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When konami decided to change the name from Pro Evolution Soccer to eFootball we found it funny, but the model change free to play It was a total disaster. Beyond the terrifying bugs that eFootball 2022 had when it was launched (something that was solved, luckily), we witnessed with astonishment the release of a completely lost video game, with few game modes, with gameplay that left a lot to be desired. and without a clear objective of the gap he wanted to occupy in the industry.

It was evident that the Japanese brand had to do something against the reign of FIFA, who had completely eaten the toast. At that time we all saw that the way in which Konami wanted to wage war, after several poor deliveries, without news and with constant loss of licenses, was not the most successful. It was not, furthermore, because the Japanese decided to go down into the mud and fight with Electronic Arts where it was strongest: online and competitively. And of course, fighting FIFA Ultimate Team is not easy.

It is not necessary to insist much that Konami’s move was wrong and this cost them dearly. Virtually no player was satisfied with that jump to F2P, because there were not even any significant new features in the playable section. eFootball 2022 even became the lowest rated game on Steam. Now, the Japanese developer has launched eFootball 2024, the game of the 2023/2024 season, with the aim of directing the path and trying to stand up to EA Sports FC 24. Have you achieved it? I tell you in this article.

The right path, but there is still work to be done

When eFootball 2022 came out I played for a couple of weeks. I wanted to trust despite the failures, but I couldn’t stand what the video game offered me. The worst thing was not the constant errors, that too, but a basic playable proposal on the field of play and confusing off it. A few days ago, Alberto Pastor suggested that I do this article and it gave me a little panic, because my last memory of the franchise is disastrous. The positive part is that things they are not so badbut there is still much to improve.

As a football fan since I was little, my life in video games has always been linked to FIFA or PES. I thoroughly enjoyed Pro Evolution Soccer, with a special memory for PES 6, but also for PES 2 or PES 2010, which has, even today, the best mode for a player (that of becoming your soccer player, come on) of the franchise. I never understood why they were not able to develop that way, but I have ended up understanding even less the general drift of the saga.

And it remains that way today, although I only have FIFA as a suitor. I’ve spent more than 300 hours on FIFA 23, which is a bit like the worst human vices: you know it hurts you, but you inevitably return to it. And I’m afraid I’ll continue the love-hate story with FIFA 24 (now, now, EA Sports FC 24), because eFootball 2024 is still not up to par of its competitor, although I want to start breaking it down for the positive. Just because, there are green shoots in this game.

Konami has introduced many changes in gameplay and promises better control to attack, more possibilities in defense and better goalkeepers. The reality is that I liked the improvements. There is something that really bothered me about eFootball. I noticed that the actions you did with the players were very restricted, as if they were too automated. Even the passes were, at times, perfect hits, robotic, very similar, without grace. In FIFA I am capable of making quite “crazy” plays; in eFootball I couldn’t.

In eFootball 2024 the story is different, although it is still far from perfect. Yes I have noticed that there is greater freedom to move the ball in attack and to form plays that break the monotony of the matches, but it is still a game in which the rhythm of the matches is slow. It is somewhat faster and more dynamic than the last ones, this is also true, but the players’ movements are “slow” and clumsy at times. In addition, they show a lot of fatigue, which makes the end of the game a suffering.

In any case, the experience is very diverse depending on whether you play against the AI ​​or another player. Although it is not a title focused on playing against the machine, the possibility is there. In fact, in the Dream Team mode (the one similar to FUT) there are matches that are against the AI. Well, these encounters are still slow, more so than PvP. Even so, I insist again: there is a slight tendency to accelerate things and there is a certain difference with previous versions. For me, the right step.

By the way, the AI ​​is good on higher difficulties, but it does feel a little unfair. He tests you, but it’s practically a feat to score a goal. But, as he said, the gameplay is a little different in PvP, whether in local or online matches. In fact, I had fun in these games, They are faster. It’s not that I think it’s better than FIFA 23, for example, but at least they’re not a disaster. Of course, at the moment I have suffered, because my team is bad and in eFootball 2024 the low-level players have a hard time against the good ones.

But we have to be fair with what Konami has done on this occasion and there is reason for hope. In summary, the improvement in attacking playability is more than evident: it is more difficult to direct the ball, especially in shots on goal (missing is normal, really). Before it was easier to put the ball in a specific place and now the position of the player has a lot of influence, in addition to his quality, of course. There are also adjustments to dribbling or the classic feint, and they are no longer so decisive. They are defensible.

