[FluffyTonka]

The release date in Europe & Asia/Australia is today. I got a copy late last night and have played about 5 exhibition games.

A few first impressions & random thoughts:

I'm playing on the 2nd hardest level, I forget it's name!

The framerate seems smoother than the demo, especially cut scenes. Player physics are even better. Stopping, turning, first touch etc can be sublime at times, and at other times with defenders its clunky. Just the way it should be.

You will be playing along, having an immense midfield battle, with defences mostly turning all attacks away, then Robben or Ronaldo will get on the ball, and just blow you away.

After playing fifa for the last 5 years, when you see these little bigs of sig style moments, it really takes you back.

Manual shooting is pleasure. Some goals get you out of you chair. I haven't done that since pes 5, tbh ...

You notice when you are in control of a Pirlo type. His passing is crisp off the boot and almost always hits his spot, even under pressure. Especially long balls/ passes. They are direct nd accurate, and hit your player's feet in stride. Not the lofty/floaty passes I'm used to in fifa.

Speaking of fifa, the pes camera angle is much much better. You can't play long balls in fifa with any great accuracy or strategy, but in pes, the long ball is an effective weapon.

I love the first touches, from midfield to the box. Even though I'm button mashing, some of the moves and animations are pretty awesome.

They have nailed player pace & running imo ... fast & nimble wingers regularly get outside my CB's ... they key is to engage them early and muscle them off the ball. But if you miss, they're gone!

goal keepers. you notice the difference between kellen davis & buffon. Buffon catches cleanly, parries the ball to his own players or into vacant space. Davis can't catch it, knocks it to opposing player's feet regularly.

Makes me think you need to buy a good keeper when you start a ML.

Corners and set pieces all seem the same. Players just floating around with not much purpose.

Crosses are a little the same. It's really hard to get on the end of them. Basically heading the ball seems like a lotto or just really hard to time to get one accurately on net.

defending tutorials are a must if you're coming over from fifa. You need to defend well to be competitive. I was horrible and leaking goals and couldn't get the ball, went away and brushed up on the tutes & practice, came back and now the game is coming alive and I'm competitive.

Maybe I need more playing time?!