Yeah back then it was OP.
Patch 6 it was just hella stronk as long as its flanks and rear were protected. You could control a street in a siege attack/defense just placing one unit there and forgetting about it. It was the landmower of siege fights.
Now you really have to pump up the pikes quality (pikemen or silver shields) if you want to be sure they will hold, even frontally, a good enemy charge.
They became costier to maintain in your army, while being less efficient. They really became the Anvil of the Alexandrian's armies, they cannot work alone and kill as fast as before. Now you need the Hammer (infantry/cavalry charge) to work with the Anvil.