Defender AI has improved though, with improved player physics to enable jostling, blocking and deflections to give the game an unpredictable realism. This may offer better player control, allowing dribbling past defenders with ease, but can leave you out of position and looks unconvincing next to Fifa's seamless choreography.
Errant passes are frequent, by over- or under-hitting the ball, while movement of your player and teammates can feel almost too precise and mechanical. Players not used to Konami's title may struggle initially to make the game flow, due to the uncompromising sensitivity of the "total control" 360-degree movement system and power gauge, which offers negligible auto-assist. PES10 was virtually unplayable, with frustrating player movement and hopeless ball control, yet the entirely new player modelling and movement system, rebuilt having asked fans for their ideas, feels both responsive and reassuring – faithful to the PES of old. The new clean-looking menus and the exhaustive management selection options are an immediate improvement a far cry from the garish screens from last year. PES 2011 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, cert: 3, out Friday) feels like a long lost friend: familiar, but different – eager to win back fans. But no reason to write off Konami just yet … To the football gaming veteran, these improvements are both important and successful it's undoubtedly the best Fifa to date. To which has been added the chance to play in goal – an engaging role requiring quick reactions and an eye for the flow of the game. EA's global enterprise is showcased by the stability of its online network, which rarely falters when playing one-on-one or, during the new 11-a-side matches, as your chosen player. In multiplayer mode the football comes to life. This makes scoring more satisfying and goal celebrations all the more acrobatic. Shooting is also more realistic with drives from outside the area harder to keep down while retaining power and placement – emphasising skill, timing and precision. Heading, a skill never quite mastered in previous versions, is more controllable, making tall and powerful players essential. The play is more balanced, sending crisp passes across the turf feels more deliberate, allowing you to build up moves before delivering through balls. It also moves away from summer's World Cup edition, which made it far too easy to score.
With Fifa 11 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, cert: 3, out now), the adjustments have become more subtle, fine-tuning the gameplay to feel substantially more physical, both when fending off defenders or competing for the ball.
We got exquisite ball control, realistic player movements and challenging, but convincing, computer opposition – a deadly combination with its licence from the organising body, which gives it all the rights to real player names, tournaments and stadiums.
So, as the two face off once again, which has the edge this year?Īfter years of lacklustre Fifa releases, EA rediscovered its form two seasons ago with a new look and feel. Each, appropriately for the genre, generates fierce rivalry among fans dedicated to supporting their chosen title. T he two biggest football franchises in gaming – EA'S Fifa and Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) – have been going head-to head for more than a decade.