Pes2021 is hugely overrated
I think many regard Pes 2021, as a whole, to be considered the most complete (gameplay, animations, modes etc) total packaged Pes to ever exist, with the least amount of flaws. And with the added bonus of being the most openly modded version. So much has been possible with this game over the last 4 years. For me, it trumps in what I consider the 2 most fundamental factors of a successful football sim, i.e. 1. the controls and how it feels on the ball (movement and ball physics), and 2. the AI, specifically the variation of the cpu AI in a p.1 vs cpu game. Over the last week I have been back and forth between pes2021 (+ Hollands real pes 2025 GP patch) and efootball (2025). I enjoy both equally, and playing one doesn't diminish my pleasure of immediately playing the other. I thought playing this new smoother efootball would turn me off pes2021's slightly more rigid/on rails feel, but no... the GP mod from Holland is honestly so damn next level good, that for me it's a brand new game with the best cpu AI ive ever experienced in a football sim. Gameplay so balanced, in terms of fairness, AI variations (mistakes, attacking patterns), and Im seeing things I've never seen before... and all whilst playing full manual on Legend. Anyways.... then i go to efootball, and similarly Im loving it, in particular the smoother off rails feeling when on the ball, and what I consider a looser, more realistic set of ball physics. And for a vanilla version, the AI (again on full manual, Legend) is probably the best we've seen... Im seeing AI making regular mistakes, as well as having more variation in regards to taking me on dribbling wise, cutting in, shooting from distance etc. More variations in attack than previous versions.
I still can't get how people admire ef2025 ball physics. The ball bounces excessively, and rolls way too long. IT's like the physics were studied on a cement/wooden floor. You can't feel the friction and the thickness of the grass. Also, the ball doesn't travel naturally on ground.
Pes 2021 felt more real I think.
Thats precisely what i like about ef2025's ball physics.. the ball continues to roll, which to me seems more realistic, creating a feeling of a looser ball with the realistic momentum behind it. I actually think ef2025's ball kicking sound is awesome, and helps create the feeling of realistic weight of the ball moving around the pitch. I definitely get a more reactive and realistic feeling when passing or shooting in ef2025 compared to the excellent pes2021.
Again, both games are doing it for me (Full manual, Legend 12 mins, Exhibition offline). Also, im wondering if grass length, wet vs dry, actually has anything to do with how the ball feels... from memory I haven't really noticed any big differences in how they feel. Im always playing on wet turf, and normal length.