Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

"Pro Regressive Evolution Soccer"

I have, or should I say had been, a huge PES since the days of International Superstar Soccer Pro Evolution on the PS1. For the past 10 years I have bought PES games knowing what I was going to get, the most accurate football simulation on the market, until last year that is. Last year a game came out that made most PES fans cry, PES2008. It was an impostor, a mere shadow of the game we once loved on the PS2. Whilst PES was clearly struggling to make a game for the next gen systems, FIFA on the other hand was making strides, FIFA08 was the first playable FIFA in years and it was now a genuine contender for the title.

Konami clearly acknowledged the fact that PES2008 was quite simply not up to par and "Seabass" promised a complete rehash of the game. That promise however, was clearly not met. Many PES fans could see that early on from various gameplay footage that the game had not changed much. A huge portion of the once so loyal PES fanbase did the unthinkable. Actually considered FIFA as their footy title for the season. A few years ago that would have been tantamount to blashphemy, but not now. Whilst PES rests on it's laurels, FIFA09 was taking things to another level and made the most playable and accurate footy sim since the days of PES5. PES2009 surely had to deliver.

I refused to purchase PES after the demo was released on PSN, it seemed almost identical to 2008's debarcle. However, I did borrow the game off of a friend. Before I even entered the disc into my PS3 I was on the net looking for a good option file. I found one instantly and loaded it up. I also took the time to create crowd chants for the "Big Four" of the premier league. I made it as official as possible so I could hopefully get an authentic and playable game. My first foray into the game of PES was the new "Become A Legend" feature, basically a rip off of FIFAs "Be A Pro" mode. I created my character, put the settings on "Top Player" and got down to business. The gameplay on this mode is extremely frustrating and quite frankly dull. To call for a pass you have to akwardly double tap R2, however, the AI will still rarely pass to you, even if you are screaming for the ball in the best position on the pitch. It is unbelievably frustrating. I could be through on goal if only the AI would pass to me, but the majority of the time, they just ignore you and make a poor pass to a player being marked. Being on the bench in this mode is also a chore, you have to sit through an entire match looking on as your team are torn apart by Arsenal, it is extremely tiresome and boring.The fact that this PES now has added emphasis on first time control also makes this mode particularly difficult, basically every so called "average" player can't control a ball properly and constantly takes an overly heavy touch. Since you begin your career as a novice, your poor stats are yet another source of frustration. However, these facts make the game ever more challenging, this in turn makes scoring a last gasp scrappy winner for your side in the 90th minute ever more satisfying. That has always been the genius of PES, I still have memories of last gasp winners from the likes of "Valeny" in PES games of the past.

This moves me on nicely to the legend that is "The Master League." By far the best feature of PES albeit slightly tiresome since the exact same formula has been used for years now. Whilst it could most certainly do with a rehash, it is still as addictive as ever. Guiding a team of misfits "Valeny" and the likes, thorugh a season on top difficulty is both hugely rewarding and hugely frustrating. Scoring a goal with "Jaric" in the 89th minute is as satisfying as ever. The downpoints of the master league, are the lack of a third and easily doable division to climb, the lack of a "Champions League" mode, the poor negotiation section and the in my opinion, extremely poor menus that will confuse people who are new to the series.

Champions league mode is just that, a tournament for europes elite. It is the same as every other tournament except this mode is officially licensed so expect to see the CL logos, music and the like.

Know we move on to the core elements of the game.

Gameplay:

On the last gen consoles, PES boasted the greater gameplay over FIFA by a very long way. For this gen however, that quite simply is not the case. The gameplay is shoddy to say the least. It plays like an arcade game, the passing feels wrong, its hard to explain but it feels like the ball is on a surface other than grass. The player animations which is now a huge part of footy sims as FIFA have demonstrated, are quite frankly appalling. Players still run like they are either, smack addicts, starring on "Baywatch" or have a gout infection. The players still have angled control, meaning they can't move naturally in a 360 degree motion. They turn 90 degrees so unbelievably quickly, it's a wonder they haven't broken their leg. The shooting whilst feeling noticeably different to last years, still feels predictable. The sweet spots still remain, for instance shooting from a certain angle, with a certain amount of power will ALWAYS guarantee a goal, there is no X Factor any more, no more uncertainty to shots. The game is also played at an unrealistic and overly fasr pace. The ball zips around at 100mph, whilst players sprint like Linford Christie all over the place.

Passing is all over the place and I blame it on the 8 way movement. around 20% of passes will be misplaced, on numerous occasions I have clearly been pressing forward yet the player will pass it left or right. The fact there is no power gauge on passes is even more idiotic, many a time a pass will be too soft or too heavy. FIFA incorporated a power bar that works a dream, so why can't KONAMI, it would be extremely useful.

The skills being attached to the directional buttons seems to be hit an miss. Some people will love it and find it easier than before, others, myself included will find it akward and pointless.

By far and away the most annoying element of the game, is the appalling and inconsistent referees. Light tackles are deemed free kicks and sometimes a yellow card offence. Slide tackling in the box, regardless of winning the ball cleanly seems to mean a certain penalty. The inconsistency is laughable, you can get a yellow for a clean challenge, yet the AI can practically assault your player and get nothing. Perhaps it's part of the genius (sarcasm) "momentum," system, or in other words "cheating AI" system SEABASS admitted to in an interview with PSM3.

This is a system that employs cheating tactics which the games designer has admitted to. If the game cannot beat you, it simply cheats you. Players who are usually fast, skillful and strong are suddenly sluggish, and poor on the ball. Players like Fabregas will start randomly giving the ball away. The referee will clearly support the AI. Whilst some may say, the momentum system is realistic (most teams have a bad spell in a match) others, including myself will see it as quite simply cheating. If the AI isn't good enough to beat you fairly, then that says something about the programming.

PES does do alot of things well however, stats of a player are clearly represented on the pitch. Being in control of C.Ronaldo feels vastly different to being in control of say, John O'Shea. In FIFA the difference is apparent, but not nearly enough, PES on the other hand almost nails it. PES also feels more responsive, a button press in FIFA seems occasionally delayed, whilst on PES, if you press it, it will happen.

Now we move on to the farcical online, I don't know why I even bothered. Last years shoddy online has clearly not been fixed. Lag is still hugely apparent, the struggle to get online initally is horrific. It's a complete joke and would be better off not making an appearance in the game. Whilst FIFA can easily handle 10v10 games, PES struggles to handle 1v1.

Graphics wise, PES is very poor. Whilst the faces are recognisable, the smoothness of FIFAs graphics are not matched. Fanboys will argue PES has better faces then FIFA. This is quite simply unture. PES has used the same graphics engine for the last 3 years and has built up a portfolio of player faces, thus has more player faces than FIFA. FIFA however, is using a new engine, and has yet to build every face. The faces that have been done on both however represent a clear graphical (face wise) winner. FIFA. The only thing in PES that looks better than FIFA, are the crowds.

Overall PES is a solid game, but is nowhere near the standard of past glories and cannot stand up, at least for this year, to the ever improving FIFA.


Pros:
ML as addictive as ever
More challenging than last years
Detailed edit mode

Cons:
Awful animations
Awful graphics
Arcade gameplay
Awful passing
Awful online


Overall I would give it 7/10.

FIFA is your best bet, especially since the patch fixed the silly sidestep glitch. FIFA a solid 8.5 or 9.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/26/08

Game Release: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (EU, 10/17/08)