2006-10-06 20:06:22 Optimus, FIFA 07 Demo NOW available on marketplace.

Will download, and........wow, I don't know, it better be good.

EDIT: Downloaded, played, and here are my impressions.

NO, JUST NO.

Hate me all you want, etc etc, but this game is FAR from reaching Winning Eleven 8 which I still play to this day.

But let's start with the good stuff. Controller layout is well done. The music is really really good. And then the fact that I actually spent more time playing around with Ronaldinho than playing team vs. team, so that's to say it's nice to have something to do while the game loads.

And then the graphics, they are incredible. The stadium looks awesome, and pretty close to those shots we've seen. The only problem with the graphics that I can criticize is that the shadowing is sometimes way too dark, it's hard to see a player's face, and I'm sorry to say, but color guys are even harder to see. But everything else is done great. The ball is modeled incredibly well too.

Sound during the game was a bit dissapointing because there was no commentator, but I know that could bring the demo to 1GB+ and EA decided not to include that.

The animations are great as animations. They do look realistic, although a little too fast at times. Hold the right bumper and move the stick right and left and somehow it just doens't look right. They are good though, and you can recognize how Cristiano Roanldo runs from afar.

Now, how those animations work along with the gameplay I don't like. Maybe it's the new system "off the ball" or something, but while training with Ronaldinho, sometimes I dribble to a side and he just goes and goes for about 5 meters, but I've been holding the stick the other way for the last 3 meters. And that's pretty much the worse thing about the gameplay, the player response, the lack of response.

I'll get back to that, but before that I want to talk a bit about dribbling with the right stick. Optimus says it's amazing, Slabs can't pull off the moves, and I can't pull off moves either. The only thing I'm able to do with the right stick is send the ball to the right or to the left, back and front. Basically a rapid change in acceleration.

So I can't do much else and optimus explains how to do the moves and I still can't pull off the moves. So my conclusion is that the system is just too complex and lacks response. I can still do simple dribling moves holding the bumper and by using the left stick. But dribbling is a luxury to a point and not necessary to play a good game IMO, so I didn't really mind that.

The worst by far the worst thing about the game is the player control and even more so when defending. What a pain. Yes, "the new off the ball system" and whatever you want to say, but I feel like the player is on rails, so I don't see the point or a big difference from pervious years. Defense is especially painful as your players simply don't react. They just don't. An forward is coming, I change to a defender, I go straight to him, he moves about an inch to a side, I do the same.......or I try actually. My player finally moves, but then he loses all momentum and he's no longer running, and by then it's too late because the forward has passed me a long time ago.

And how the hell are you supposed to steal the ball? I slide, hit the player slightly from the side and he kind of slows down, but just keeps on running. I hit the ball next time, but not hard enough, and my player takes ages to get up and running, and so the other player just keeps on going with the ball. I hit the player from the back, slightly, he didn't even fall, I barely touched him.......and Ronaldinho is out with a red card. OK, So I think, maybe slides is not the way to do it. I try to steal the ball by pressing A, but I see my player does nothing when I press A, and I keep on trying and to make a long story short, the best way to steal the ball is just to walk over it, and that's a pain to do.

So defense is difficult, and not because of the "smart" players, but it's just made difficult because of how the game is. Offense at the default difficulty is just too easy. If you rely on passing, you'll be infront of the opposing goalie in no time. Marquez passes to X, X sends a through ball to Ronaldinho, he outruns everyone, you shoot, you score. The scoring part is not that easy because shooting was a bit improved this year, but that's basically how it goes. That is of course if you rely on passing like I said. You can not walk/run with the ball that much with non-ronaldinho players because they feel to slow, a defender comes at you, you try changing direction but that loses ALL your speed, not to mention you just wanted to move slightly out of the way, but your player changed direction 90º instead of just the 20º you wanted.

I don't know if I have been able to explain it, it's hard for me to explain it, but it all goes down to these:

*Lack of good response
*Feels like on rails
*Defense is a pain
*Still too fake
*Still not touching PES gameplay.

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2006-10-06 20:15:53

Yea I played it and I must say its pretty good the type of control the player has over the ball seems realistic.

I just like how it all flows.

This has absolutely the best control of any soccer game i've ever played. Once you understand how to use the left and right stick in conjunction with your movements its incredible.

I want you to try this lebato kick the ball away from you for a bit during the loading with ronaldinho then as you run towards the ball move the left stick in the opposite direction you are going before you touch the ball and watch what ronaldinho does :D

Try quickly flicking right stick left or right as you move or try barely moving it left and right as you go forward. Guaranteed purchase.

I love this game everything you do with the ball is dependant on your character's animation at the time, the speed at which he's running, the positioning of his body, the position of his feet. I love it.

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2006-10-06 20:26:40

Looks good, plays good (although I keep getting men sent off) , and I like the music too :)

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The Defender of Truth and Justice!

2006-10-06 20:31:52

The music is incredible :)

No unrealistic out of position shots that still somehow make it to the net.

These guys did a great job imagine what 08 will be like?

This can't be mo-cap... ronaldinho really moves like ronaldinho they probably did these animations by hand or something its incredible.

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2006-10-06 20:38:42 In reply to Optimusv2 (2006-10-06 20:31:52)

yeah, its a real epic orchestra =P

how the hell do you do all the cool moves like in the trailer?
if that isnt possible in the game, why the hell do they show it to us =(
I am not a soccer fan at all or sport fan (and car), but I had to check it out, and the graphics are better than the 06.

