PES 2009: Pro Evolution Soccer

Not bad. I will start by saying that until last year I have always been a Pro Evo fan over Fifa. I think even the most die hard Pro fans will even admit that last years game was just not up to scratch (The first goal I scored my player went running through the stadium and into complete darkness). The online play was also terrible. As a result I went for Fifa 08 which, not without its faults, is a very good game. On the basis of people saying this year a lot of those faults had been fixed I thought I would give this years Pro a chance again having always loved the game. Im really sad to say, its not that good.
Unfortunately after playing Fifa 08 and 09 the game play seems very linear. I mean the players can only really run straight or diagonally which is a bit annoying. I had always been able to forgive no licences and the slightly inferior graphics because PES was always the true simulator over Fifa (in the old days 10-10 was not an unusual score in Fifa)
I hate to say it but the games have swapped places. It is now Fifa that demands a more measured build up and more tactical play. This can not be highlighted any more than the fact that after a few hours of play I found there are a few guaranteed ways to score goals on PES, this is a definite NO NO for any football game in my opinion (loosing 1-0 in the Champs League semi-final, no problem, resort to cutting in from the wing and shooting from the edge of the area and 9 out of 10 attempts find the net). Unfortuntely you can score like this on even the hardest difficulty settings.
To sum up, its not a bad game, I just do not get the same satisfaction out of playing this than I do with Fifa 09. Everyone will have their opinion but I really think PES is now the definitive 'Arcade Style' football game and Fifa 09 is now the true 'Football Simulator'

I'm very worried. Seabass admitted that he had released a partially made game this time last year, to keep up with Fifa's release date (apparently). Nice to know. I have always hated fifa, and adored proevo since ISSProDeluxe days. PES08 was rubbish, even the most ardent fans must admit that. Screaming "where are you going!? get back here!" at your crazy little guys when they trundle off at random angles is infuriating. Other negatives that still exist in this demo are:

- the clunky, 8-point movement feel of the play
- the ridiculous clumsiness of the players "Why are you tripping over thin air!!?" "Get up!!" "You are NOT a windmill!!"
- The music! "Everybody loves football - SOCCER!" oh please
- The menu system and presentation feels very 'fisher price' - not sophisticated at all - and this looks not to have changed
- The proposal of a 4v4 online mode compared to fifa's 10v10 is a clear indication of the yawning gap developing between the games
- commentary and crowd sounds "Ra-fa...Ra-fa" SHUT UP

As a final say, the proof of these footballing puddings will be in the sweetness of the longevity of the games: fifa's 'Be A Pro' vs ProEvo's Legend modes; Manager mode vs Master League. Master league has always come across as over simplified; like buying players for points not money. 'I did grasp the concept of the fiscal barter system in school. I understand how much change I get from a fiver when i buy a mars bar. Thanks.' And player development is far more complex in fifa than I expected it to be. Ironically ProEvo's advantage was always gameplay. Fifa had terrible, unresponsive gameplay. They've addressed this with interest, showing that they take criticism and adjust accordingly. PES have not done the same with their flaw (present in almost every version). Year on year PES game play seems to be trying to achieve a simulation feel, when it's strength lies historically in the 'game' feel - the 'fun'. Recreating the awful things about football makes no sense. Playing in a team with rubbish players who can hardly walk, let alone kick a ball straight is not fun. Having psycho refs who send you off for nothing is infuriating. Having players who make ridiculous random-factor decisions like snatching shots with their wrong foot while leaning sideways and flailing his arms (when under NO pressure) is just stupid. Having teamates who just run blithly in any direction, expecting to unlock defences is so unrealistic (FIFA's AI smashes ProEvo to pieces). It's like simulating all the rubbish things in sunday league footy and charging me for the privilege of being subjected to it. If I was a SIMs fan, would I buy a game that realistically simulates my wife cheating on me or me getting the sack?

A game is a game, PES should be recreating the beautiful side of the game - and with this latest incarnation it looks like they're well on their way to failing again. Jundging from the demo, PES09 is PES08 with some button changes and a clumsy backheel trick added for aesthetics. I feel dirty, but I think I've sold out. Fifa has it's shortcomings; I bought Benzema in Manager mode and he wears the number 2 shirt - which I can't change!! And easy mode is a little TOO easy, whilst I got humiliated by spurs on medium difficulty. BUT!! Those are the worst shortcoming I've found...and I've looked really really hard.

Far be it from me to tell you how to spend your cash (the PES v FIFA debate seems to boil down to chest-beating jingoism, not objective comparison) but I won't be trying PES09 out this year. I can find better things to blow £40 on. Where's my victoria secrets catalogue...

There have been many debates regarding PES and FIFA. The gameplay for both has been criticised and praised. In my opinion PES resembles La Liga with its more fluid movement of the ball and openess on the pitch. FIFA is more like the premiership, a more tactical build up required. It depends which you prefer. After playing the demo for quite a while I have to say it is a big improvement on 2008. Graphics are much sharper and each player resembles their real life counter part. Gameplay is very different to 2008 which is good as last years edition was far too easy. The tempo of play is slower however you can still play that killer through ball. Your team mates make more intelligent runs however goalkeepers still seem to fumble the ball a lot which is annoying. Also theres the inclusion of the champions league however I have heard it won't be included in the master league campaign. Overall a big improvement from last year and still No.1 football game in my book.

I have no idea what these people the so called 'Pro Evo Loyal' are talking about, where is the fun in playing a new game if its just as easy as all the previous titles, Get a Grip, wheres the fun in picking a team with one good player and dribbling all the way to score a goal, Pro evo has never been about that. This is by far the best of the Pro Evos, not since i first played International superstar soccer delux on Snes have i enjoyed playing a football Sim. Granted its a lot harder to dribble but the passing is fantastic and if you have a 1080 TV, you'll appriciate the looks and smoothness even more. Also what are comments like 'you can't tackle without being sent off', the tackling is good despite what anyone else says, you will get sent off if you try and break a player in half, but doesn't that happen in really Football, I think so.

The previous reviews all sound like they are coming from those players who don't know the game of football, and how you need to utilise a full team of players rather than giving it to a Ronaldo or a Messi and trying to skin everyone.

One feature i love is one on ones with the goalie and a defender at your back, if you score this watch the replay and you'll see the defender tug at your jersey, awesome. The incusion of the Champions league is brilliant too,

The biggest gripe of this game though, is the absolute Chronic Commentry, its is truely dreadfull. The Sooner they get Andy 'Take a Boo' Gray the better.

Also the legend building thing has still to convince me too, they tried this on the N64 with ISS 98 and it didn't work then either, it was to long and boring, But get a group of mates round some beers and do your own tournement and you have a great time. Espesially when you get gubbed 5-1 by Nigeria when you're Man U, .. Lousy Random button :-)

The best thing about this game, is that it makes you think more, tactics are more important, you can't constantly use the one attack method as the computer learns a doubles up on the good players, but this makes more space in other areas of the park, just like real football.

Thanks Konami, for Killing my social life for the next year, or until Resistance 2 comes out.

Rikkisixx

I downloaded this yesterday expecting it to be another PES next gen failure!! To my surprise I found this extremely satisfying to play!! The players are much more weighty than in PES 08 and you have to use your head a lot more in terms of creating opportunities, instead of just using Ronaldo and Henry to glide past your opponents which did become dull last year. The shooting is much more realistic and the ball friction is fantastic!!
This is a certain buy for me come the 17th!! Well done Konami.........Unlucky EA Sports!!