 |
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Xbox 360)
| Overall Customer Rating: | (Not Yet Rated) | | | | Graphics: | (Not Yet Rated) | | Sound: | (Not Yet Rated) | | GamePlay: | (Not Yet Rated) | | Addiction Level: | (Not Yet Rated) |
No Customer Reviews Yet.
RRP: £49.99
Amazon Price: £27.98
You Save: £22.01 (44%)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Platform: Xbox 360
Publisher: Konami
View other products by Konami
|
|
|
|
Write a review for Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Xbox 360) and share your thoughts with others.
View All Amazon Customer Reviews...
"Good, but Konami still have blind spots" - 18 October 2008
So another year, and another inevitable duel between PES and FIFA to be crowned king of the football simulations. Unfortunately, this time also means the occurence of the petty squabbles between PES and FIFA fan boys, with both parties claiming 'Only real men' can play their respective game; oblivious to the fact that each game indicates anyone over the age of three can, in fact, do so.
In light of this, I will try to keep my review as non-biased as possible, in spite of my allegiance to PES over the years.
To start off, I am surprised by the reviews labelling this the 'WORST PES GAME EVAR!'. However, in spite of this, I think there is reason to be critical of Konami.
While new features have been added, the gameplay remains very much the same - perhaps worse!
The player motion, as ever seems rigid, with players seemingly only being able to run at 8 different angles. What exacerbates this is the sensitivity of the analogue stick. How vexing it can be when through on goal, you tap the stick to the side to open up your body in order to perform an Henry-esque curler, but instead find your player do a 45 degree turn and run head first into the challenging defender.
If that wasn't bad enough, when you do get through on goal, you'll find you either pass the ball into the hands of the grateful keeper; or you'll imitate Johnny Wilkinson and hoof the ball 20 yards over the ball.
While the players are generally tactically sound, I still find the full-back will show a complete unwillingness to push forward and support the winger when quite blatantly need - 'Yes Dani Alves, you are allowed to push forward into that valley of space in front of you when the winger has clearly ran out of options and has two opponents kicking him from behind'.
And kick they do. The refereeing is strange. 'Pressing' seemingly involves the opponent standind behind you for a few seconds, kicking you in the back of the leg, and walking off with the ball whilst the terrible commentary team criticise you for losing possession.
And that leads me onto my next point: the commentary. One of the major criticisms of the previous games was the banal commentary. So how do they prevent this repetition? By opting to use the exact same commentary! Yes, they're back, with profound quotes such as: "If you keep the ball, the other team can't score"; "If you don't win the raffle, you can't win the lottery"; and "He could open a can of beans with his foot" That's right: "He could open a can of beans with his foot". Is any player deserving of such high praise?
Now the negatives are out of the way, I can say I still find the gameplay very enjoyable. No longer will you have to face the annoyance of passing the ball to no-one whilst your player stands there in anticipation; the pace of the game is very good; whilst, as abovementioned, the players seem very tactically aware.
The Become a Legend mode is thoroughly enjoyable too. It is the sort of feature that gives you a sense of achievement. You do not gain instant gratification and full stats within 2 seasons. You have to spend years working your way up and developing your stats before you can be considered for a top side. Admittedly, the selection process can be strange - I was dropped after scoring a hattrick. But other than that, it is a thoroughly enjoyable feature.
In conclusion, I would say it is a good buy, but I just cannot see why Konami do not improve on flaws that have been so obvious for the past few years.
|
"Good enough where it counts" - 24 October 2008
Quite frankly i'm not sure what everyone expected if you want flashy menus, licensed kits etc then buy fifa. Pes 2009 is good where it counts on the pitch it just feels right having played fifa 09 as well which is much improved and very impressive Pes 2009 just sneaks it on gameplay for me. If you play football you'll prefer PES 2009
|
"Back to the good old days................." - 2 October 2008
Advantages:
*Gameplay is more fluid.
*One two's are not an easy way to take it pass the computer, the defenders now follow the running player, gaps are closed and it feels very realistic.
*You cannot simply get fast players and run! Computer defenders now close you down quicker and push you wide. You have to play to get round the AI.
*Long balls hang in the end like real life. Its easier to launch a ball over a defender and it slows down for the player to run onto, just like real life.
*When your receieve the ball the compuer defenders pounce on you, they actually put pressure on your attacks.
*Shooting is now very realistic, you cannot simply belt the ball from 30 yards and expect it to go on targe. Longe range shooting is hit and miss, just like real life.
