FIFA 14, the newest installment of the franchise that EA is claiming will be the most realistic soccer game ever, has garnered a lot of attention lately. However, it will face stiff competition from the recently announced Pro Evolution Soccer 14 from Konami. Both games have a variety of new features, so how do each of these games stack up against each other?
Each game will include improved ball physics, however, PES 14 has revamped the way players handle the ball. Now, players will use the analog stick to control the ball and control where other players receive passes. This new system, called "TrueBall Tech" by Konami, is different from EA's 'Protect The Ball' feature, which focuses on dribbling.
Both games seek to add more animations and make the physical contact more visceral and realistic. EA will use the Ignite engine on next-gen consoles to provide a greater range of motion and physicality to FIFA 14, while Konami will have their own system in place to make the characters react more to physical moves and show different tackling styles.
EA has also boasted about the Ignite engine's ability to make crowds more realistic, and the crowds ability to shape the way the player's act. Konami will have a similar feature, with players having mental stamina that can affect their game, as well as replicating home field advantage.
Teammate A.I will be upgraded for both games, as FIFA 14 will use Teammate Intelligence to heighten A.I interaction, while PES 14 will have the ability to deploy different tactics while on the field so that players can try to set up plays with their A.I teammates.
Overall, both games seek to make a more realistic soccer experience. EA may have the advantage though, as FIFA 14 has been confirmed for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in addition to current consoles, while PES 14 will only be appearing on the PlayStation 3, Vita, Xbox 360, and PC. However, the Ignite Engine will only appear on next-gen consoles, so both games may be pretty evenly matched on current tech. We shall see which game pulls ahead once they are released this year.