Some new features and looks do not erase the problems PES has had for so many years..
In terms of interface, it's great: good extra content, various game modes and slick and easy to navigate menu.
I mainly played the Master League and Become a legend modes, so i'll start there:
- Become a Legend
Same problems as always:
--> Stupid Teammates who can't retain the ball or make a good pass choice between each other
--> Run all you want, try to position yourself wherever you want, your team will never pass to you a forward pass, nor a regular pass(unless you REAAALLLYYY beg for it)
- Master League
Not much difference to the previous one (which isn't exactly a good thing, since i preferred the negotiations in PES 6, nice and simple), but now if you want to change the league team lineup, you gotta edit the league itself, which is kinda stupid...
NOW THE GAMEPLAY, THE WORST PART OF THE GAME
it's just... bad. The amount and fluidity of the dribbling is awesome, but that's about it:
- Stupid teammates AI, the ball can be 1m ahead of them and they'll just look at the horizon. Worst is that, when you increase the difficulty, instead of the opponents AI getting better, you team'll get even stupider, and that's why it's harder to play. Also your players have no intelligence in terms of positioning for crosses and such.
- It's impossible to win a game against a physically strong team. My players with 88 balance, speed and acceleration always "mysteriously" lose speed wise to any opponent, no matter how tall and heavy he is, and will get completely shoved aside in the shoulder battle, no matter who he is. It's completely unfair and it's obvious that those "stat boosts" are another lazy way to increase the game's difficulty, instead of true tactics and intelligence from your opponents.
- Completely biased referee
- 90% of your shot will go WAY over the crossbar, that's a fact. The shooting mechanics are completely messed up
- The so called "freedom of passing" is as free as a caged bird, you either make a forward pass to a completely logical direction, or the AI won't care and wait for the opponent to get the ball to "reactivate".
- Loose balls are a nightmare (and there are a lot of them). If a pass hits the foot of a teammate, everyone waits and hopes the ball magically rolls into someone, because no one, neither your players or the opponents's will move or know what to do. Completely bugged AI
- A lot less emotion in the game, since it's almost impossible to make a good play with the problems quoted above.
- The number of times the forwards are offside is just stupid, so many times that i have to wait with the ball, being surrounded by opponents, while my forwards and attacking midfielders are 5 meter offside, and don't seem to care, since they continue there until the opponent's defense goes back. It's so frustrating...
I've been saying this for about 3/4 years now, but, please Konami, skip a yearly launch and create a complete game, not a half assed sequel every year that keeps having the same frustrating problems.
PS: I usually don't have patience to review games, but i just had to take this off my chest