I have to say a miss. I've been playing ISS since the very first PSX version, and never abandoned it. The last Fifa I played was Fifa 98 on the PSX, and I have never had the urge to try it since.
I have two versions of PES 2008, the PS2 and the PC version. The PS2 version is nothing more than an exact copy of PES6, with updated names and kits. Hence PES 2008 seemed very good and was my primary gaming pasttime in the last months. As I have a pc here worthy of NASA computing, I decided to get the PC version to play with my X360 controller on the PC, and for the first time in oh, 15 years, a PES version disappointed me. In itself it is a good game, however compared to previous installments Konami seriously missed some nails on the board. First of all, you constantly have the idea the computer is in control of the match, not you. I have had total control of a match for 80 minutes until I finally scored, only for the opposition to easily make 1-1 with two fingers up their nose because of a keeper's mistake, a corner (I still have no idea how to defend them), or a freekick from 30m which flies in like a laser guided bomb. And this is where PES2008 fails miserably. In previous installments you made the match, either the opponent was simply better and deserved a win or you were better and won the match, or the sides were evenly matched and you tied. However in PES2008 it seems the AI decides who wins the match, and there is not much you can do about it. All of this made me actually try Fifa 08. Yes. I admit it.
(Admittedly, it didn't take long for me to uninstall it, and move back to PES6.)
In the few weeks I have played PES2008 on the PC I haven't had more than a handful of actual deserved goals conceded. 95% of their goals were from 30m free kicks, keepers fumbling the ball exactly to that single lone striker in between 6 defenders, or corners (seriously, if you have a trick to defending them, do tell.). This makes the whole PES2008 experience a bit thin, and feels like the AI is rubbing his hands wondering how to take you up the chuff this time, every single time you start it up. Let me emphasize, I don't care if the AI scores a brilliantly played out goal and utilizes my weakness in the defense, I can do something about it. I simply however can't stand spending 80 minutes trying to score the goal that will open up the game, only for me to wonder who in my team got bribed for making that huge blunder to concede the 1-1 in the 89th minute, against Reading.
PES6 is in every single aspect (bar graphics) a better game than PES2008. When I lost, I analysed to see where I lost, and what I could do to change it, usually to good effect. In PES2008, the vast majority of games I tied or lost I have no clue in the world why I lost, because the defence were doing their job. I also tried putting every keeper in the game on 99 skill level, this however made it even harder to score for me, but made no difference to the laser guided freekick takers or corners, not to mention the ricochet fumbling didn't go away. I may try putting only my keeper on 99, but that feels like cheating, and definitely should not be necessary.
For those people who don't care much about wall of texts, I will summarise, sorted on priority.
- Keepers are horrible. Fumbling every single ball, usually to a lone striker left mysteriously alone by your defence. Also horrible with free kicks, and doesn't do anything with corners. By far the most gamebreaking deficit of this installment. 95% of goals conceded are because of idiot keepers.
- Referees are too strict on sliding tackles. A yellow should be the maximum punishment for a mistimed tackle, unless the player has a clean chance for goal. There is also no reason for the referee to have collision detection, I have had numerous occasions where the referee obstructed one of my players and ruined a good chance on goal, or a good defensive move. There is no benefit for the ref to have collision detection, it has nothing to do with realism, as realistic referees wouldn't be stupid enough to walk where they do in the game.
- Commentary is bad once again. Seriously, we have carts driving on Mars, and the commentary system still can't see the difference between a hard shot on goal or a hugely missed shot flying out of the stadium. Also far too repetitive, and often faulty.
So there, my rant. I will try to up my keeper's skill to 99 and see if it makes a difference, I thoroughly hope so, otherwise I really don't see any point other than going back to PES6 with an updated option file.
Also, can someone please PM me a tactic for defending corners?
Ta muchly.
*EDIT*
I feel I have to add an example.
Arsenal - Newcastle, at home. Fielding a 4-5-1 system with 2 DMF's.
I got to 1-0 rather quickly in the 15th minute through a corner, and 2-0 in the 69th minute. In the 73th minute my keeper fumbled a 30m free kick into the feet of the Newcastle striker who managed to somehow escape his defender, who had been put to aggressively mark him. Not 30 seconds later another shot from distance, the keeper fumbled it against his own post and over the goal line for a corner. The corner, with only 3 Newcastle players against my 6, was headed in by their striker, even though two of my defenders were also in the air with him he managed to head it neatly straight onto the keeper, who stood there and yawned at it. To make matters worse, another freekick in the 87th minute, 28m, laser guided.
1st half possession was 65-35 for me, second half until the 2-0 63%-37%. I didn't change a thing after the 2-0, neither did Newcastle, who hadn't had a single shot on target before the 2-0, nor managed to get into my penalty area by field play in the entire game.
*EDIT2*
Tried to boost my keeper up to 99, slight improvement.
Arsenal - Liverpool, fielding a 4-2-1-2-1 formation. Quick passing made the Liverpool defense look like monkies, 2-0 before half time, 3-0 right after half time. Then it started.
3-1 was a Torres 1 on 1 stopped by the keeper, but fumbled right into the feet of Kuyt. Admittedly, I could have stopped Torres from reaching a 1 on 1. My fault.
3-2 was a free kick from 27m slamming into a crossbar right into a diving header by Gerrard.
3-3 was a corner, with the keeper actually going for it, but missing horrendously. Defense once again sleeping and not even going for the ball.
This game is broken.
