Auriaprottu
08 May 2004, 11:38 PM
I can't pull up any of the old threads about WE7 from February when it first released here in the US, so I've begun a new one.
I just got the game last week. I've been enjoying WE6 so much that I just didn't bother until now.
Anyhow, most of these comments will focus on presentation and graphics, as I'm happy with Konami's gameplay (aside from one glitch, which I'll mention later).
Presentation/Graphics
Kits.
Using the flag as the jersey crest was a great idea, and was suggested in a thread dedicated to suggestions for the then-upcoming WE7. Now, the next step is to allow a second (transparent) background for jerseys only that will allow the edited crest to look natural on both home and away jerseys. As it is now, you can choose a background color that matches one jersey, but it usually won't match the other. If Konami can't supply two backgrounds, they should make the one they have transparent and forget the stadium flags entirely. I'd rather have perfect home and road jerseys than flags in the stands. Konami should allow the NT flags to be edited so that NT jerseys can sport their usual crests rather than the country's flag. I'd also appreciate being able to edit the GK kits and gloves. I'd like to see an additional, larger "flag" with more fonts, that can be used for sponsor logos (I don't know if I'd use it, but I'd like to have the option).
Pitch/Stadia
Konami done good here. Everything looks very nice. Even the lack of depth of the people in the stands is tolerable, considering the improvements in player graphics. One thing continues to bug me about the weather selection. One day I hope to be able to select a dreary, overcast day (no shadows) without rain. Every match is played in either sunshine or rain (joy... and pain) And when it IS raining, I'd like to see some dirt and grime on the player's kits, like in Madden.
The ball is ugly.
Player Renditions
Overall, the players look more realistic, but they need dental work. Close their mouths, if you can't keep them from looking like they're missing some teeth. Some of the darker-skinned players look like zombies. Especially Ze Roberto and Kluivert. Either one of those player models would scare the ball into the net, seriously. And the Dutch need to sh!t or get off the damn pot. There's no good reason why some of the Oranje are available in Commentary names while others are not. Work out whatever legalities you have to work out, or leave 'em all as numbers only.
Replays
Good for Konami for letting us save replays from non-goals. But there's no need to cancel "replay" when the whistle blows. I'd like to replay a few fouls/near misses, too.
Audio
Well, WE may never catch FIFA in terms of music. That's fine. But I want all the languages back. I played my WE6 ML matches using the language of the opposing team's country when I was the road team, and enjoyed the change in sound and football atmosphere. Restricting WE7 to English and Spanish sucks.
I'd also like Konami to include MANY more cities (every city in the world over 2 million people should be available) in the selection of commentary names. It's not worth creating a team if you can't hear the name of the city in the commentary. I don't have any ties to or concerns about any of the teams in this game, and it would be nice to create an "Atlanta" team (NOT the Silverbacks, but just "Atlanta"). I know there's a few more gamers who'd enjoy creating a local team or one from a nearby city. "WE/PES United" doesn't cut it. There was also no reason to eliminate Vasco, Palmeiras, Boca and River Plate to include a bunch of also-rans from European lower divisions. Hell, the cities aren't even available anymore, except Rio. This was a bad move. Top four in a nation's top division (at that time) should be a prerequisite for bumping another team off the game. If Konami can't manage that, they should employ some sort of "scramble" mode that changes all the players and teams names to imaginary ones. If I have to be WE United instead of Atlanta or New Orleans or whoever, I'd rather play against (insert created team name here) than ManU or even Real Madrid, and I certainly have no interest in playing against the likes of West Ham, Porto or Auxerre.
Gameplay
I have only one complaint about gameplay. When I'm defending and I select a player, it seems like he always takes two or three steps in EXACTLY the wrong direction before I can redirect him to the ballcarrier. That's a FIFA-esque, Bush-league way to make a game more difficult. It's easy to ignore, though, even forget about, when I take in all the wonderful things about the gameplay.
I just got the game last week. I've been enjoying WE6 so much that I just didn't bother until now.
Anyhow, most of these comments will focus on presentation and graphics, as I'm happy with Konami's gameplay (aside from one glitch, which I'll mention later).
Presentation/Graphics
Kits.
Using the flag as the jersey crest was a great idea, and was suggested in a thread dedicated to suggestions for the then-upcoming WE7. Now, the next step is to allow a second (transparent) background for jerseys only that will allow the edited crest to look natural on both home and away jerseys. As it is now, you can choose a background color that matches one jersey, but it usually won't match the other. If Konami can't supply two backgrounds, they should make the one they have transparent and forget the stadium flags entirely. I'd rather have perfect home and road jerseys than flags in the stands. Konami should allow the NT flags to be edited so that NT jerseys can sport their usual crests rather than the country's flag. I'd also appreciate being able to edit the GK kits and gloves. I'd like to see an additional, larger "flag" with more fonts, that can be used for sponsor logos (I don't know if I'd use it, but I'd like to have the option).
Pitch/Stadia
Konami done good here. Everything looks very nice. Even the lack of depth of the people in the stands is tolerable, considering the improvements in player graphics. One thing continues to bug me about the weather selection. One day I hope to be able to select a dreary, overcast day (no shadows) without rain. Every match is played in either sunshine or rain (joy... and pain) And when it IS raining, I'd like to see some dirt and grime on the player's kits, like in Madden.
The ball is ugly.
Player Renditions
Overall, the players look more realistic, but they need dental work. Close their mouths, if you can't keep them from looking like they're missing some teeth. Some of the darker-skinned players look like zombies. Especially Ze Roberto and Kluivert. Either one of those player models would scare the ball into the net, seriously. And the Dutch need to sh!t or get off the damn pot. There's no good reason why some of the Oranje are available in Commentary names while others are not. Work out whatever legalities you have to work out, or leave 'em all as numbers only.
Replays
Good for Konami for letting us save replays from non-goals. But there's no need to cancel "replay" when the whistle blows. I'd like to replay a few fouls/near misses, too.
Audio
Well, WE may never catch FIFA in terms of music. That's fine. But I want all the languages back. I played my WE6 ML matches using the language of the opposing team's country when I was the road team, and enjoyed the change in sound and football atmosphere. Restricting WE7 to English and Spanish sucks.
I'd also like Konami to include MANY more cities (every city in the world over 2 million people should be available) in the selection of commentary names. It's not worth creating a team if you can't hear the name of the city in the commentary. I don't have any ties to or concerns about any of the teams in this game, and it would be nice to create an "Atlanta" team (NOT the Silverbacks, but just "Atlanta"). I know there's a few more gamers who'd enjoy creating a local team or one from a nearby city. "WE/PES United" doesn't cut it. There was also no reason to eliminate Vasco, Palmeiras, Boca and River Plate to include a bunch of also-rans from European lower divisions. Hell, the cities aren't even available anymore, except Rio. This was a bad move. Top four in a nation's top division (at that time) should be a prerequisite for bumping another team off the game. If Konami can't manage that, they should employ some sort of "scramble" mode that changes all the players and teams names to imaginary ones. If I have to be WE United instead of Atlanta or New Orleans or whoever, I'd rather play against (insert created team name here) than ManU or even Real Madrid, and I certainly have no interest in playing against the likes of West Ham, Porto or Auxerre.
Gameplay
I have only one complaint about gameplay. When I'm defending and I select a player, it seems like he always takes two or three steps in EXACTLY the wrong direction before I can redirect him to the ballcarrier. That's a FIFA-esque, Bush-league way to make a game more difficult. It's easy to ignore, though, even forget about, when I take in all the wonderful things about the gameplay.