lachesis
Member
I had pretty extensive playtime since I got the game last thursday...
and since there seem to be no impression thread regarding this game, I'll post one.
Graphics:
I haven't noticed slow-down at all - but it stutters a bit when it's on "behind Goalie view" during goal-kicks. For some reason, it looks cleaned up compared to original 8.
Some of the character modelings are re-done, and they look quite good.
Animation:
Added motion are present - virtually in every place. New shooting animations are quite good and they even seem to add more goalie animations - I'd say about 10% has new animation. Not as much as I hoped for, but it's still something.
Sound:
I think they added few more commentaries for Jon Tabira. (Some commentaries that I've never heard) - although it supports 6 different spoken languages (Japanese, English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, IIRC) - but it only supports JP text for the menu. Music wise... it's not much. It's very WE ish.
Presentation:
Also cleaned up. Easier to navigate around, and added "Team selection" button in the "quit" menu is also very subtle yet useful. You will find most things in right place. One thing that I would like to mention is that it also shows the age of each players on main formation menu too. (Something it was missing in past WE series - that you always had to search in ML to find out the age)
Gameplay:
The game has been changed into a totally different beast this time around. Side play are much harder - not that you can't dribble either side - but crossing is inaccurate and very few headers so far. WE8's OO cross has been toned down alot too. Basically the game is forcing us to play more "lobbing through pass" to make goals.
Mid-range shootings are more common in this game as well. Anywhere around the penalty box (especially about 45 dgree range of goalie), you have a shot. I've made a mid-range shoot from the corner of the penalty box with Beckham, right to the corner of the goal - and I've witness Totti doing none existing angle shot, near goalline.
GK AI's been toned down. Not to the point of dumbness - but more human like - but I'd say it's pretty dumb compared to past WE series.
Defense is a bit easier - especially man-to-man. Partially because the ball is much bouncier, and it takes a bit longer to do the propper ball traping when you receive a pass. Also players react little more "heavy" this time around - no more quick turns and all. I'm sure in time we'll all get used to this dribbling and see the tricks - but so far, it's the most difficult part of this game. A lot of intercepts, and a lot of mistakes. While' it's easy to intercept a ball from an attacker - but at the same time it's alot easier to re-intercepted the ball by attackers too - so don't hold onto your ball at all - give to the attackers ASAP when you intercept a ball. Anyhow, easier intercepting is making up the dumbed down Goalie AI.
Dribbling is harder. Defenders do catch up to you quicker - but it's not impossible. You just have to react a bit faster when you receive your ball - whether to pass to someone else, or dribble yourself. (about half tempo faster than original).
Ball speed and physics has been improved - and mid to long range shoots are just awesome. While the ball is harder to control during dribbling - but it moves alot faster in pass and through passes go furter into the empty area than it used to - so I think this is a "Through pass"game like 7FE. While players reaction and controls are slower - but because of the ball physics, the entire feel of the game is quite fast.
While it's a great disappointment that side playing is near impossible - but I have to admit that the feeling of "mid-range" shots are really good. Fast and poweful, and much more success rate. I'm not sure whether it tops off as best WE ever, but it's pretty close in that. While 8 was good, but I couldn't help feeling myself that I had chance of goal by "R1 or L1 Lobbing shot" or "OO cross" - and these two are both dumbed down. You will hit the goal post quite often, and more of those tense moments when the ball is loose within penalty box area. I feel more... how to say, "free" in terms of attacking routes as well - However, I do hope they kept the side attacking more useful once in a while.
Online:
I' haven't played online, but it's known that you can play online outside of JP with this game, and JP version of Playstation2, and some web-money. I'm not sure what the lag would be like in US though.
Finally, this game isn't perfect for me - but I'll take it as is. Because of the ball physics, things are much more eventful, unexpected and exciting like real soccer. I wasn't sure if I liked this game from the get-go - but after getting used to the new physics and play style - there's no going back for me.
lachesis
and since there seem to be no impression thread regarding this game, I'll post one.
