[S1ARk5]

Quote: Originally Posted by zanner

Played Fifa early 90's on Sega and PS1 World Cup. Then on PS2 and CPU, played Winning Eleven/PES in the late 90's/2000-01 . I went on hiatus on soccer games until ESPN ran an insider deal to get the last world cup game. I got that and purchased Fifa 11 a few months before Fifa 12 release. I played Fifa 12 last year. I've sworn off NCAA and Madden, and did enjoy the PES latest demo comparatively to Fifa 12. That gives some perspective on my First Impressions - Because for the most part, the better than expected PES demo and the FIFA videos , I was really open to possibly foregoing Ultimate Team this season and just grind out only offline as much as I enjoy online.. And now the Fifa demo is out, I can't say that it's even the case : First of all, the videos I've seen made me nervous; however, my first impression once in the game is that I clearly don't play like guys in the video and the cpu is not playing me like they played the guys in the demo. I was very, very impressed with the Gameplay, and for the most part speed (ya, I can use a notch down on speed, but isn't really an issue for me at the moment.) In fact, in may depend on how I played the PES demo compared to how I play Fifa, defending wise, but as much as PES is hyped on this "build up" and "attacking AI" aspect of the game I was honestly more impressed with FIFA 13 Demo's as far as attacking and/or buildup last night playing against Arsenal and Juventus as ManCity and AC Milan. Arsenal, came at me because I was too aggressive and they had the speed to get me. With AC MIlan, I made sure to stay in front of players, and Juventus pulled the ball back to midfield and also, first time I can remember and happened they switched the field on me over to Giovinco who then had some space to move forward. I actually thought the attacking and passing back was existent and done very well and I thought it better than PES for me (And that may have to do with more of a familiarity with defending controls in Fifa series) Branching off of this - The CPU IS MUCH MUCH IMPROVED, and excellent. The players want the ball, and they'll make runs into space to try and receive the ball. Last year when I would get around the box, I felt stuck. Either shoot into a defender or give the ball up trying to dribble past defenders. This year, on multiple occasions I've had a teammate move into space or run angled into space in the box. Just feels good to feel like the teammates will make runs, and not just stand there or having to have runs having to be initiated by yourself on a give and go. First touch and the handling is absolutely excellent, really something as simple as this changes the game so much from last year for the better. It really feels a lot more fluid of a game and a lot more of an organic, living feeling while playing a game. With that the physics feel good and improved on last year as far as players are concerned. As far as the ball, passes, shots, and touch.. MUCH MUCH improved. I really liked PES Demo 1's feel of the ball, Demo 2 I was less of a fan for some reason - On Fifa 13 Demo, it feels better than PES Demo 1. The ball has weight and really seems like a size 5, pumped up high real ball would act on touches. It may be the combo of first touch and the ball that acts effect, but I really feel like they nailed it as far as the "weight" and "feel" of the ball. And holy moly, they have FOULS! This absolutely killed me last year on how the CPU would never ever commit a foul. That's no longer the case imo judging from the demo. The cpu actually committed more fouls than me in more games than not. On such short halves, the foul counts were around 1 or 2 for me and 2 or 3 for the cpu. I really felt like I could trap the ball in position with Pato or Rubinho and draw a foul if I was methodical with my dribble. Last year, trapping the ball the defender would shoot out of the cannon and just take it from you with no call even if your player flopped on the ground like a fish after being tanked.. HUGE Thumbs up to EA if the fouling system stays and/or improves in the final release. And I don't know what some people are talking about regarding the defender's headers being overpowered and the offense having no chance? I've not had this experience, I feel like it's a fair shot depending on who has the better position or angle when the ball is in the air. I felt like I lost aerial wars where I should, and won some that I hustled for position and should have won. Also, I've got to mention the CPU actually taking open shots and chances from outside of the box. Which means they're working the ball to the middle around the box which is less sideline crossing type of game over and over. On the flip side, the defending on the sideline and the delay crossing during full speed sprint combined with the defender leg out animation doesn't make crossing as automatic. As it turns out, I had to pick my shots when I had a back sprinting sideline with space to put it out to him for a cross. I believe Fifa 13 has improved this aspect to make it less reliable and more realistic. The negatives for me : I still think PES demos had a hand up when it comes to rebounds off of shots. While I think this demo shows some improvement from CPU AI TEAMMATES on attacking rebounds, I do feel they stand for a moment to long before reacting. Better than last year, but I think they should still be more intelligent on rebounding saves. I would also like to see a little bit more individuality similar to PES which would allow CPU AI to take you on a little better 1 on 1. It's a small sample size of players in the Fifa DEMO and the teams I played against didn't necessarily have the Neymars or Ronaldos that will attack a defender one on one with flash and brilliance, but I still feel it's something that will need to improve next year. Overall, I am unbelievably pleased with this DEMO! I was really nervous that this game would be FIfa 12, with a few gimmicks and the same faults (especially foul issues) in which point would have made me real disappointed. However, from my first 2 hour sit down with the demo yesterday - I think the improvements made and just the general feel and gameplay is really surprising to me and highly welcomed by me.

Great write and I said pretty much the same thing in less detail. To me the bottom line is this, as someone who was and is a huge PES fan and have been a HUGE FIFA fan since Fifa 09 and as someone who plays FIFA competitively. FIFA to me strikes that great balance between realism and arcade and that translates soooooooooo unbelievabley well online.

Having played the PES 2013 second demo, i was very impressed with the realism!!!! I loved it. However to me that type of realism doesnt translate into a fun packed, great multiplayer experience. That realism translates great into a single player master league which I am very much looking forward to.

But the bottom line, I hear all of these complaints from these gamers and I think man, folks are very spoiled. They would like the absolutely realism they see on the pitch every weekend to be emulated perfectly in a videogame and we all know that will never happen. FIFA 13 and PES 13 come close to it in my book but lets not all forget, in the end this is a game, and games are supposed to be FUN and exciting to play. Both of these games strikes that balance perfectly.

If you want great multiplayer soccer FIFA is amazing and the manager mode has been improved.

If you strictly want single player then you can not go wrong with the realism of PES and Master League.