EA Sports Federation Internationale de Football Association 16 vs Konami Pro Evolution Soccer 2016

Sideways “progression”, also known as the Tom Cleverley effect, hasn’t been helped by the re-emergence of the Pro Evolution Soccer series, which has benefited massively from Konami opening London-based studio PES Productions in 2012.

Having played the demos for both of the 2016 editions of both games I know it will be PES 2016’s year again, as they have by far the best game this time around. In PES 2016, on the other hand, there’s such ideal sense of heft to the passing system and the collisions between attacker and defender that it’s a joy just kicking it around, probing for a weakness. So if the data is out there, why can’t it be added to PES 2016’s offline modes like Master League? Thankfully, a few enterprising websites have created customized uniforms and badges for fans to import, but it’s a bit of a process to follow and not something that anyone but the most hardcore player would do. It went through a downfall during the Xbox 360 or PS3 period, making it a no match to FIFA’s more advanced campaigns.

Pro Evolution Soccer has for years stood in the shadow of its big budget rival. Gameplay is king after all and this is one aspect of the lovely game that PES 2016 nails.

None of which is to say that Federation Internationale de Football Association 16 is a bad game; just that it hasn’t come up in the same leaps and bounds as PES has, and that makes me worry for its long-term future. Dribbling past defenders is not for the fearless, but practice the array of flicks and feints at your disposal and you will find it is a legitimate, exciting option. Stay tuned for further updates on this awesome electronic sports marvel by PES Productions and Konami.

Shots are more dynamic and unpredictable, but it’s inordinately frustrating to patiently work an opening only for your striker to miss a presentable opportunity through random happenstance. The first developer to add club histories-all-time top scorers, match records across multiple years-gets a massive, soggy kiss. The sport’s intricacies aren’t intelligently replicated, tactical battles are simplistic and game-winning patterns are easily forged. It’s an approach that makes for an overtly physical game, with the size and strength of your players proving to be key attributes in wresting the ball from an opponent.

When I got my PlayStation 2, I had FIFA 2002 bundled with it and while it had all the graphical excellence it was a broken, shambolic attempt at a football game, which I didn’t spend very much time with at all.

So when PES landed on my desk I was intrigued.

The outlet particularly cited how the graphics of the game is flawed when it still failed to capture the face of Reading winger Hal Robson-Kanu.

Meanwhile, Konami has revealed the soundtrack for “PES 2016” which includes the iconic stadium anthem “We Will Rock You” by the equally iconic rock band Queen. It’s a deeper, more intense experience as you try to cobble together a team of championship contenders, or at least a side that doesn’t get hammered in every game. Federation Internationale de Football Association 99 was also the stage for our now infamous 90 minute match following a drunken night out, that went into extra time and was just heading for penalties when he shattered my team’s resolve with a last minute victor to take the score to 50-49!

“Gaining and keeping possession is very important, with each players reacting naturally to challenges, be they standing or sliding, and passes no longer feel like they are slightly delayed, as they were in the previous installments in the series”. Players will sometimes warp into a certain position in order to pull off an animation, and some of the transitions between movements can be stiff and lifeless, compared to the graphic renderings.

While launching one at goal is less predictable than past year, it’s immediately apparent that crossing will be the method Federation Internationale de Football Association 16 online players exploit.

In this mode, you can craft your club from the ground up, compiling a roster of superstars to take on the world with.