First of all, to the introductory stuff.
I am 15 years old, from Greece, and the Football games I have ever owned and played in my life are the following:
- FIFA International Soccer (PC, of course)
- FIFA 96 (PC)
- FIFA 98 (PC)
- World Cup 98 (PC)
- FIFA 99 (PC)
- FIFA 2000 (PC)
- FIFA 2001 (PC)
- FIFA 2002 (PC)
- FIFA 2003 (PC)
- Pro Evolution Soccer 3 (PC, PS2)
- Winning Eleven 7 (PS2)
- FIFA 2004 (PC)
- Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PC)
- Winning Eleven 8 (PS2)
- FIFA 2005 (PC, XBox)
- UEFA Champions League 2005 (PC)
After the list, I'll give my two cents on the matter.
First of all, from a young age I played FIFA as you can see, and grown to love it as a game. That is, before the 2001 and 2002 games, especially the 2002. I thought they were far too unrealistic, in terms of gameplay, but that actually did me good, as I spent more hours on the street playing my favorite game with friends (footy, that is...)
The graphics were seriously improving, and in my opinion the biggest changes were seen in the 96, 99 and 2000 editions up to then.
The atmosphere was always great, with some great commentary, a very much alive crowd to join the game play (at least on terms of sound) and some great stadiums.
The gameplay though, which did not matter to me as I didn't know of any other footy games until 2002, had really disappointed me.
So back in 2002, I bought FIFA 2003. The changes were huge. Much better graphics (which were absolutely mind-blowing for me and my friends back then), the good ol'sound and commentary, the gameplay back to its good days, and is pretty much a game I stuck to. I remember friends coming over just to play FIFA 2003, and staying until 11pm.
Then was FIFA 2004. Which besides the few changes was a remake of FIFA 2003 with an updated database. So nothing new for me there.
But 2003 was the time that I was introduced to Pro Evolution Soccer 3. At first I was a bit afraid to stop playing FIFA, thinking of all the good years it gave me. But I saw the nice, better flowing gameplay, the (although confusing and not-so-good for a keyboard user) free controls and stuck with it. I played leagues and leagues, tournaments with my friends... What I didn't like, maybe that graphics were not so good, and I really missed the Player Runs button.
FIFA 2005 introduced me to a pretty hopeful age for FIFA. But it had big flaws, which disappointed me. The bad defence system, the gameplay had gotten worse if you except the better use of the First-Touch control (which I miss every time I play PES), but the graphics were still there and good, except the very pixelated kits on high resolutions that got disgusting when playing at night conditions.
Still, it reminded me of the atmosphere of the real game. Whatever its big flaws, FIFA 2005 took me back to the crowd chanting and screaming, and I really hoped I could have that in PES, which presents a pretty much dead stadium.
In terms of difficutly (and I'm not the best player I know...) PES was presenting a very good challenge for me, while FIFA didn't.
Then I got my hands on PES 4. I had heard about the gameplay changes and the improved things, but besides gameplay I could not find much that would attract my eye as a change or improvement. However, PES 4 replaced the HDD space of FIFA 2005 for a long time. I spent many hours playing PES 4, enjoying the challenge that the good gameplay and AI gave me and trying to put in other ways for the mediocre graphics and sound (never had the PES commentary or effects on, it was replaced by my favorite tunes through Winamp).
But what really blowed my mind and took me away from PES 4, was UEFA CL 04-05 (now this is the point I'll get flamed for, but what the hell, I don't care.) I guess I really loved this game too much from the first moment. I think the gameplay has improved much since FIFA 05, correct me if I'm wrong. You have full and free, 360 degree control of your players, which act much more realistic than older versions (I AM NOT COMPARING TO PES, READ AGAIN) and move the ball as well as pass it quite nicely. The first-touch was improved once again, but the things that got a bit worse were the off-the-ball control (which I haven't quite got used to yet, I need practice...) and the player runs, which don't work as well as in the past. The graphics have been the same 2 years now, but it was okay for me. The sound was there, with an all new commentary and a better atmoshpere than ever. The missions gave me a real challenge, and after finishing and getting the CL with ManUtd, I've started another CL with Olympiakos (too bad teams like that are not included in the season mode) and I'm still loving it. As for the Home and Away mode, it's the only thing me and my friends play.
Just for comparion's sake, I'll do a very small one between the last games I got my hands on.
So, here goes UEFA CL 04-05 vs PES 4.
