gameplay adjustments exist?

[GAM_Fan]

hey everyone

i know this is my first post & it may come off as negative at times, but i hope people realize i am genuinely looking to find ways to better enjoy WE9. I'm not trolling. I do love many many things about this game & I had thought of it among my favorite sims at first. I'm sorry it's so long. Here goes.

I am new to PES... WE9Int is the first football game i have played since FIFA RTWC 98. I have played maybe 150 matches so far probably 100 of which have been in the ML. I play on 3, 4, or 5 stars depending on my level of frustration with the game on any given day.

Obviously, I am not going to be as skilled as many of you here, but IMO putting in 150 matches and being an avid sports sim gamer, I should have picked up enough already to get by and enjoy a healthy balance between easy offense and a real challenge. I have never played against a human, so all my observations are based on Hum V Com.

With all that out of the way, I have found that with each match the game is becoming more and more unplayable for me. No matter which of the star levels i play at above 3 (levels 1 & 2 are just stupid, streaking down the sides with one player and scoring), I cannot generate consistent offense. Occassionally I will break out for 2 or 3 goals and maybe two or three times ever I have gotten 4. Probably more than half of my matches (esp in ML) end 0-0. The computer never EVER scores on anything except a cross to header unless I make a huge def blunder and allow them 1 v the keeper.

It seems to me that they are just content to sit in the box and defend. This is MADDENING to me. No team in any sport plays every game like this and EVERY team certainly does not. I am free to move the ball east and west until i get near the 18 at which point I am accosted by the many waiting defenders. I must have 30 replays saved of the most sickening dirty fouls committed against me in their box to bail them out when I manage to do something right. This style of play sucks- the equivalent in hockey would be having all 5 guys in their zone with only 1 leaving at a time for "a safe 1 v 5 attack." It is no fun (but all I can think is how amazing 1P vs 2P must be). I dont mind some of the 0-0 matches if I am generating scoring chances, but the style of play doesnt bring about too many "real ones." Sure the replays show a few shots and the announcers get riled up, but I know when it's a chance & it ain't often.

Early on, I thought I was clever by building my attack slowly. I would knock it back and forth among my fullbacks hoping to tire out their attackers first. Then I realized that CPU players don't tire. EVER. ARGH. At first I felt like they were sort of pressuring me at midfield. Then I put my controller down for a while and just watched the players move and realized this was only the same 2 guys who run b/w 20 & 30% faster than anyone else. It's not legitimate pressure at midfield

I have scored maybe 2 headers total b/c I am always outnumbered in the attacking box. Despite there being zero pressure outside the 18 (compared to in the box) my defensive players all hang back. I have found no success adjusting my strategy to bring them up (a la a hockey defensemen pinching for offense). Even on corners they are nonfactors. If I try and hit it back to them even with the manual pass, by the time they are involved, the super-stamina CPU defenders have adjusted and snuffed out my plans... not with any solid positioning mind you, but rather just by outrunning my players.

I know I have a little more success by watching the radar and hitting a throughball at just the right moment, but even then when I pull a off a great pass, the CPU just hauls down my attacker or even fouls the original passer with no recourse besides a whistle. Never a card. That is so frustrating when you think about how rare a good chance is because of their style. Also, I don't want to have to be forced to rely on throughballs for every goal or to try and avoid them all game only to "fall back" on what works down the stretch.

I'm sure a lot of this has to do with me not having developed all the skills as well as some of you, but I have definitely stagnated at some point and am no longer improving. I really want to get better at this game. I have finished all the training challenges without any noticeable improvement even on freekicks (but I could care less about improving those at this point).

So I ask, is there anyway to adjust the CPU strategies for all these teams, so they dont just sit back and make me want to smash the controller to pieces.
I will cite ESPN NFL 2K5 because it's my favorite sports game: if the computer has a ridiculous toolbox with which to battle your own "human advantages," you can still always disable those with sliders. I have found no such options in this WE9. If there IS someway to improve my own play via strategy (ie getting guys up the field) I would take that too.

I hope I dont get railed for trashing on the game. I still play it all the time & love the control and the depth of both management and editing. The combination of realistic animations and the ability to really control them make me think that this would be the best 1P v 2P sports game ever. Again, sorry this was so long. I'm open to any suggestions to help keep WE9/PES alive in my heart

 

[murc]

You and I are in the same boat brother. When I first started play this game, I though it was the greatest thing ever. But, as I started to 'progress' my playing style to a more realistic and fun way of playing, I just got thrashed every game by AI and human(via online mode). I've already taken a team through the ML mode a long way in and I don't wish to start another. I guess what I'm saying is, is that this game loses it's depth with lack of depth after a ton of depth has been experienced. I no longer score blinders like I used to, and I havn't won an online game in 3 days. WE9 has just lost it's edge for me. I'm looking foward to the next installment with high hopes though.

I am completely appauled that you said nothing about the horrible defending that your teammates do. Im sure you had some fun times with them.

As for changing the CPU style of play, there is nothing you can do about that. It just plays cheap, dirty, unimaginative football. And please, for your wallet's sake, don't venture into online mode. The people there play worse than any computer team you'll ever face. They also do it as Brazil or ACM everytime. You'll break numerous controllers... I promise.

