Fifa 08 and PES 2008 impressions from Leipzig

[goal_machine84]

@goal_machine84
It is not a question of gameplay. No doubt that PES has a benchmark gameplay and that this is the very thing it drives the sales and fan base. However, one starts asking a question, is this gameplay (and it's slight improvements) enough to drive the sales and fan base for years and years to come. Especially for long term fans of the series. You know, after a while I can't help but feel like a beta tester for Konami's gameplay (including A.I.) which gets improved each year with same old gameplay modes since they publish 3 versions of the same game each year (or used to) i.e. WE7, PES3, WE7I...

It was suffiicient when there was no contest from EA for example, but now with Fifa lifting it's game, Konami needs to do the same. Gamers are expecting this more than ever. They expect some big improvements like those from PES2 to PES3 when 80% of animations were redone etc...

Konami needs to improve their ML, game modes, add some fun things like challenges, 360 degree movement, better online modes and better support for online games... They have sufficient fan base and resources to organise official tournaments etc... but they are not doing anything... Konami should "bank" on some exclusive and unique attributes, and I can't help but think that PES6 was a missed opportunity... Konami had a PES management game for example and if they could build this (and expand it a bit) into "normal" PES, it would be an incredible improvement. They showed they can do it, it is beyond me why not utilise on it.
So PES to me is an awesome multiplayer game, but started to be a bit stale in single player department. And this is exactly where they get beaten by EA every year.

PES2008 does promise a lot of new things, revamped master league, stadium editor etc... so things look bright. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Having said that, I still stand to my claim that EA has shown much more improvement than Konami and if EA continue improving at this rate, Konami has something serious to worry about.

Agree with you mate....I didnt get my hands on the PES management game so i dont know what potential it had and how deep/realistic/well presented the manager mode (ML) could have been in PES6. But it looks like Konami are on the right track too (to an extent) with the kinds of improvments promised in the ML for PES2008

I agree that Konami have been too lazy, especially in the audio and presentation department (FIFA 2003 had the best atmosphere in a footie game till date imo )....Licensing is a different issue cos EA holds most of the rights and some of them are exclusive (Premiership) so Konami cant do much about certain aspects of it.

The main question is that "Is great gameplay enough to enjoy a football game ?"...the answer varies from person to person so it depends on individual taste and expectations/experience

Its refreshing to see EA closing the gap on Konami and in the end, its the customer who is the happiest cos he has 2 potentially awesome games to choose from.

Lets hope EA and Konami continue to fight it out

 

[NK FOOTBALL ©]

I believe FIFA 08 will win this year, here's my reasons.

In the past, FIFA had what PES didn't and we all know what those aspects were!

PES had the benchmark, top-notch, creme' de' la creme gameplay and simulation football goers' and sport lovers turned to PES for that hardcore simulation challenge and realism. It played football! FIFA played easy arcade.

People who wanted graphics, fast gameplay and licenses had FIFA with all the authenticity you could shake a stick at.

But over the years EA have pulled out from wanting something half-finished and have done so by re-creating the game engine for next-gen.

FIFA 08 will close the gap on PES2008 and even if (yes IF) PES2008 has slightly better gameplay, I think FIFA will have it so close and EVERYTHING else gamers want, yes the commentary, the graphics and the main one LICENSES (poor Konami) that simulation gamers that want the true football experience will actually turn to FIFA 08, and this won't just reflect in EA beating Konami in sales as they do year in/out, but the pure gameplay goodness, even Konami's game won't hold a candle to what FIFA 08 has to offer, ESPECIALLY online! Online is what gamers really want and EA will kick Konami into the desert and cover their PES game in the sand!

