Have played it a few times since the weekend patch (PS5 Side-Camera) and some things have obviously improved.
Frame Rate - Seems to have improved immensely.
Animation Errors - These seem to have been cut down a lot, perhaps frame rate was a cause, but I’m sure I’ve still seen one or two.
Kicking - It seems more or less back to where it was, which I’d call acceptable, but not great.
So, well done on that patch BA. A step forward without too much in the way of any steps back.
There are still some issues that are recent or introduced.
1 - There is an issue when someone tries to score a try from a certain distance from the line. I suppose I’d best describe it as being very close to on the line itself. The game often does not register the input for a certain distance around the line and you have to be careful not to run dead.
2 - There are a lot more intercepts now. This seems to be caused by allowing players more freedom to cross the advantage line during open play. Obviously you do want this to be a possibility as intercepts happen in the real life game and also offsides from being on the wrong side of the advantage line and tackling and/or interfering with the play. Although whatever has been changed from how it was, I would hope there was a “half measure” from where it is now. It is still important to be able to be offside in open play, or drift through from defence and possibly get an intercept, but right now it’s been changed a bit too much.
3 - I’m not too bothered by the Goal kicking system, I can kick them fine all the time now, but I know many others are having issues getting the ball to travel. For me the issue is that most goal kicks are far too easy to read for wind and it’s too easy to nail any power from half up to full before it hits the top line of the red player circle. I’d prefer an accuracy target to hit too, which could either be at the top or the bottom of the bar.
4 - General Play Kicking. I’m really hoping that without mucking up the kicking system again as happened last week, that we could be given a little more power (5-10m) from our kicks. Right now I’m playing game after game with friends or the AI and finding that it’s much better not to tactically kick. You don’t get enough distance to warrant it at all, and your opposition will make most of that distance back as soon as they catch the ball.
5 - Tackling. Tackling is a problem in this game. It doesn’t matter if you go early, or what looks to be well timed, or if you tackle late, you’ll get the same result. Either an effective tackle or fended off. It doesn’t seem to matter your timing, it doesn’t seem to effect the chance of a high tackle or anything, your timing as a tackler doesn’t really seem to come into it at all. Also, the DIVE TACKLE. Why put in there? It has no range at all, when players are running towards the try line and you get close cover-defending, there’s no point pushing dive tackle as you simply will have the attacking player continue to move away from you and you’ll go splat on the ground. There needs to be some range to it and it also seems weaker than the normal tackle, which is sad because there’s no reward for trying it. I’d prefer it was stronger as it’s harder to achieve from a gaming perspective.
That’s just another of my long posts, but thanks for what work has been going on lately. It is slowly getting better now. I hope you have some great things coming in future updates!