 

[Stormrider]

Hmmm I think the opposite. I wish some teams would sit back more on 5*. I heard 3* and 4* all they do is sit back but then they lack the goalscoring instincts like on 5* and 6*. If u want, all they do is attack on 6* which makes it easier for u to score, but if u have trouble defending on the others then u'll give up a lot of goals 6*.

Its too hard to give advice to u as advice is scattered all over the forum, enough to make a guide with. That's how much there is. But I know that myself and most started off like u.

If u want I can try to make a full match video sometime. I play WE9I as well. I'll pick 10min cuz its the hardest, I'd prefer 5* cuz imo its harder but if u want I can do 6* as well. U pick a team u want me to be and pick my opponent, pick the conditions such as who the crowd supports, exhibition match, or u want me to play my fully developed, undefeated ML team with peaked Rooney, Alan Smith, and a bunch of other nutters. I can prolly put 1 up sometime this week, and u'll get to see all the different ways to score and defend, instead of just reading about it.

 

[puja21]

thanks for the honest responses. Stormrider- i would def appreciate a match video.

i just read in these forums that it is a mistake to consider the star count as an ascending difficulty level... that from 3 on it is more of a difference in playing style. do you guys agree with that?

 

[GAM_Fan]

i could use the match video as well.

something else i am now considering. I play on Xbox, so the second shoulder buttons dont exist which makes sidefoot shooting and "block path" defending very difficult as well as using R2 for changing speeds.

I tried one the old "Duke" controllers where the black & white buttons are above X,Y,B, & A and it was a little better, but surely nowhere near the accuracy of the PS2 controller.

I saw here there is a Xbox to PS2 adaptor. Can anyone tell me how effective this is... also wouldn't it naturally map the Xbox triggers to L2/R2 and the black & whites to L1/R1 based on their locations on the Microsoft controller? Would there be anyway to flipflop just those buttons

 

[Stormrider]

thanks for the honest responses. Stormrider- i would def appreciate a match video.

i just read in these forums that it is a mistake to consider the star count as an ascending difficulty level... that from 3 on it is more of a difference in playing style. do you guys agree with that?

That's what I hear but I honestly haven't played 3* or 4*. 5* will defend more tightly and most teams will sit back and counter. 6* just about every team will attack very aggressively which leaves massive gaps in their defense. Also I've noticed shot accuracy is much better on 6*, from the AI as well as your own players which is y I can score so many goals. I miss a lot more on 5*

GAM_Fan block path is not very important, I don't use the button myself but :R2: is very important for attacking and crossing. I don't use it for sidefoot shooting cuz if I'm clear I'll just slow down and it automatically uses the sidefoot.

I'll try to get a video up this weekend just gimme the settings u guys wanna see. Pick a club u'd like to see me use and my opponent, 5* or 6*. I'll use any decent attacking clubs so please no Sunderland :tongue: . I play most as ManU so hope u like them :happy:

I can also use my WE United in ML if u like but I dunno if thats fair. Its on 5* and I have Rooney, Alan Smith, Kaka, and all my other players are peaked. I'm up against Chelsea in a League Cup match but they're really ez, although my closest competition in my League.

 

[murc]

Beat the hell out of AC Milan.... please. That team is far overrated; as are most of the teams with real logos.

 

[castrometal]

visit the hints and tips thread, you will find good formations there, i play WE9i online and i win more games now.

 

[Stormrider]

Beat the hell out of AC Milan.... please. That team is far overrated; as are most of the teams with real logos.

Wow excellent choice, a very tough task. They happen to be the toughest opponents for me. I always beat them with Juve tho, but usually lose with ManU, but I'll pick ManU cuz they're more fun to use.

 

[tonicswatcher]

6 stars doesnt mean its gonna b harder than 3 stars btw, on 3 stars the opposition will be almost all out attack against you whereas on 6 stars while it is difficult the oppositions main focus is defending and to keep the ball, ya get me?

 

[Stormrider]

6 stars doesnt mean its gonna b harder than 3 stars btw, on 3 stars the opposition will be almost all out attack against you whereas on 6 stars while it is difficult the oppositions main focus is defending and to keep the ball, ya get me?

u got it the other way around. 3* is all out defense and 6* is all out attack. but ur right about it not being harder. 6* score more concede more, 5* harder to break down and miss more.

 

[Deadpool]

I'm relieved... to see I'm not the only one wanting smash or break in half my controller...lol. Good thing I don't actually do it, I would be buying a controller every week.
I just started playing the game for PC, and I love it but sometimes i feel like im turning into the HULK and just wanting to smash everything...lol Its funny when you think about it, but its not at that moment... I know I will get better with time, but i do see everything you guys mentioned...from the way my team plays defensively and the through ball...you really have to use the radar for that, Would be nice if they added more customizable cameras bird's is to far and wide is nice but shy of seeing the CF. Ive also noticed how dirty the COMP plays, I get called for any little thing I do, and I don't play dirty. I got called while defending within the box... nothing dirty it was all clean, and caused a penalty kick.......OOOOOHhhhh I turned green immediately....lolol some good times with this game already.

1 last thing, wanted to ask you guys something. Have any of you ever played PES5 or WE9 in multiple platforms? I ask because I play PC with a Logitech controller (Looks like a PS2 controller) and sometimes (rare, but sometimes) when I pass the ball forward he turns around and passes it the other way, has this happened to any of you? Are there any major differences on game play on either platform ?.. Are the games better on a particular platform? or are they all the same?