In the first decades of the 21st century, the evolution of football has been marked by the constant rivalry between two icons, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. For those fans who are also interested in gaming, there was another eternal debate: FIFA (EA Sports FC) or PES (eFootball)?
Translating the real-world magic of football into bits of code has presented a unique challenge for game developers, especially when trying to capture the playing style of the two modern-day legends, Messi and Ronaldo.
Each of these franchises approaches this task in their own manner, recreating the nuanced playing styles, physical attributes, and on-the-pitch presence with varying degrees of success. The question is not just about rating and statistics, but rather about which game truly makes you feel like you are in control of these legendary players.
The Messi Simulation: Creativity and Constraints
When it comes to relaying Messi's ethereal playing style in zeroes and ones, FIFA emerges as the clear winner. The developers at EA SPORTS have delivered year after year an exceptional recreation of the Argentine maestro's abilities and techniques. This is achieved through a precise description of his playing style via ratings such as dribbling, ball control, and remarkable agility and balance stats that perfectly mirror his real-world attributes.
Thus, the game encompasses Leo's complete skill set, with his delicate first touch, lightning-quick turns, perfect finesse shots, and the supernatural ability to find a through ball in the tightest of spaces.
Any gamer knows how much the small details shape the overall experience. Take online football slots, for instance. There are lots of them both on independent platforms and on sister sites of any major brand, like, say, Jackpotjoy reviewed at https://legalcasino.uk/sister-sites/jackpotjoy/. When choosing a slot, players usually go for games that nail their favourite features and highlight the stars they love. It’s much the same with football sims. If you're a Messi fan, odds are you’re picking FIFA.
What sets FIFA apart is its flexibility with positioning when playing with the Argentina captain. Players can deploy Messi across various attacking roles which include false nine, right winger, attacking midfielder or second striker. Leo maintains his effectiveness in all these positions, which reflects his versatility and how he has adapted his game throughout his career at the club and national team level.
PES is not far behind in capturing the Messi magic but suffers from a restrictive positioning mechanic. In 2022, PES introduced the "deep-lying forward" playing style as Messi's unique attribute, but it is only activated when using him as a center forward or center striker. Playing him as a right winger significantly hampers the authentic recreation of his tactical flexibility. This limits the player's experience as it turns Leo into a touchline-hugging winger with a limited scope of actions.
Ronaldo's Virtual Dominance: Where Power Meets Precision
The Cristiano Ronaldo comparison tells a different story. Whereas both games capture the explosive style of the Portuguese icon, it is PES that edges ahead in making the players feel his overwhelming presence on the pitch. With sky-high finishing and kicking power ratings, PES makes Ronaldo feel like the unstoppable force of nature he is in real life. With top-notch physical contact and stamina stats, Ronaldo can dominate aerial duels and maintain a high intensity throughout matches.
FIFA approached Ronaldo in a similar fashion, putting more eggs in the physicality basket. The forward's versatility is shown through the PlayStyle abilities like "Power Shot+", "Acrobatic", "Aerial," and "Power Header". This perfectly describes the complete offensive threat that Cristiano possesses. His high shooting stats, exceptional heading accuracy and remarkable jumping ability allow the player to recreate the most iconic Champions League moments when controlling the Portuguese.
However, the key difference lies in what the games feel like. PES makes Ronaldo feel more physically imposing and devastating in front of goal; the difference between him and other players is better felt even at the level of physicality. FIFA, meanwhile, has smoother animations and a more balanced approach to the differences between players.
Visual Authenticity: The Devil in the Details
Both games have invested heavily in player likeness but there is one key distinction. FIFA's strength is in comprehensive motion capture and detailed animations. Thus, the players can experience Messi's signature low centre of gravity dribbling style when controlling the player, or Ronaldo's distinctive free-kick stance. This is achieved using advanced 3D scanning technology that captures the most minor details down to facial expressions.
PES, developed by KONAMI, has historically led in facial realism, and has some of the most lifelike player models in gaming. However, PES also holds fewer exclusive licenses, which can affect the overall authenticity of the experience at the team level, even though the players themselves remain highly detailed.
Conclusion
FIFA provides the superior Messi experience through tactical flexibility and accurate representation of his creative genius, allowing players to recreate his magic across different positions without constraints. While PES/eFootball delivers a more visceral feel of Ronaldo's physical dominance and goal-scoring prowess, the choice ultimately depends on whether you prioritize Messi's technical brilliance or Ronaldo's devastating impact.