GRAPHICS: I'll give EA the lead here, on terms of quality. It has had the lead here for years, and it's a department they can't go wrong. What I don't like is the pixelation of kits on high resolutions. Konami has to work on the Graphics, although they're already on a quite satisfying level.
SOUND: Definately, and hands down to EA. As I mentioned above, the sound gives you the absolute atmoshpere. The crowds are constantly screaming, and it gives you the feeling you are in the stadium. As for PES, playing on the training field or in Old Trafford makes no difference, as it's the same dead feeling. Commentary, as well, goes to EA. The new commentators were a much needed change, requested years now by FIFA fans, although I have to say, after all these years, I already miss Motson (but not Gray...) Konami has worked on its commentary, but it's just boring and with no feeling at all.
GAMEPLAY: I won't do a comparison here. Want to know why? I'll say that, for me, UEFA and PES have a different approach to gameplay. UEFA is more fast-paced, action focused football, that wants you to react as quick as you can in order to get a good result. PES, more realistically I have to say, is based on strategic thinking. You have to carefully inspect the formation of your team, act every move carefully. The AI has improved in both games. AI in UEFA "thinks" better and acts faster, pushing you to the limts if it wants to, but can be easy to brake after playing for a while and know the right moves. Although PES AI was always a challenge for me, I can't say it has such a surprise factor for me, as others claim it has for them. After a while, I've grown to like more the pace of UEFA.
MISCELLANOUS: Altough I love EA for their licensing, I hate them for the editing options. Just taking a look at the great patches made by Wolf for PES 4, makes me wonder why EA has removed the good ol' editing system and has just left us with a Creation Center, that is actually made by one man (work appreciated anyway.) As for set pieces, I'll go with UEFA. At first I was confused, but after 3 matches I got used to them. It seems to me like EA heard what the fans had to say for once, as they've implemented subtistution cut-scenes (I'll talk about cut-scenes later), ability for a short take on any set piece and many more. I've heard people saying that KONAMI has given PES no target on direct and indirect fouls, as well as throw-ins, because in reality players don't have that. Well, I am not playing footy games on PC to learn to play real football, that's what the street and the clubs for. I really loved the direct kick taking in FIFA 2003 and 04, but 05 has a good system too. What I'd like to see is more options while taking a corner kick. As for throw-ins, I hated the change from PES 3 to PES 4 from the first time I played the game, that is, it makes you control the player throwing the ball, which most of the times doesn't work, as the players don't seem to cooperate quite well, while on UEFA, you control where the ball is going to, by trying to open your man in free space just as the throw-in is taken, a thing absent from the PES series. As for the cut-scenes, we will all agree that UEFA has better cut-scenes, except the entrance scene. I really love the PES entrance, and I hope that EA learns from it. But in-game, things are different. The foul cut-scenes are great, the subtistution cut-scene is back, and replays are even viewed after the ball has played (e.g. you have a good missed chance on 15', and after the ball goes out on 36' the game gives it to you on a replay, which is a really good step towards TV broadcasting simulation.) I'll give my 5 cents to the brilliant entrance scene that KONAMI has made, and EA has not yet perfected.
So my choice for now, is UEFA CL 04-05. I don't quite care which game is an inch closer than the other to the real thing, as I believe that both games have quite realistic gameplay, and that should be enough. I think the whining has got too long about it, and we should be grateful to have great open-gameplay like the one in PES, but also the fast paced action in UEFA and FIFA. So I'll just stick to the one I enjoy the most, because I play those games to enjoy them. If I want real football, I'll just go out for a five-on-five with my friends, or watch football on TV. The challenge for me is out there, not in my computer screen. I am in front of my computer to enjoy myself, not to judge games. If I have fun playing it, I like it.
These are my criteria actually. Other people just beg for more and more realism, so FIFA or UEFA it's just not good enough for them. Others prefer the strategy and mind-stretching of PES. Others prefer the pace of UEFA.
In my opinion, it's just a matter of what you look for in a football game.
My recommendation, play the 2 games for two weeks each, with friends or alone, and decide which one you like the most.
I enjoy playing both, and although I prefer UEFA, I enjoy putting on and challenging my friends to PES 4 (which they like more, most of them.)
I'd like to hear your opinion too. Remember that what you say shows a big part of your character so answers like "FIFA is s***, go home you EA boy" or "WTF are you talking about?" are not going to receive an answer or my attention.
