Sorry for the delay in getting my PES review out. I’ve had a lot on at a personal level, but have made time to do this article. I was planning on giving a full review, but I changed my mind.
By now you guys have all played it, and know what the game is about. So a review at this stage seems redundant. Instead I want to give my impressions on the game, now that I’ve built up enough experience of it.
First Impressions:
My initial impressions of the game were very good. I enjoyed the fresh feel to the game. Passing has been tweaked and the ball physics feel so much better. I had a bit of a gripe with shots inside the penalty area, but that seems to have resolved itself somewhat with improved shooting ability in the box.
I play the PC version and do find the in-game graphics as very pleasing. Pitches have a nicer look and feel to them, and the overall presentation of the game is fresh and up to date.
Digging Deeper:
However, after playing the game for a good few hours, a few familiar niggles surfaced, and my issues with the game can be broken down into these key areas:
Pass meters – Sorry but they are very broken. You still only really have two passing strengths – up to three quarters bar strength will see the ball go to the nearest intended player. Above three quarters the ball goes to a further placed player on the same passing plane.
There is no subtlety about them. No ability to hone your passing ability with manual passes which may either fall short of intended targets, or over-hit accordingly. It’s a glaring flaw with the game engine in my books.
Freedom of movement – This is a major bug bear which has remained within the game engine. Not having total control over the player you are controlling is a major flaw in this day and age. Your player will automatically run to the predetermined end point for a pass. You are given the illusion of freedom in the game, which for me must be eliminated if PES is to truly grow as a game. I am very frustrated with not being able to move around as I see fit, and to cut in or out on a run to try to get to the ball. This is the very essence of football, which hasn’t been captured.
Goalkeepers – My key frustration with goalkeepers does lie with the pass meters again. Varying the strength of a throw out is so random, and doesn’t go anywhere near the intended target far too often. It’s a dying shame that such basics are repeatedly ignored year after year. Even choosing to throw over-arm or under-arm is a challenge. You don’t feel in control of these actions, which again spits in the face of the alleged freedom of movement concept which Konami wants us to believe is present in the game.
Don’t get me wrong!
I don’t want to sound like this is a big rant at the game, because I think that would be very unfair, as far as I’m concerned. This is without doubt the most playable PES we’ve ever had. I recently spent time with PES6 again (my previous favourite version of the game!), and can honestly say that this version does so much more than it ever did. Though I would say that player control was better in PES6. You have instant reaction to your inputs for players which makes you feel totally in control of their actions. PES 2015 players need advanced notice of any tricks you may want to pull off. It’s again a key frustration with the game. But I’ve just decided to not pull any trick moves, as basic dribbling works very well. You can still twist and turn well enough, but trying to be more ambitious is a definite pain.
What’s missing from PES 2015?
Besides addressing the flaws I’ve mentioned above, a key concept that the game desperately needs is Total Ball Freedom. I’m playing in the Master League second division against teams that can retain upwards of 70% possession with consummate ease. That’s even the worst teams in the division. Player AI for the CPU is so dated. Even when they’re losing a game, there’s no sense of urgency in their play as they pass the ball around their defence, waiting for you to try to break up play. I’ve conceded so many goals, where from kick off I can’t get anywhere near the ball. In the end, after a 30+ passing move I find they’ve gone and scored, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I’ve started to learn how to combat this single strategy employed in the game, but it’s laughable.
At this stage in the PES series, which has easily around 20 years worth of experience to draw on, I’d expect gaming intelligence in abundance.
For this to happen there are two things which I think we need to see:
Total Ball Freedom - which I mentioned above – is the concept of actually having to win loose balls in a game. We still lack the most fundamental of abilities in a football game – CONTROLLING THE BALL! It’s an automatic function which would have been fine and understandable when talking about the older technologies the games were played on. But in this day and age, it’s unforgiveable. I remember around 10 years ago Seabass himself said that technological limitations were holding the series back. Since then, it’s been psychological limitations holding the series back. We’re still playing an updated version of the old PES game.
True evolution of the series has still to take place. Having to jostle for loose balls and control the ball is what football is about. Without it, we’re just given the impression of freedom in the game. And it’s about time we got the real deal.
Footballing strategies – In an ideal world, PES over the last say five years should have incorporated many different footballing styles into the game. Playing against Stoke or Barcelona in this game is not very different. Barcelona just have better players following the same gaming template. It’s another fundamental flaw in the game.
We should see the very many styles of football in real life reproduced in the game. Playing against any CPU team feels exactly the same for me, and it’s just not right. There’s no variety in the footballing philosophies in the game. How have we tolerated this for this long?
I’m going to stop there to give you guys time to take my impressions in, and to provide me with feedback. Have I struck a chord with anyone, or am I talking nonsense?
Thanks for reading.
Dougiedonut