It is precisely in the defense where there is a big change. It is more complex to defend, but at the same time there are more resources to do it: careful stealing, shouldering, strong tackle, greater control of the player to pin down the rival… I liked it. As for the goalkeepers, my feeling is different, because although they do have new animations, they continue to perform very strange and dubious actions. Oh, and to finish off the defense, they have to urgently review the foul and penalty system. The referee points out some laughing infractions.

The worst part, for me, is the ball. It weighs a lot, looks like a medicine ball sometimes. The players make passes so slow that it seems like they are kicking a stone. There is a lot of room for improvement in this aspect and it spoils the final result, which I think is better than in other years. eFootball 2024 is fun in matches between players, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is still polished to be really entertaining. Still, honestly, I think the path is correct at a playable level.

Of course, the debate is served, of course. FIFA has always been associated with a more arcade, fast and direct football; On the other hand, PES and eFootball have always been considered games that rely more on simulation. In my opinion, the FIFA approach is more entertaining and, honestly, it seems that Konami is gradually betting on something similar. In fact, there are players who feel lighter, who run, who have good movements… There are reminiscences of FIFA. A matter of taste, I celebrate it.

eFootball 2024, a game that is still half done

Otherwise the news is not so good. The user interface is still somewhat confusing (the menus are the same, they have changed the organization of the team, at least) and we miss tutorials that explain more the ins and outs of Dream Team mode, because from scratch it can be very chaotic to understand how it works . In my case, which I have not touched since 2021, I have had serious problems to understand which players to sign, how I can build the team and what kind of things I can buy with in-game money.

The way it works is similar to FUT: you buy players and packs to form the best possible team to play against the AI ​​or other users. What I like least about the system is that the cards have leveland you must train and improve them so that they grow in value. Although FIFA’s system of drawing cards without stopping is a bit abusive and borders on absurd (the metamorphs drive me crazy but, hey, people complain about having women in EA Sports FC 24), I prefer it to this one. It’s not very fun and it rewards you to pay.

It must be taken into account that, being a free to play game, eFootball 2024 has micropayments. It is possible to acquire a virtual currency, which can only be obtained by purchasing with real money or in some rewards, to obtain various improvements and accelerate development of your team. You can really play without limitations without spending a single euro, but it will be more difficult to have the team of your dreams. Although, well, that “team of your dreams” has to be put in quotes, because the absence of licenses is devastating.

Two Premier League teams, Barça from the Spanish league (of course, being LALIGA EA Sports, what do we want), one from the Bundesliga, one from France, seven from Italy… The lack of powerful licenses weighs heavily on them, but at least most stars are present, although the equipment is not well updated. For example, Ansu Fati is still at Barça… Of course, Brighton is not in the title. Still, is it fair for us to complain about this? FUT is also pure meaningless fantasy and, with Dream Team being the only mode, it doesn’t matter a bit.

The main drawback is that it is only one you can play. In February 2023, Konami released a statement explaining different new features that would come to the game: Master League, cooperative, the team editor and other elements, cross-platform with mobile, new teams… The only thing that has arrived is the cooperative. The only. So it is very difficult for us to take the development of the IP seriously, honestly. If you start the game it is to play an isolated match with a friend or to play Dream Team. There’s no more.

In general, I still believe that This model greatly harms the video game and I don’t know if it really pays Konami to insist on it. I’m really surprised that you’re still keeping his idea of ​​him intact, when going back to what was before is probably the right thing to do. EA mixes classic modes with FUT and does well. It is not incompatible. I don’t know, it’s hard to see a scenario in which a player of this type of game is going to dedicate many hours to this, and even more so considering that the new FIFA is going to make the leap to mobile phones as well.

Two quick notes to finish. On the one hand, they remain commentators Maldini and Carlos Martínez, with very trite dialogues (you can select several audio modes to avoid copyright problems). And in the visual section, without further ado. I have played it on Xbox Series although without crazy bugs. Furthermore, transitions in games are eternal. It is light years away from FIFA in fluidity.

to the stick

eFootball 2024

By: José M. Rodríguez Ros

eFootball 2024 is a ray of light after the storm: the gameplay is better and it feels like Konami has found the right path to follow. But that’s where the good ends: graphics that say nothing, recycled menus, lack of licenses, lack of variety of game modes and a game that, once again, seems to be half done. It’s not horrible like the previous ones, but there is a lot to do.

5 things you should know:

• Dream Team mode only.

• Very few licenses.

• Better gameplay, right path.

• Fair graphics.

• The same old comments.

Players: 1-6

Language: Texts in Spanish and comments in Spanish

Duration: Incalculable

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