Thanks for reading.
I am 15 years old, from Greece, and the Football games I have ever owned and played in my life are the following:
- FIFA International Soccer (PC, of course)
- FIFA 96 (PC)
- FIFA 98 (PC)
- World Cup 98 (PC)
- FIFA 99 (PC)
- FIFA 2000 (PC)
- FIFA 2001 (PC)
- FIFA 2002 (PC)
- FIFA 2003 (PC)
- Pro Evolution Soccer 3 (PC, PS2)
- Winning Eleven 7 (PS2)
- FIFA 2004 (PC)
- Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PC)
- Winning Eleven 8 (PS2)
- FIFA 2005 (PC, XBox)
- UEFA Champions League 2005 (PC)
After the list, I'll give my two cents on the matter.
First of all, from a young age I played FIFA as you can see, and grown to love it as a game. That is, before the 2001 and 2002 games, especially the 2002. I thought they were far too unrealistic, in terms of gameplay, but that actually did me good, as I spent more hours on the street playing my favorite game with friends (footy, that is...)
The graphics were seriously improving, and in my opinion the biggest changes were seen in the 96, 99 and 2000 editions up to then.
The atmosphere was always great, with some great commentary, a very much alive crowd to join the game play (at least on terms of sound) and some great stadiums.
The gameplay though, which did not matter to me as I didn't know of any other footy games until 2002, had really disappointed me.
So back in 2002, I bought FIFA 2003. The changes were huge. Much better graphics (which were absolutely mind-blowing for me and my friends back then), the good ol'sound and commentary, the gameplay back to its good days, and is pretty much a game I stuck to. I remember friends coming over just to play FIFA 2003, and staying until 11pm.
Then was FIFA 2004. Which besides the few changes was a remake of FIFA 2003 with an updated database. So nothing new for me there.
But 2003 was the time that I was introduced to Pro Evolution Soccer 3. At first I was a bit afraid to stop playing FIFA, thinking of all the good years it gave me. But I saw the nice, better flowing gameplay, the (although confusing and not-so-good for a keyboard user) free controls and stuck with it. I played leagues and leagues, tournaments with my friends... What I didn't like, maybe that graphics were not so good, and I really missed the Player Runs button.
FIFA 2005 introduced me to a pretty hopeful age for FIFA. But it had big flaws, which disappointed me. The bad defence system, the gameplay had gotten worse if you except the better use of the First-Touch control (which I miss every time I play PES), but the graphics were still there and good, except the very pixelated kits on high resolutions that got disgusting when playing at night conditions.
Still, it reminded me of the atmosphere of the real game. Whatever its big flaws, FIFA 2005 took me back to the crowd chanting and screaming, and I really hoped I could have that in PES, which presents a pretty much dead stadium.
In terms of difficutly (and I'm not the best player I know...) PES was presenting a very good challenge for me, while FIFA didn't.
Then I got my hands on PES 4. I had heard about the gameplay changes and the improved things, but besides gameplay I could not find much that would attract my eye as a change or improvement. However, PES 4 replaced the HDD space of FIFA 2005 for a long time. I spent many hours playing PES 4, enjoying the challenge that the good gameplay and AI gave me and trying to put in other ways for the mediocre graphics and sound (never had the PES commentary or effects on, it was replaced by my favorite tunes through Winamp).
But what really blowed my mind and took me away from PES 4, was UEFA CL 04-05 (now this is the point I'll get flamed for, but what the hell, I don't care.) I guess I really loved this game too much from the first moment. I think the gameplay has improved much since FIFA 05, correct me if I'm wrong. You have full and free, 360 degree control of your players, which act much more realistic than older versions (I AM NOT COMPARING TO PES, READ AGAIN) and move the ball as well as pass it quite nicely. The first-touch was improved once again, but the things that got a bit worse were the off-the-ball control (which I haven't quite got used to yet, I need practice...) and the player runs, which don't work as well as in the past. The graphics have been the same 2 years now, but it was okay for me. The sound was there, with an all new commentary and a better atmoshpere than ever. The missions gave me a real challenge, and after finishing and getting the CL with ManUtd, I've started another CL with Olympiakos (too bad teams like that are not included in the season mode) and I'm still loving it. As for the Home and Away mode, it's the only thing me and my friends play.
Just for comparion's sake, I'll do a very small one between the last games I got my hands on.
So, here goes UEFA CL 04-05 vs PES 4.
