You get crucified here for saying anything positive, but I'll go nonetheless: Speaking in terms of on-pitch gameplay only, not graphics and not the empty modes/content demo-like status of the game:
- Because Legend AI is more fun and fair to engage with than in PES.
- Because dribbling is better than in PES.
- Because passing is better than in PES.
- Because motion matching makes interceptions and defending better than in PES.
- Because the slower pace is much better.
- Because player inertia is much better
- Referee is a little better but still a mess
That said:
- PES has much better shooting
- PES has better ball physics
- PES has better keepers
- PES has better player switching, it's a shitshow in EF:
Things that are debatable:
- Yes, PES has more tactical options, but they're a mess and IMO tactical movement in EF is better, more efficient, and just smarter, and sometimes more flexible, like being able to have only one attacking fullback. Players in EF attack empty spaces that make sense without having to ask them to, while in PES I am left furious by players not moving into spaces they should be moving into.
Many of these points I only perceived after spending a month playing EF 1.0 then shifting to PES and feeling the difference, then shifting back to EF, so YMMV.