This is a testing time for the Pro Evolution Soccer series. Yet to find its true calling on next generation consoles, many feel that this is the year that will make or break the franchise that has had football fans divided in opinion for the best part of a decade. The first to take the step up onto advanced hardware was PES6 which, bizarrely, had far fewer features and more restrictions than its PlayStation 2 counterpart. With very little licensing, fans had little option than to play with incorrect rosters, kits and sponsors as not only did the edit mode not allow such changes, but Option file swapping was forbidden by Microsoft. Add to that a very laggy online server, PES had a very shaky start.
Roll on a year, then. 12 months for Konami to play with their dev kits and produce something spectacular. Maybe they pressed the wrong version when going gold, who knows, but it certainly didn’t deliver. Lacklustre licensing, the same poor commentary, awful music, game-busting bugs and another dreary online service greeted those who pre-ordered. The much awaited new defensive system leaked more goals than Newcastle United’s backline and played more like Titus Bramble than Paulo Maldini. For the second year running we were still without a worthy contender to the drastically improved FIFA Soccer. Will 2009 be any different?
Not bloody likely. Weeks of pre-rendered screenshots preceded news that PES 2009 would feature the Champions League license. The top clubs in Europe would finally feature the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo as opposed to Rodney and Rodnaldo, playing in the famous red jersey and not a blood-stained make-shift strip. Sadly, this still means that the smaller clubs, including my beloved Fulham, are still wearing woefully inaccurate strips.
It was indicated early on that the PES 2009 demo is indeed the final version of the game engine, in which case the results are rather alarming. PES was never setting the trend graphically, but this year it’s looking like a PC game running on the lowest specifications - everything is dark and the players looking like they’re experiencing a mild stroke. Gameplay is far too static, players don’t seem willing to run into space and their movement is blocky. Sprinting seems non-existent, such is Konami’s insistence that players must all have the same speed. This means that Jamie Carragher, hardly the fastest runner, can catch up with and tackle Barcelona’s pacey Eto’o without breaking sweat. The passing system is stuck in past generations, with players have to manually pass with the right analogue stick if they don’t want to pass the ball seemingly on rails between team mates. This is an awkward configuration, especially considering that FIFA allows manual passing as standard.
It’s a very uninspiring demonstration of a game that is supposed to be getting the series back on track. Last year saw a brilliant early indication only for the final version to be riddled with bugs - we can only hope the opposite occurs here. From this preview it looks as if Konami is reluctant to let go of a formula that put it in good stead 5 years ago, for whatever reason, and instead stagnate the franchise with a series of additions and tweaks that fail to evolve the engine in any way.
Two weeks until release, and PES 2009 is being beaten left, right and centre. It’s going to take much more than one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous hairdryer half-time teamtalks to rejuvenate this sad excuse of a football game.
Comments
James Frazer on Saturday 11th October 2008
So you just want PES to be better than FIFA then, you've just confirmed that. You're not bothered what it looks like, whether it's licensed, how it sounds or whether the commentary actually follows the same game that you're playing, as long as the gameplay is better than FIFA then you're happy. Dear, dear me. No wonder this game is stuck in the past with that way of thinking.
Philip Morton on Saturday 11th October 2008
"This is about a review" - It's a preview, not a review.
Raj Dhammi on Saturday 11th October 2008
Mr. Frazer, I’m sorry….you are not making any sense to me. This is about a review about PES 2009. “So as long as it's better than FIFA, that'll do for you?” Can you please take your time, and name me another football game that has been released on a 3rd Generation consol? As for “Thank Christ you aint in charge of the videogames industry, that's for sure.” Too right I only play PES and Call of Duty on my consol. I am glad that you are not in charge of the video games industry….
James Frazer on Friday 10th October 2008
So as long as it's better than FIFA, that'll do for you? Thank Christ you aint in charge of the videogames industry, that's for sure.
Raj Dhammi on Friday 10th October 2008
With all due respect James, i would worry about the plight of your "beloved Fulham" rather than PES 2009. I can guarantee you one thing....it will sell more than FIFA 09 and also play better....£6.3 million for Bobby Zamora? Like your article you’re having a laugh!
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