14 DAY TRIAL // As gamers enjoy some free time and some family-focused days during the Christmas and the New Year’s Eve period, one of the most popular ways to connect with other players is to fire up some sports sims in order to test out skills and engage in some light-hearted competitions.
For my family and friends, the chosen sport is football, which means that this year, for the first time in a long time, both FIFA 15 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 are valid choices for multiplayer matches and local tournaments.
The two development teams have safely aimed for different types of experiences and it will be interesting to see what happens when a family is divided between the two sport titles.
I personally tend to spend more time with FIFA 15, the title created by EA Sports, because it has a better presentation, a focus on spectacle at all levels, and full team names for the Premier League, which houses the teams I play the most.
Before 2014 is through, I need to face off my uncle from another city in a few matches, who has long been a fan of Pro Evolution Soccer and has recently picked up a copy of this year’s installment.
FIFA 15 wants fans to shout and cry
FIFA 15 is a game that wants to deliver in a 14-minute match the same excitement as an entire weekend of action from one of Europe’s top leagues, with a focus on impressive passes, perfect control from superstars, superb shots on goal, and heroic efforts from the goalkeepers.
A good game will lack any downtime, with non-stop action at both ends and plenty of moments when the audience can clap or boo, depending on how the two involved players perform.
For bigger groups, FIFA 15 is cinematic and it’s a pleasure to see how play styles change based on who has the controller and how match approaches evolve as the opponents begin to get a clear fix on the strengths and the weaknesses of all those involved.
Given that the Premier League plays on December 26, I consider it a great idea to put in some matches the day after Christmas, and as always, both me and my uncle will involve even members of the family that are not traditionally video game fans.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 wants gamers to think a lot
Konami has recently had a rough couple of years with Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, but this year’s version has received a lot of praise for the way it tries to replicate the core ideas of football by placing its focus on the way movement and passes are designed to disrupt shapes and lead to a good occasion for a shot.
The experience will not generate as many surprises or impressive shots, but it will ask those playing and watching to take into account how each decision, from launching a sprint to pressing an attacker, needs to be part of a bigger picture.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is a tactics-focused game and some match viewers might find it a little boring in the long term.
At the same time, it can deliver some beautiful and intricate plays that are nothing short of the best moments generated by Real Madrid, Chelsea, or Bayern.
PES 2015 is more suited for smaller groups that already have an appreciation for football as a sport.
Regardless of the choice, the two sims and other sports-based titles are a great way to get families or groups of friends engaged with a video game during the holidays.