Graphics:
I haven't noticed slow-down at all - but it stutters a bit when it's on "behind Goalie view" during goal-kicks. For some reason, it looks cleaned up compared to original 8.
Some of the character modelings are re-done, and they look quite good.
Animation:
Added motion are present - virtually in every place. New shooting animations are quite good and they even seem to add more goalie animations - I'd say about 10% has new animation. Not as much as I hoped for, but it's still something.
Sound:
I think they added few more commentaries for Jon Tabira. (Some commentaries that I've never heard) - although it supports 6 different spoken languages (Japanese, English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, IIRC) - but it only supports JP text for the menu. Music wise... it's not much. It's very WE ish.
Presentation:
Also cleaned up. Easier to navigate around, and added "Team selection" button in the "quit" menu is also very subtle yet useful. You will find most things in right place. One thing that I would like to mention is that it also shows the age of each players on main formation menu too. (Something it was missing in past WE series - that you always had to search in ML to find out the age)
Gameplay:
The game has been changed into a totally different beast this time around. Side play are much harder - not that you can't dribble either side - but crossing is inaccurate and very few headers so far. WE8's OO cross has been toned down alot too. Basically the game is forcing us to play more "lobbing through pass" to make goals.
Mid-range shootings are more common in this game as well. Anywhere around the penalty box (especially about 45 dgree range of goalie), you have a shot. I've made a mid-range shoot from the corner of the penalty box with Beckham, right to the corner of the goal - and I've witness Totti doing none existing angle shot, near goalline.
GK AI's been toned down. Not to the point of dumbness - but more human like - but I'd say it's pretty dumb compared to past WE series.
Defense is a bit easier - especially man-to-man. Partially because the ball is much bouncier, and it takes a bit longer to do the propper ball traping when you receive a pass. Also players react little more "heavy" this time around - no more quick turns and all. I'm sure in time we'll all get used to this dribbling and see the tricks - but so far, it's the most difficult part of this game. A lot of intercepts, and a lot of mistakes. While' it's easy to intercept a ball from an attacker - but at the same time it's alot easier to re-intercepted the ball by attackers too - so don't hold onto your ball at all - give to the attackers ASAP when you intercept a ball. Anyhow, easier intercepting is making up the dumbed down Goalie AI.
Dribbling is harder. Defenders do catch up to you quicker - but it's not impossible. You just have to react a bit faster when you receive your ball - whether to pass to someone else, or dribble yourself. (about half tempo faster than original).
Ball speed and physics has been improved - and mid to long range shoots are just awesome. While the ball is harder to control during dribbling - but it moves alot faster in pass and through passes go furter into the empty area than it used to - so I think this is a "Through pass"game like 7FE. While players reaction and controls are slower - but because of the ball physics, the entire feel of the game is quite fast.
While it's a great disappointment that side playing is near impossible - but I have to admit that the feeling of "mid-range" shots are really good. Fast and poweful, and much more success rate. I'm not sure whether it tops off as best WE ever, but it's pretty close in that. While 8 was good, but I couldn't help feeling myself that I had chance of goal by "R1 or L1 Lobbing shot" or "OO cross" - and these two are both dumbed down. You will hit the goal post quite often, and more of those tense moments when the ball is loose within penalty box area. I feel more... how to say, "free" in terms of attacking routes as well - However, I do hope they kept the side attacking more useful once in a while.
Online:
I' haven't played online, but it's known that you can play online outside of JP with this game, and JP version of Playstation2, and some web-money. I'm not sure what the lag would be like in US though.
Finally, this game isn't perfect for me - but I'll take it as is. Because of the ball physics, things are much more eventful, unexpected and exciting like real soccer. I wasn't sure if I liked this game from the get-go - but after getting used to the new physics and play style - there's no going back for me.
lachesis