*Players have better control than before, you can witness players make little nicks round a defender rather than simply one type of turn.
*Players now control the ball with the outside or inside of their feet, no more control in the front of you with shoddy control so you bump into the opposition (highly frustrating aspect in pro 2008)
*Graphics are better than last years colourful effort.
*Stadiums and crowds are much much better modelled.
Disadvantages:
*Keepers are better with high shots but still are poor with shots on the ground. They still palm it into the net making pathetic efforts to save the ball.
*Strength of the AI is still questionable. They defend well but don't attack with the same strength. It seems like they all play counter attack.
*A feint is still such an easy way of getting past an incomming defender.
Overall i gave this 4/5 because it is certainly better than pro 2008 and feels like the good olds days are back (Game plays like ISS:pro 2)
I have also played the FIFA demo and find this years efforts are very similar, only difference i felt is in the fluidity of the game and shooting, with pro evo slightly being favoured.
This game is miles better than pro evo 2008, but FIFA 09 is also miles better than pro evo 2008, so its a tight competition this year.
|
"Hard work but worth it." - 19 October 2008
If your 11 and like to score goals and play football that bears no relevance to real life then safe to say Pro is probably not for you.
Now obviously banging in a screamer from 40 yards to secure the title is what we all want, but every game?
This version of Pro is hard work to begin with but some of the subleties in the game play make you smile (Ronaldo looking the other way while slipping a slide rule pass through to Rooney) and they are worth the effort.
The controls mean you have to be much more accurate with where you pass the ball and you'll have to be quick on the descision making too, sloppy errors get punished, not so much simple sprinting and pushing pass opponents either, (i've adopted the Paul Scholes role, or so i like to think).
One - Two's ain't going to do it anymore, you'll have to be more crafty than that but the through ball is more refined, you can angle passes directly into space and let the strikers run on to it.
This game will be tough to start with, but give it a go and you'll reap the rewards, no one cruises to the league title afterall, unless your a Fifa man.
The satisfaction to be had from knocking it around in midfild to create space, before spotting a striker making a great run (with his hand aloft to let you know)chipping over and watching him slot home nearly brought a tear to my eye.
Either way, well worth a go and when it clicks, believe me you'll know.
Enjoy.
|
"Excellent again" - 8 October 2008
Must be that time of the year again, Pro Evo and FIFA go head-to-head in the football simulations. Having played both the Demo's now I think Pro still has the edge in pure footballing terms i.e. gameplay, realism. However, when I played the FIFA demo it was so much fun. Graphics are excellent, but again the ball doesn't move quickly enough and the through balls (again) just don't make sense to anyone who has actually played football to a decent level as I have.
The improved graphics on Pro Evo do make a difference though and the player mechanics and AI have also improved for a more rounded game.
As far as game modes go, that has to go to FIFA once again as it looks polished and thought through. Konami have improved the menu's in PES09 and it looks good and easy to use as always.
Overall I believe Pro Evo is still the better football game to play with your friends and is more realistic to real life football (and that's what its all about right?). I am hoping that the online matches won't be suffering from the irritating lag that seems associated with Pro Evo which makes it totally unplayable. Saying that, even if Pro Evo did not have an online mode it would still, for me, be a better FOOTBALL game because there is less help from the computer.
Happy gaming!!
|
"that's more like it" - 15 October 2008
I was amazed when this arrived in todays post, thought it wasn't out until friday. Check the gamertag (el jonsoon), got just the 10GP for wining a game at the moment, but thought i'd just get that "I've got this game early" gloat out of the way... ahem...
The game itself...
Well the presentation is neither good or bad, fairly intuitive menus that might however seem messy to those not familiar with PES, but not hugely different to recent installments. The music has driven me mad, no-mark indie and pop bands singing about the most irrelevant subject matter (a girl bringing someone down and down and down, again again again - naff).
I haven't played all the way through the champions league yet and so far the 'become a legend' mode seems promising.
Now I'm a PES stalwart, and despite this, on the mere 'regular' difficulty, i started off with a 4-0 defeat with my beloved blackburn rovers ('lancashire' on here, until edited), followed by a tense 1-0 victory in the cup game that followed. I love that you really have to concentrate on Pro Evo to win games, even on lower difficulties.
