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| Review of eFootball 2024: A Discrepancy Between Modes and Gameplay |
It feels like just yesterday that EFootball 2022 graced our screens, but in reality, nearly two years have passed since its release. A lot has transferred into the realm of soccer/football gaming during this time. EA Sports severed its longstanding partnership with FIFA, rebranding its flagship game as EA Sports FC. Meanwhile, independent startups like UFL and Goals have emerged, making waves as they venture into this competitive arena. After a disastrous initial launch, Konami followed up with EFootball 2023 last year, which failed to elevate the franchise from the relegation battle of mediocrity. With EFootball 2024 now available, the question on everyone's mind is whether Konami can climb the ranks or if they'll continue to offer footy fans a lackluster product.
What stands out
Dribbling & Enhanced Responsiveness: From the moment the referee blows the whistle to kick off the match, players can immediately sense the improved responsiveness of EFootball 2024 compared to its predecessors. Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) enthusiasts have always appreciated the weighty feel of player movements, in contrast to FIFA's occasionally janky and inconsistent foot-planting system. FIFA sometimes ignores physics to cater to the competitive online community, sacrificing realism for convenience.
When it comes to defense, tackling is more responsive to button inputs, effectively distinguishing between elite ball dispossessors and clumsy strikers. However, there are still moments, especially in online play, where victory seems to hinge more on one's mastery of the game's movement engine and anticipation of specific animations rather than skill alone. While EFootball 2024 isn't flawless, it maintains a faster pace compared to EFootball 2021 Season Update and offers a more enjoyable experience than FIFA 23.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of EFootball 2024 is that beneath its flaws lies a genuinely good football game, thanks largely to the AI. At higher difficulty levels (Superstar), the AI showcases dynamic attacking strategies, seamlessly transitioning between direct attacks, counterattacks, and deliberate ball retention. Matches can occasionally become end-to-end sprints reminiscent of arcade gameplay, but facing teams like Brazil is a treat due to the distinct player individuality they exhibit.
The AI's repertoire of flicks and skills creates an authentic '90s/early 2000s samba team vibe, but it's executed in a more believable manner than FIFA 23. In FIFA, AI players sometimes perform tricks arbitrarily merely because they possess certain traits, whereas in EFootball 2024, the AI's moves are more purposeful and context-driven. Moreover, dealing with long-range shots and various types of crosses keeps players on their toes, requiring proactive strategies to cope with diverse attacks.
Changes to the Color Scheme: While this may be a minor improvement, it's still a welcome one. Many menus have been revamped with a more subdued backdrop, reducing the strain on the eyes when managing your Dream Team. It's puzzling that not all menus received this treatment, particularly the pre-match menu. However, EFootball seems to be making a somewhat more transparent effort to address these issues compared to its previous iterations.
What Leaves Much to Be Desired
Game Modes: Despite the commendable improvements in gameplay, EFootball 2024 suffers from a glaring lack of variety and repetitive game modes. The handful of events and special players that make appearances year after year contribute to a sense of staleness. While Konami does send updates for significant derby matches (especially those involving partner clubs like Manchester United vs. Arsenal), long-time players may feel a sense of déjà vu. Introducing modes like Master League and Edit Mode could inject much-needed freshness into the game, particularly for offline players. PES's legacy has often been built on these two modes, and their absence in EFootball 2024 is palpable. PES modder Durandil67 has unearthed traces of these modes in the game's PC codes, raising questions about when, or if, Konami will introduce them.
The question then becomes whether Konami can regain the trust of its dedicated PES fanbase, who may have felt let down by previous iterations.
Graphics: This year's graphics are a mixed bag. Player models, facial details, and crowd visuals have all seen improvements, addressing some of the initial negative feedback. While EFootball 2024 still doesn't match up to EA's product in terms of visuals, it's gradually moving away from the appearance of a mobile game and inching closer to a proper console/PC game. However, the visual experience takes a hit due to the lackluster pitch. The grass texture and hue give off a mobile game vibe, and Konami's restrictions, such as the absence of day matches and weather effects in online play, limit the game's visual appeal.
No Cross-Play: Konami's decision to reset ranks and divisions with each new season in EFootball is not uncommon in competitive sports games. However, the absence of cross-play is a significant drawback, exacerbating the challenge of finding suitable opponents. Playing against the same opponents repeatedly, especially when facing teams filled with legends, can become tiresome quickly. Cross-platform play has become a key selling point in modern gaming, making it all the more disappointing that Konami has yet to implement it, despite promising to do so.
Inconsistent Fouls: While fouls are still present in EFootball 2024, there's a glaring issue when it comes to defender actions during passes or shots. Some instances, like the one shown, should clearly be considered fouls, but the game often fails to interpret them as such. The slight input delay present in all online games might contribute to this problem. Regardless of the cause, these situations can lead to direct attacks on your goal, giving the impression that EFootball 2024 sometimes plays more like a mobile game.
Final Thoughts
EFootball 2024 delivers a decent football experience, but like its predecessors, it quickly becomes monotonous due to the lack of diverse game modes, perplexing design choices, and the ease with which top squads filled with superstars can be assembled. While it's enjoyable to play with legendary players like Bergkamp and Francesco Totti, the prevalence of these players across nearly every squad diminishes the uniqueness of each team. Furthermore, online players often exploit formations that should leave them vulnerable, detracting from the overall experience.
Only the most dedicated PES fans and those desperately seeking an alternative to FIFA or EA Sports FC continue to engage with this game. One can only hope that Konami doesn't wait too long to introduce more expansive game modes and address the game's shortcomings to provide players with something worth looking forward to.
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