14 DAY TRIAL // I know that there are players who love the FIFA series from Electronic Arts or Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami so much that they cannot even accept the fact that the other series can at times deliver a better quality experience.
I love football, not the games built around it, and that position means that, while I have favored the FIFA franchise for the last three or four years, I have fond memories of throwing controllers when my brother defeated me in PES matches during our seemingly interminable summer vacations.
I tend to initially try out a campaign with my favorite club, Liverpool, but I rarely progress for more than two years before I revert to playing single multiplayer matches against friends or family.
And, from that point of view, this year is special because both FIFA and PES deliver impressive football experiences that are different not in terms of quality but in where they locate the heart of the game.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, using the new Fox Engine, seems to believe that the sport should offer less of a spectacle, media or otherwise, while focusing on solid defensing, well-placed passes and shots from promising positions.
Konami created an experience that’s slow and asks the player to have a solid grasp on its controls in order to perform a number of moves that allow him to break open a solid defense.
The game is fun when played against a human opponent but it sets high standards for those who want to deliver impressive plays.
FIFA 14 is flashier, still a little too fast, but there are more impressive shots from long range and quick runs up the field.
There’s more show in the EA Sports title and a bigger emphasis on quick reactions designed to deliver moments that would look good on TV but might never happen in a real world match.
We have reviews for both PES 2014 and FIFA 14 for those who want more info, but both titles are worth playing.