Got bored of FIFA and bought the last digitally available PES for Xbox, which is 2020. Haven’t played a PES game in 10 years or so. Started a Master League full of ambition and expectation and boy oh boy do I have some unlearning to do.
First of all, this game, even three years old is miles closer to football than even the latest FIFA is. Pace, tactics, momentum, importance of stamina, build up play - all great. But it’s a struggle to learn it, especially as a full manual player - because in PES even manual settings with manual button pressed is still half-random and decided by the computer. Especially delicate through balls, chips and short passes. Also player runs are insanely clunky - I simply don’t use them. By the time I press a button and mark a player with right stick - I’m disposessed.
Such a shame Konami lost their way, this game has so much promise and so many good aspects. It’s highly addictive too. I can play a string of tough 0-0 draws and be exceptionally entertained. Just because it feels like football. Get cocky, you get punished. Waste energy, you feel the loss. Or sometimes do everything right and still lose. Just like football. Very organic and unpredictable.