Last year, i criticized, amongst other things, cheating CPU opponents and frustratingly harsh referees. Neither have reared their head so far when last year they were instantly noticeable. Thankfully this plays very similarly to older games and answers most peoples prayers of a PROPER PES game with next gen graphics, with more tournament and game mode options than we've previously had. Plus the full edit mode (the lack of which ruined #6 for me).
Controls are comfortingly familiar (though manual passes are now controlled with the right analogue stick, manual long pases with right stick & LB), and as responsive as ever. When played with the volume muted this has now become my number one game.
Anybody want to buy my copy of FIFA 09?
|
"Great fun demo, but more to see in actual game!" - 4 October 2008
Ok so its not as fluid as PES 5 / 6 on the PS2 but it seems to have so much going for it on-line. On easy setting I managed to score some spectacular goals , not usual for me , and it made me want to play more. FIFA will always win on names and graphics but gameplay ( a very subjective subject I know ) for me , is PES all the way. Suck it and see for yourself!
|
"Best footy and best PES game to date!" - 30 September 2008
Here is a brief summary review for you guys.
GOOD POINTS:-
=============
+ Much better graphics & animations than ever before
+ UEFA Champions League fully licensed (although not all the teams in it are)
+ More licensed teams than ever before
+ Improved physics & more realism
+ Better weather engine, meaning it plays more on your tactics than ever before
+ Liverpool & Man Utd fully licensed from the English Prem
+ Controls are better & sharper
+ AI more realistic
BAD POINTS:-
=============
- Still not enough teams (club or international)
- Music is still naff
- Commentary is also still naff
OVERALL: If you ignore the 3 minor points that this game is still missing, this is easily the best football and best PES game ever, bar none. An absolute must purchase.
|
"Much better, but still room for improvement" - 16 October 2008
This time last year i worte a review on how disapointed i was with evo 2008 on PS2, it seemed like a step backwards, in the evo series. Well a year has passed, and i now own an xbox 360, and having recieved my copy of evo 2009 last night, it feels as if Konami are back on track. The gameplay (as always) is fantastic, the movement of players, and the physics of the ball are a massive improvement. The graphics have also been greatly improved. There are a whole lot more different game modes which should hopefully give evo 2009 that extra added play-ability factor, and having Liverpool and Man Utd as fully licensed teams is a lot batter than having Newcastle and Spurs (no offence Newc/Spurs fans!!)
Evo 2009 is not without its faults tho.... mainly the sound... the weird crowd noises are irritating, the commentary is (as usual) rubbish, and the heavy-sounding thud each time the players touch the ball does eventually get annoying, but this is easliy fixed, by adjusting the sound settings (or even just muting your TV!)
In all this is much better than evo 2008, and a welcome addition to the evo series, and should keep me entertained through until october next year.
|
"FIFA MAFIA TAKE NOTE!" - 18 October 2008
There's a school of thought here that the might EA's FIFA 2009 has obliterated PES out of the water, resulting in, supposedly, PES 2009 being made redundant in the wake of the (admittedly excellent) FIFA 09. Wll I've got news for you, people - DESPITE what the critics will have you believe, PES 2009 is excellent in it's own right.
What was the best footie control system has been improved. The reason it hasn't been so radical an improvement is down to the "if it aint broke" syndrome. Yes, FIFA 2009 has made loads of improvements, but at the end of the day, let's not forget that it needed to improve. For years, FIFA has been frankly boring. Yet year after year they kept on churning them out. Big deal - so this year, the FIFA version is excellent. Get over it. Anyone remember the travesty that was FIFA 07 on the 360?
If you like all the other PES games on the PS2 and PS1 (and I count myself as an afficionado, having spent thousands of hours on PES over the years!) then you will love this. It has that "PES" factor that FIFA will never have, despite all the bells and whistles.
EA has a lot of clout, and I'm sure has made it worthwhile for certain so-called expert critics to spout on about it being the best sports game of all time etc etc. And the same experts claim that PES is now redundant. Well they are wrong!
The graphics were pretty good last year in my opinion - this year they look excellent. A few tweaks to the control system - nothing radical - has made the general pace more realistic - less arcade-y. So they don't have all the teams - so what? They never have, and it never bothered critics spouting on about the genius of previous versions of PES in the past.
This is the best of the lot. Trust me.
If you can afford it, buy both PES and FIFA. If you like other PES version and can only afford one, buy PES 2009 - you won't be disappointed!
|
|
| Sponsored Links
|
|
Official Xbox 360 Magazine
|
|
|