Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Review: It Scores!

A return to the glory days or just a

rehash of PES08 with slight improvements?

By GrathiusXR

©2008 Arthur Kotsopoulos:

As an avid FIFA fan it’s hard to comprehend that there is another game available that represents the beautiful game which has been touted to triumph over FIFA numerous times over the past couple of years.

Konamis Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is the next game in the series that have been heralded as the premiere football games since the days of the Playstation 2.

Even though it did not possess as much authenticity as FIFA it always managed to pull through and be the definitive football game. Yet with PES08, the title started to slip away and with FIFA08 only improving on faults and PES08 failing to deliver, Konami have had to step up to the plate and show the world what they can do.

From bland graphics to abysmal online multiplayer, PES08 was a step backwards for the franchise and left many in disbelief as to what on earth happened. Thankfully Konami have learned from their mistakes and have not disappointed with the latest installment.

Urban graffiti styled menu’s, improved gameplay, updated graphics and commentary that is satisfying to listen to during the match, PES2009 is an advancement in almost all areas. From first glance of the menus you would almost mistake it for some urban street gang graffiti style game.. this just shows that Konami have gone for a different look with this years installment.

PES has always been known for its more arcade style of gameplay and of course PES09 continues this trend and excels at it, though the passing mechanic doesn’t follow this same arcade approach. It’s not as auto aimed and helpful as FIFA’s passing system so you really have to be accurate in where you direct the ball.

This problem causes many frustrating moments where in times of counter attacks if you haven’t mastered the art of passing then chances are you will be having a lot of missed opportunities. It’s not too bad and does go to help you improve your passing and overall gameplay, but it does create some unfortunate hit and miss situations.

Frustrating moments are never welcome in games where the main emphasis should be on ‘fun’, the referee in PES2009 is the embodiment frustration. By now most will know FIFA’s referee isn’t top notch either but in comparison to PES2009 you would think FIFA’s ref is perfect.

In more than a few games my player had been tackled by 2 opposing players in the box, only for the referee to dismiss these actions and continue on as if nothing had occurred.

Last time I checked, when a striker was slide tackled in the box by 2 opponents and they came from both sides and did not get the ball that’s supposed to be a penalty.. right? Well no, at least according to the PES 2009 ref.

Nudges, slide tackles and pushes and shoves aren’t enough at times for the ref to blow the whistle.. which is confusing because as much fun as PES2009 is there needs to be a level of realism as well.

Thankfully though the problem doesn’t occur every game, it seems to be a hit and miss affair. In terms of game modes in PES2009, not many unique modes have been offered this time around.

Master League is back and again the bulk of offline modes, offering you a team managing aspect that allows you to choose a team and build them up into ‘big league’ players.

Xbox Live play is back once again and from PES08 to PES09 it seems that Konami have focused more on the offline portion of the game. In a day and age when Online components are all the rage, PES09 whilst managing to better itself from previous iterations, still falls short in that department.

It is a pity though, as a successful online portion in PES09 would have put it one step closer to being the better of the football game, but I concur,  offline still manages to entertain with it’s array of different game modes to enjoy. ‘Become a Legend’ allows you to create a player of your choosing and earn the right to rise up to the pinnacle of the professional field.

Starting on the bench, you attend training matches with your team earning the coaches respect to be put in the starting line up, eventually rising in the ranks to the upper class teams. Think your created player deserves the Legend status, well pit him up against other ‘legends’  in the online version of ‘Become a Legend’.

Offline really does offer a meaty experience but those XBL hungry gamers who want to gloat about how good they are (with a healthy thrashing of a friend) it’s a shame that online doesn’t offer as good as an experience as offline. With the online portion of the game you could say the same for the graphics. While the game does look nicer than  PES08 it still doesn’t feel like it takes advantage of the 360′s potential.

Stadiums still have that bland look along with the surroundings. Player models are great with each virtual player looking exactly like their real life counterpart and animations are fluid and smooth. More could of been done though to enhance the visual experience but it does its job well.

It’s an improvement over the previous games, you have to give it that, but in comparison to what FIFA09 is offering Konami really have to step up even more with the next PES to ensure victory. If the same multiplayer is offered with no new game modes in the next installment Konami will be looking at a backlash from fans.

Luckily though PES09 restores the faith and loyalty with many PES fans after what could be considered a downfall with PES08. If Konami continue on this path they can only improve on the franchises faults, let’s just hope they offer a more fulfilling online experience with a more game modes next time.

”7.9/10

©2008 Arthur Kotsopoulos:

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Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Console gaming, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 Game Reviews, Xbox 360 News Tagged: | Konami, PES 08, PES 09 review, PES reviews, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 review