GRAPHICS: I'll give EA the lead here, on terms of quality. It has had the lead here for years, and it's a department they can't go wrong. What I don't like is the pixelation of kits on high resolutions. Konami has to work on the Graphics, although they're already on a quite satisfying level.
SOUND: Definately, and hands down to EA. As I mentioned above, the sound gives you the absolute atmoshpere. The crowds are constantly screaming, and it gives you the feeling you are in the stadium. As for PES, playing on the training field or in Old Trafford makes no difference, as it's the same dead feeling. Commentary, as well, goes to EA. The new commentators were a much needed change, requested years now by FIFA fans, although I have to say, after all these years, I already miss Motson (but not Gray...) Konami has worked on its commentary, but it's just boring and with no feeling at all.
GAMEPLAY: I won't do a comparison here. Want to know why? I'll say that, for me, UEFA and PES have a different approach to gameplay. UEFA is more fast-paced, action focused football, that wants you to react as quick as you can in order to get a good result. PES, more realistically I have to say, is based on strategic thinking. You have to carefully inspect the formation of your team, act every move carefully. The AI has improved in both games. AI in UEFA "thinks" better and acts faster, pushing you to the limts if it wants to, but can be easy to brake after playing for a while and know the right moves. Although PES AI was always a challenge for me, I can't say it has such a surprise factor for me, as others claim it has for them. After a while, I've grown to like more the pace of UEFA.
MISCELLANOUS: Altough I love EA for their licensing, I hate them for the editing options. Just taking a look at the great patches made by Wolf for PES 4, makes me wonder why EA has removed the good ol' editing system and has just left us with a Creation Center, that is actually made by one man (work appreciated anyway.) As for set pieces, I'll go with UEFA. At first I was confused, but after 3 matches I got used to them. It seems to me like EA heard what the fans had to say for once, as they've implemented subtistution cut-scenes (I'll talk about cut-scenes later), ability for a short take on any set piece and many more. I've heard people saying that KONAMI has given PES no target on direct and indirect fouls, as well as throw-ins, because in reality players don't have that. Well, I am not playing footy games on PC to learn to play real football, that's what the street and the clubs for. I really loved the direct kick taking in FIFA 2003 and 04, but 05 has a good system too. What I'd like to see is more options while taking a corner kick. As for throw-ins, I hated the change from PES 3 to PES 4 from the first time I played the game, that is, it makes you control the player throwing the ball, which most of the times doesn't work, as the players don't seem to cooperate quite well, while on UEFA, you control where the ball is going to, by trying to open your man in free space just as the throw-in is taken, a thing absent from the PES series. As for the cut-scenes, we will all agree that UEFA has better cut-scenes, except the entrance scene. I really love the PES entrance, and I hope that EA learns from it. But in-game, things are different. The foul cut-scenes are great, the subtistution cut-scene is back, and replays are even viewed after the ball has played (e.g. you have a good missed chance on 15', and after the ball goes out on 36' the game gives it to you on a replay, which is a really good step towards TV broadcasting simulation.) I'll give my 5 cents to the brilliant entrance scene that KONAMI has made, and EA has not yet perfected.
So my choice for now, is UEFA CL 04-05. I don't quite care which game is an inch closer than the other to the real thing, as I believe that both games have quite realistic gameplay, and that should be enough. I think the whining has got too long about it, and we should be grateful to have great open-gameplay like the one in PES, but also the fast paced action in UEFA and FIFA. So I'll just stick to the one I enjoy the most, because I play those games to enjoy them. If I want real football, I'll just go out for a five-on-five with my friends, or watch football on TV. The challenge for me is out there, not in my computer screen. I am in front of my computer to enjoy myself, not to judge games. If I have fun playing it, I like it.
These are my criteria actually. Other people just beg for more and more realism, so FIFA or UEFA it's just not good enough for them. Others prefer the strategy and mind-stretching of PES. Others prefer the pace of UEFA.
In my opinion, it's just a matter of what you look for in a football game.
My recommendation, play the 2 games for two weeks each, with friends or alone, and decide which one you like the most.
I enjoy playing both, and although I prefer UEFA, I enjoy putting on and challenging my friends to PES 4 (which they like more, most of them.)
I'd like to hear your opinion too. Remember that what you say shows a big part of your character so answers like "FIFA is s***, go home you EA boy" or "WTF are you talking about?" are not going to receive an answer or my attention.
Thanks for reading.
