Having played quite a bit more, I'm really in two minds about it. Some things are bugging me no end:
- the target locking is the worst I've ever played in a game (I don't know if it's as bad on PA since I only play FUMA, but it's terrible for this). I mean: when you pass to an intended player, the auto-select switches to an option nowhere near the ball or the play in general. Kills moves in their tracks instantly.
- the player awareness for getting onto a ball is a really small circle around them (I don't mean the literal UI circle...) So unless you're holding match up and facing/approaching the ball, your players will often just ignore it even when it's close by. The same happens when receiving the ball in space (again, I only play FUMA, so maybe this happens less on PA where balls haven't gone into space for years).
- the online playing culture is already getting toxic and win-at-all-costs. That's a given with this sort of game, but depressing all the same.
- the sharp touch mechanic can be wonderful at times, but since you can pre-trigger it, whether or not you have the ball, it can result in some comically bad/stupid shit.
- players still run into each other a la the last several PES games. And that fucking animation where a player sticks his back leg out and kills a move is still in the game, for God knows what reason.
- the ball physics on ground passes are genuinely shocking. Newton would like a word. The grass provides literally no friction sometimes, it's like playing on ice.
Try changing cursor switching to semi assisted rather than fully assisted I had far more success then.