Just wondering... if most of you hate the game so much why are you still here
just start a thread tell us how you feel then bye bye go wait for PES3.
I'm not sure if 2004 is perfect but it certainly is the best game I have played so far. I think most people are pissed at the dribbling because it's so hard to get past the AI. Unfortuantely most people here don't play enough real football matches and should stick to arcade games where you can pull off amazing stunts automatically after hitting a combo of buttons.
Ball physics, keeper attributes, etc are not perfect but they are fun and can be tweaked anyways.
I just finished a game of Man.U vs Real Madrid, I lost 1-3, and boy am I happy. 5min into the match I scored from about 30-35 yards with C.Ronaldo, a beautiful low curl, and I was both happy and surprised it was so easy to score. Well, I was in for a bigger surprise. The intensity of the match increased rapidly as I felt the wrath of Real Madrid, they pounded me with attacks and I suck at defense so I gave up 3 goals in the first half. Well I don't suck that bad but I am used to the 2003 system of defense where you hold the conservative tackle button and your player will "square" up to the AI and "close in" on him, so I always tackle early and the AI sprints past me. Anyways, it was really exciting and near the second half of the second half (about 75min) Real Madrid went into turtle defense mode and you could really "feel" the tactical change by the AI, it's really great.
No I haven't played 100 matches yet, I only play about 2-3 a day plus practice in between games (thx EA for bringing it back!!!), if you play more than 5 games a day you really need a break. Anything would get bored quickly if you spend hours and hours on something.