The annual clickbaity time of year is here and everyone is here and ready to give their two cents regarding the classic FIFA vs PES debate.
And of course, it'd be rude of us not to get in on the act without a comparative breakdown of the gameplay in FIFA and PES.
Dribbling
Dribbling has always been an area that FIFA has excelled in, in comparison to PES with its vast array of contextual animations and skill moves, leading to dazzling moments and that is very much the same in this game. The transitions between skills, body feints and sprinting are smooth (sometimes too smooth) and make running at your opponent a joy.
PES has famously recruited Andres Iniesta to consult on the new dribbling in this year's game, which has had a few improvements, and whilst it lacks the full polish of FIFA's dribbling repertoire, it's a great experience once you get the hang of it.
Winner: FIFA
Shooting
Shooting is sharp, snappy, deliberate and rewarding on PES 2020. Whether you go Basic, Manual or Advanced, you're guaranteed to have the same level of satisfaction when you rustle the onion bag. Goalkeepers are inconsistent, but even still, beating them is a task worthy of celebration and PES really does well to recreate the euphoria of scoring a goal.
FIFA is a mixed one. Since the introduction of timed shots, I've really hated the shooting mechanics, however, it's an option that can be turned off and suddenly shooting feels much more natural and seamless, rather than becoming a minigame at the end of an attacking move. Shots still lack the punch required to feel truly realistic, but the experience is good nonetheless.
Winner: PES
Physicality and defending
It can't all be tricks and flicks and fancy stuff, sometimes you've got to get stuck in, and when you do try and compete physically, PES will punish you for it, which is bad enough, but then it often feels inconsistent. You'll get freekicks given for the softest things, but then you can get clattered in the box and receive nothing.
FIFA seems less guilty of the above, albeit not entirely blameless. The game allows you to get stuck in, but fouls can be soft and tackles can be clumsy due to the ever questionable physics and a collision system that has become a hallmark of the series.
Winner: FIFA, only just by default
Overall gameplay
Despite those three sections being core parts of gameplay, there are plenty of tiny areas that build up the overall jigsaw of a football match. That's where PES excels and continues to do so.
The victory is in the finer details, but on the flip side, those finer details can frustrate the player on a whole new level, and for pick up and play, simple fun, FIFA is your game.
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