tremolo arm
Registered User
Up until last night I was still unsure which game I would play more this year – FIFA or PES.
As per my observations posted on this site, I could see positives and negatives with both games and I would constantly go back and forth between the two games.
Last night, I decided to slip in one last game on PES just before going to bed. And I chose to do it online. Up until this point I had won 3, tied 2 and lost one game.
The opponent I got drawn against was user called Sonicraic (I don’t typically disclose other users’ identity but I’m sure Sonicraig would not mind me sharing this with the community).
He chose Liverpool (or Merseyside Red or whatever they are called in PES 13) and I chose Napoli.
Let me just say that this game was like nothing I had ever experienced before in football gaming. The guy made a video game look like the real thing. He was spraying balls around, playing a tight possession game and then when the moment was right he would cut in, make a subtle feint move, get me to commit with my defense and he would play a through ball to a winger or striker. I only lost 1:0 but it should have been 4 or 5. Conversely, on defense he played a discipline, pressurizing game, never really letting me come into the game. He was first to the ball on all 50:50 balls and just played a fantastic game of football. After the game I congratulated him and asked if he was playing assisted controls, but he answered that the assist was on 2 and I have a reason to believe him, because the way he was playing (just reading the game well and playing smart – with real life tactics). I often grumble about the lack smart AI and more specifically lack of player runs in PES, but this guy gave a master class lesson in how to take advantage of movement, gaps and unleash deadly player runs. So it is possible – it’s just a question of knoing how and when to do it.
It was so refreshing playing this game, because it really opened my eyes to the myriad of possibilities, subtleties and depth that is PES 13. It verified my belief that, if the game is played the way people like Sonicraig play it, the game will not just play beautifully but will look beautiful too. It’s a question of patience and mastering the tactics, subtle moves and playing smart. What PES does brilliantly is to reward smart football thinking (not attempt risky passes with players with low passing ratings, stick to a chosen tactic, not lose shape, covering gaps, etc.).
FIFA is a good effort this year, but after many years of playing catch up, PES is finally back and this year PES is king. The visuals and overall slickness of FIFA are evident for everyone to see, but the gameplay and the “feeling” of playing football are just not on par with PES and ultimately with FIFA it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.
As per my observations posted on this site, I could see positives and negatives with both games and I would constantly go back and forth between the two games.
Last night, I decided to slip in one last game on PES just before going to bed. And I chose to do it online. Up until this point I had won 3, tied 2 and lost one game.
The opponent I got drawn against was user called Sonicraic (I don’t typically disclose other users’ identity but I’m sure Sonicraig would not mind me sharing this with the community).
He chose Liverpool (or Merseyside Red or whatever they are called in PES 13) and I chose Napoli.
Let me just say that this game was like nothing I had ever experienced before in football gaming. The guy made a video game look like the real thing. He was spraying balls around, playing a tight possession game and then when the moment was right he would cut in, make a subtle feint move, get me to commit with my defense and he would play a through ball to a winger or striker. I only lost 1:0 but it should have been 4 or 5. Conversely, on defense he played a discipline, pressurizing game, never really letting me come into the game. He was first to the ball on all 50:50 balls and just played a fantastic game of football. After the game I congratulated him and asked if he was playing assisted controls, but he answered that the assist was on 2 and I have a reason to believe him, because the way he was playing (just reading the game well and playing smart – with real life tactics). I often grumble about the lack smart AI and more specifically lack of player runs in PES, but this guy gave a master class lesson in how to take advantage of movement, gaps and unleash deadly player runs. So it is possible – it’s just a question of knoing how and when to do it.
It was so refreshing playing this game, because it really opened my eyes to the myriad of possibilities, subtleties and depth that is PES 13. It verified my belief that, if the game is played the way people like Sonicraig play it, the game will not just play beautifully but will look beautiful too. It’s a question of patience and mastering the tactics, subtle moves and playing smart. What PES does brilliantly is to reward smart football thinking (not attempt risky passes with players with low passing ratings, stick to a chosen tactic, not lose shape, covering gaps, etc.).
FIFA is a good effort this year, but after many years of playing catch up, PES is finally back and this year PES is king. The visuals and overall slickness of FIFA are evident for everyone to see, but the gameplay and the “feeling” of playing football are just not on par with PES and ultimately with FIFA it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.
