eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE

The graphics of this football game are widely praised for their realism, detail, and smooth animations, often considered superior or more vibrant than FIFA's visuals. While some users note the graphics can feel outdated or similar to previous versions without major updates, the inclusion of mods greatly enhances visual fidelity. Overall, the game offers impressive and immersive graphics that complement its gameplay, though there remain occasional complaints about player face models, minor bugs, and the need for further improvements in future editions.

The game's story aspect is generally seen as minimal or nonexistent, with many users describing it as scripted, emotionless, or focused primarily on gameplay rather than narrative depth. Some appreciate the "master league" mode for its storytelling elements, but others find it boring or feel the story has stagnated over the years. Overall, the story is often overshadowed by gameplay, leading to mixed opinions on its narrative value.

The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky and sometimes frustrating gameplay elements, such as exaggerated fouls, scripted AI actions, and ridiculous in-game events, which many players find amusing despite occasional criticism. While some find these moments entertaining and funny, others feel the humor reflects deeper gameplay flaws, creating a mix of frustration and amusement. Overall, the game's humor stems largely from its unexpected and comical glitches and AI behavior.

The game's music receives mixed reviews, with many praising its soundtrack as fantastic and fitting well with the game's atmosphere, while others find it limited in quantity and not as strong compared to competitors like FIFA. Some players appreciate specific tracks and modding potential to enhance realism, but a portion of users consider the soundtrack mediocre or not to their taste. Overall, the music is generally seen as a strong point but not universally acclaimed.

Optimization is generally regarded as poor, with frequent screen stuttering and high CPU usage reported even on fairly capable hardware. While gameplay may run smoothly at times, issues like overheating, inconsistent FPS, and poor performance during multitasking persist. Overall, optimization is subpar compared to similar titles, leading to a frustrating experience for many PC users.

The game’s stability is marred by frequent glitches, crashes, and lag, especially in online play where hackers, cheaters, and connection issues are common. AI and gameplay bugs also disrupt the experience, causing frustrating moments like unpredictable controls and frozen matches. While some find the gameplay smooth and realistic, the overall buggy and unstable nature undermines enjoyment for many players.

Grinding in the game is often described as tedious and time-consuming, requiring significant patience or additional spending to progress effectively, especially in modes like MyClub. While some players appreciate the depth and realism, many find the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall experience.

Players widely criticize the game's monetization, describing it as a heavy cash grab dominated by microtransactions and lootbox mechanics. While some note it offers fewer pay-to-win advantages compared to competitors like FIFA, many feel the focus on monetization undermines the overall experience and development quality.

Users express significant emotional frustration with the game, citing inconsistent AI behavior, unfair fouls, and unbalanced multiplayer matchups that undermine enjoyment. Many feel Konami's reliance on patches reflects laziness, leading to a loss of excitement and emotional connection with the gameplay and their favorite teams. Overall, the game evokes disappointment and emotional distress rather than the anticipated fun and engagement.

Users have mixed opinions on atmosphere: some praise the immersive stadiums and lifelike animations that enhance realism, while others find the atmosphere lacking, citing poor commentary, limited licenses, and weak crowd presence. Certain mods improve immersion, but glitches and gameplay issues also detract from the overall experience. Comparisons to other games highlight room for improvement, especially in creating a more engaging and dynamic environment.

Users highlight strong replayability, noting that the career mode adds significant depth and long-term engagement. While some feel later versions diminished the experience, the game remains highly replayable and enjoyable over time.