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2006-10-06 20:44:14

Apparently the trick stick isn't implemented fully in the demo. I hope that is the case, if only to give Ronaldo and Ronaldinho their trademark moves. The dribbling is certainly far better than it has EVER been in a FIFA game, you can actually make movements with the analogue stick that make sense instead of being restricted by animation cycles.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the inverse kinematics system, especially the fact that players will only make decent shots if you approach the ball properly and from their favoured side and that makes a BIG difference to FIFA (PES has had it for a while but the 8-way movement hurts it a lot)

Oh and the pre-game/loading kickabout with Ronaldinho is strangely addictive!

2006-10-06 20:47:09

Slabs the moves are DEFINITELY there (not all, but they are there)

I haven't been able to do a spin yet, but I've done a lot of cool tricks on the stick thus far. You know that trick where they go left then right to fake out the defender? I've done that numerous times you gotta be delicate on the stick and keep the right stick pointed forward while slightly moving it left and right and he does it.

I'd go fast at a defender move by body left, but then barely tap the ball to the right and its incredible how they get faked out :) From gameplay vids I've seen the final game is much faster.

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2006-10-06 20:49:43

Cool, I guess I'm trying to play it like the current gen version too much.

Can't wait to get this online, we should have some XBoxyde matches!

2006-10-06 20:53:16

Most definitely.. this is a true next gen animation system here I love it.

Once you respect the fact that the players move realistically and wont let you get away with any attempts to play unrealistically the game really shines. Each character having their own ai is true you can really tell. Ronaldinho and rooney really play like themselves.

No sliding animations at ALL... everyone on the field pivoting properly when they slow down this game is awesome. EA did something right :D The NBA games need an animation system like this.

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2006-10-06 21:00:00

I'm not sure if it's me but the right buffer seems to curl/bend the ball whilst shooting?

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The Defender of Truth and Justice!

2006-10-06 21:05:10

I haven't tried it yet.

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2006-10-06 21:05:20

That would be a "Finesse" shot which basically means yeah they use the arch of their foot instead of the front to hit it. Looks insanely good when you strike a ball across the edge of the box with the players favoured foot.

2006-10-06 21:28:30

I've played enough to know pes is pretty much beat as far as gameplay is concerned.

Just to imagine all the refinements they could possibly make with the next version of this game.. wow. The 360 having a next gen exclusive on this game is huge. I mean just watch the plays move the way they handle the ball this game is THE soccer fan's game until they come out with something better.

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2006-10-06 21:44:02

Also LT+ Y seems much better then LT+shoot for chipping the keeper.

Just beat Barca 4-0... Av it :)

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The Defender of Truth and Justice!

2006-10-06 21:52:08

On what difficulty? :P

2006-10-06 21:52:26

I'm definitely picking this game up I'm in shock I keep playing the same game over and over I can't get enough of it.

Yea I figured you'd be using manchester united :) I'm playing it on professional awesome ai I love this game.

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2006-10-06 21:54:46 In reply to Slabs (2006-10-06 21:52:08)

Semi pro.

It was the first game I never had anybody sent off too :p

Ps I'm loving that Japanese song

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The Defender of Truth and Justice!

2006-10-06 21:57:12

Cheat!

Playing on World Class is a great game of football, you don't feel like the CPU cheats to get chances (PES I'm looking at you) and you know if they get a shot in it is because you're either ballwatching or moving players out of position too much.

2006-10-06 22:08:02

Well i played alot of games since this morning and shooting is horrible (not always though) the PC version plays so much better then this. When im in the Arena with Ronaldinho the shooting is all over shop ive hit the corner flag when shooting countless times and that was just left stick and shoot.

When i say sometimes ye you can do lovely long curling shot but when you aim bottom corner it goes wide sometimes. It still needs alot of imrpovement if it gave me the PC gameplay with these graphics id be happy.

Ye graphics are all nice but there still framerate issues in cutscenes and ive so many variations to do a trick and cant do them.

Something not right with this game it just dosnt play a nice game of football imo. Ill give it credit players movement good and likeness and attributes but this no way comes close to PES imo.

I was really hoping it would be good but its failed imo.

Bring on PES6 I think it will be the daddy again dont get me wrong Fifa 07 improved alot i just dont think its enough.

2006-10-06 22:08:30

I've not played FIFA for along time Slabs. Just testing the water at the mo, will crank it up a bit later :)

Don't forget it's only shitty Man U I've got to play with ;)

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The Defender of Truth and Justice!

2006-10-06 22:12:33

Low blow. I'll crush you online!!!

2006-10-06 22:15:20

You are speaking about the pc version of fifa 07?

This is a demo afterall and yes there are framerate issues in CUTSCENES ;) Not the actual game :D Bingham I know exactly why you feel it doesn't play a nice game of football because its much more realistic than you are use to. The way players stop the ball and get their footing into proper position before making a pass or something else its just great and this is just a demo. Fifa 07 JUST came out and there is a demo this fast? I don't think its representative of the final game, but if it was I'd be happy.

I don't know I think it has pes beat easy.

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2006-10-06 22:21:00

Na sorry the release date is 27th of this month cant see much changing its EA afterall they are atrocious for framerate problems was same in the previous Fifa world cup games on 360.

The gameplay on Fifa 07 PC is much better not talking about graphics just is the defending crap though but its better on 360.

Pro Evo games have always been the best for me cant see it being know different tbh.

2006-10-06 22:24:26

It has a better flow to it than PES in my opinion.

They really need to get rid of the 8-way dribbling and implement an analogue system.

2006-10-06 22:46:44

It has an analog system for sure, but the animations are so nicely done that it feels 8 way.

I think it flows better as well.

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