but in the end I got the game I really enjoy so I won't complain much.

I do agree that a few aspects of the game are a bit unrealistic but that doesn't take the fun away for me.

The only 3 things that bother me are com AI always cutting in instead of crossing, com AI attempting a shot from free-kick of any angle and the fact that com AI celebrates a goal even if they're losing 6-1.

I hope tweaking the settings might help you guys enjoy the game more. If not, I hope pes2016 will be more playable to you!

 

[Disc78]

Not played the PC version, but I can say on the PS4 I am enjoying the game immensely.

The last PES game I played was maybe 2005/6, so on returning to 2015 I started on regular difficulty, a month later and a better understanding of the fluid formation I am on superstar difficulty.

I have had to learn to play the game patiently, passing, passing and more passing. I have found a strange formation that works amazingly well, and had to learn to use fluid formations. SO I have a defense one for when I need to close out a game and an offensive one for easy one-sided games or if I am trailing.

Once I learnt all this I have to agree with others here, this game is very realistic. I only ever quit a game if the computer goes into god mode, it did this last night in ML. I needed to win the game to clinch the title with three games remaining. I have my own created (I edited Charlton) team using default (not original) players.

First of the three I was playing Cardiff,(who were in 2nd trailing me by 6 points) at home and I thought great I can be crowned champions at home by beating my closet rivals. It wasn't to be, I started well, went 1-0 up in the first half but they cam back to beat me 2-1. The game was fair and I made errors which lost me the game. Cardiff were now only three points behind with two games remaining and only a goal difference of 7 less than me.

My 2nd to last game was Birmingham, a 1.5 star rated team. from the kick-off Birmingham moved the ball at a speed I have never seen. The player skipped past my player passed it to the striker with a though-ball and I was 1-0 down inside a minute. So my turn to kick-off, I try my passing game, my players barely moved and I lost the ball almost immediately. Again they played 3 or 4 passes and scored. 2-0 down inside 10 minutes. The next goal took a little longer, but not because of my great defending but because the COM kept missing chance after chance. at 24 minutes, they lob the ball over my defense, my goal keeper comes out chests the ball to their striker and he scores. I raged quit...

I will always quit the games where I deem the COM to be absolutely crazy in it's scripting or hampering of my players abilities to the point where a crap team plays like a amphetamine-fueled Barcelona and my better team plays like the have all to been revived from a 10 year coma and have only just remembered how to walk.

I played again and the game was difficult, I ended up with a 1-1 draw but Cardiff lost their game and so I ended up winning the league anyway. I lost my last league game 2-0 and Cardiff ended up 1 point behind me and only 3 goal difference.

This game has it's moments of scripting and God mode. Scripting can be combatted with good tactics,patient build up and a bit of luck. but god-mode is a reset for me.

I agree with people here in saying that this is a realistic game. You cannot skip past an entire team or 3 pass the ball to goal, least not on SS difficulty. And I cannot agree that the game is unresponsive or sluggish. I have scored some very fluid close passing through balls, Arsenal 2004 style goals. I have dribbled past players, and I have won 3 or 4 nil on hardest difficulty.

But for me the learning curve was difficult, and going from top-player to SS really showed me the tactical side of the game. Things like man marking, fluid-formations, passing, not sprinting like a Wildman and overall being patient in the build up play.

I agree with Topkop in that I have yet to see a single cross from the COM, it always skips past and cuts in from the wings. However, with practice I have managed to reduce the amount of times the COM scores from this position.

Maybe it's just the PC version, I don't know, but I do know that when your team clicks, it really clicks. I have had some fantastic feelings from the game, both from winning and losing and that's what keeps me coming back.

 

[JohnBlaster]

I play the PS4 Version and i totally agree with this post!

Well cleared out Mate, couldnt have said better

Cheers

 

[Madzuk]

I am seeing a lot of negativity on here about the game. Can I just say, you are being screwed over as a PC gamer. The real version is the PS4 version, it is absolutely fantastic, and has the option files now. The PC is a last gen port. The marketing you are seeing is for a completely different version of your game which is the ps4 version!