Reviews will be close, unless it's a biased reviewer. There are a few of them! IGN seem to have a reviewer that spits on FIFA 07 next-gen despite it playing the best football EA have created and prefered current-gen, which is quite frankly crap in comparison to the 360 version. This made me angry, as it was almost as though they went blind to the sheer realism EA showed in 07 that PES6 could not do. e.g. player control, animations. PES is more robotic, the tables have turned. I see PES6 players' animations that don't look natural, realistic, unbelievable. I've watched FIFA 08 video's and could swear the animations were being done right then and there, VERY realistic. Only one thing I'd mention is the Goalkeepers, they look slightly awkward and I can't put my finger on it. Hopefully EA will sort it.

So, my prediction ( yes I predict) is that FIFA 08 will have the overall package and not JUST everything that doesn't count, but this time...the gameplay also.

Rock on!

NK.

 

[anamenos]

I believe FIFA 08 will win this year, here's my reasons.

In the past, FIFA had what PES didn't and we all know what those aspects were!

PES had the benchmark, top-notch, creme' de' la creme gameplay and simulation football goers' and sport lovers turned to PES for that hardcore simulation challenge and realism. It played football! FIFA played easy arcade.

People who wanted graphics, fast gameplay and licenses had FIFA with all the authenticity you could shake a stick at.

But over the years EA have pulled out from wanting something half-finished and have done so by re-creating the game engine for next-gen.

FIFA 08 will close the gap on PES2008 and even if (yes IF) PES2008 has slightly better gameplay, I think FIFA will have it so close and EVERYTHING else gamers want, yes the commentary, the graphics and the main one LICENSES (poor Konami) that simulation gamers that want the true football experience will actually turn to FIFA 08, and this won't just reflect in EA beating Konami in sales as they do year in/out, but the pure gameplay goodness, even Konami's game won't hold a candle to what FIFA 08 has to offer, ESPECIALLY online! Online is what gamers really want and EA will kick Konami into the desert and cover their PES game in the sand!

Reviews will be close, unless it's a biased reviewer. There are a few of them! IGN seem to have a reviewer that spits on FIFA 07 next-gen despite it playing the best football EA have created and prefered current-gen, which is quite frankly crap in comparison to the 360 version. This made me angry, as it was almost as though they went blind to the sheer realism EA showed in 07 that PES6 could not do. e.g. player control, animations. PES is more robotic, the tables have turned. I see PES6 players' animations that don't look natural, realistic, unbelievable. I've watched FIFA 08 video's and could swear the animations were being done right then and there, VERY realistic. Only one thing I'd mention is the Goalkeepers, they look slightly awkward and I can't put my finger on it. Hopefully EA will sort it.

So, my prediction ( yes I predict) is that FIFA 08 will have the overall package and not JUST everything that doesn't count, but this time...the gameplay also.

Rock on!

NK.

Totally agree with you NK, In the past FIFA was close to PES in reviews despite its luck in gameplay.This year the gameplay is really close to reality and its better from pes in some points. So i am pretty sure that FIFA easily wins this year!!!

 

[OrgulloVikingo]

Totally agree with you NK, In the past FIFA was close to PES in reviews despite its luck in gameplay.This year the gameplay is really close to reality and its better from pes in some points. So i am pretty sure that FIFA easily wins this year!!!

One reason why I thisnk FIFA 08 will be better is that they have improved year after year. The 360 CL and Fifa 07 was a huge step up from curent gen. It had lots of glitches and seemed unfinished in many aspeacts but that's cause it was unfinished. I knew this and still had fun with it. It was a foundation for future releases. I knew 08 would be very promising. Aside from gameplay improvements, the thing that EA has heads above Konami is that every year they introduce new features like Be a Pro this year. Along with online 5 a side, it has more to offer than Konamis online. Then you factor in the graphics (PES 2008 looks like PS2 material to me), audio(no comp), professional presentation (Konami's bland 2D menus with poor icons and 80's cheesy rock music is not next gen material. Overall, Fifa looks like it belongs on next gen. It is polished, professional and looks to be the complete package while Konami are still relying on gameplay which is fine but gets old. Lets move on Konami! Aside from bias reviews, I see Fifa getting an average of an 8.9 while PES gets a 8.5