For years now EA has strived to bring FIFA up to the same standard as PES, often mimicking Konami's masterpiece or (ahem) 'borrowing' gameplay elements in the process. PES, meanwhile, has procrastinated, barely changing for each iteration until - finally - it finds the boot's on the other foot; FIFA's the champ and Konami are looking to EA for inspiration.
But while some of the Xbox World team (cough Pellett! cough) might be loving the current switcheroo, for those of us who have always obssessed over PES, this is painful to write. So what's gone wrong?
PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
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PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
The most obvious thing is that the pace has been slowed down to make for a more ponderous, attritional kickabout. It may be more akin to the real thing but the game's better when the speed is slightly exaggerated and you can indulge in lightning quick counter attacks. Players are more evenly matched for speed, too, so attackers with genuine pace, such as Walcott, will struggle to shrug off the attentions of even the slowest defenders, making it tough to steal more than a yard.
Ah, but this means that you'll have to work harder to create space and pick your passes with more care, right? True. If only they hadn't messed with the through-ball and made it devastatingly ineffective. What was once your greatest weapon has been rendered mildly useful at best, and calamitous at worst. For the majority of the time, through-balls just don't seem to reach their intended target, either getting intercepted or simply not landing where you wanted them to. Perhaps we need another 40 games to shake off our PES 2009 habits, but it's a worry.
More concerns. It's tougher to control the ball when receiving a pass. Again it's a nod to a more realistic take on football where boots aren't tipped with superglue, but we found passes pinging off the intended recipient and straight to the opposition on an alarming number of occasions. And as for the 'keepers... They flap, they fail to claim, and they gift the opposition goals. Only the weakest of shots seem to stick in their paws.
There's been much shouting about the new 360 on-the-ball control for both FIFA and PES. Sorry PES, but FIFA beats you hands down on this too. You can really sense the difference in EA's game - unlike here. You'd be hard-pushed to tell the difference from last year and, if anything, shimmies and shuffles are harder to pull off.
Dammit, enough of the negativity, we're starting to sound like Alan Green. Retaining the age-old PES template means it's not all bad. Players are quicker to react than last year which, for anyone who played version 2009, will know is A Big Thing. If an attacking player loses the ball in a fair challenge, there's only a minor stumble before you can attempt to win it back. It helps sides add pressure in an attacking situation. Throw-ins have been reworked so there's no longer an invisible barrier around the recipient, which again helps you to maintain pressure on an opponent. Happily, the AI has been tweaked so that the defence holds its shape (right- and left-backs frequently went AWOL in 2009); and the level of tactical tweakery on offer has been enhanced and simplified via a series of sliders that adjust a given tactic.
Visually, it's fantastic. Get close up to the more famous kickballers in a replay and the likenesses are staggering. In fact there's an overall level of visual polish in all areas... although, alas, Champion's commentary and Lawro's punditry is still utter shite, even if crowds sound better). Shame you never get to appreciate it in the Wide view, eh?
In regard to game modes, it's largely as you were with a full Champions League to play through plus all the usual league, cup and quick match options. Master League has finally been reworked too. Whether it's enough to keep long-time PES players' eyes from wandering remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Pro Evolution Football is no longer the champion.
My ego is stroked after reading this review since I already purchased FIFA 10. While FIFA 10 is tremendous fun when the plays go right, it can also induce game-controllor-throwing-desires levels of frustration with some of the less amicable "quirks" in that game. If PES 2010 is worse then I would strongly recommend renting it first, just as I recommend you rent FIFA 10 as well if you have any doubts whatsoever. I don't regret buying FIFA 10, yet I got it at half RRP price so that helps, and I do find it to be tremendously satisfying and fun as my skill has increased but there are still naggles. Oh yes, there most certainly are....
My ego is stroked after reading this review since I already purchased FIFA 10. While FIFA 10 is tremendous fun when the plays go right, it can also induce game-controllor-throwing-desires levels of frustration with some of the less amicable "quirks" in that game. If PES 2010 is worse then I would strongly recommend renting it first, just as I recommend you rent FIFA 10 as well if you have any doubts whatsoever. I don't regret buying FIFA 10, yet I got it at half RRP price so that helps, and I do find it to be tremendously satisfying and fun as my skill has increased but there are still naggles. Oh yes, there most certainly are....
That is exactly how I feel about fifa, didn't buy 09 and haven't played a football game for ages, and lept on fifa when it was £25 and am glad it was the right choice.
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
Whilst I'm not disputing the key facts such as PES 2010's poorer animation, commentary, goal keepers and control when compared to FIFA 10, it seems this and other reviews have barely gone into depth of the new Master League mode - which many still judge as superior to FIFA's Management mode.
Also no-one has reviewed online (which, although I understand is hard to judge until everyone is on the servers) it should certainly be quite a big part of a final review score. So yet again another large aspect of the game is overlooked.
PES 2010 may be disappointing in many ways but so are these short reviews. PES has made big strides to re-gain some ground, if Konami can sort out the above issues and continue to push forward as they did this last year, then PES 2011 will be a worthy competitor again!
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
I'll tell you why, well, my theory anyway.
The reviewers don't play a full season. In fact, I reckon most reviewers just have a few matches when it comes to footy games and then just score it.
I've been convinced of that ever since I saw a number of reviews of EAs Euro 2008 game where they said it was 'FIFA 08 with the European Championship license tagged on', when the actual truth was that it was unrecognisable from FIFA 08 and had much more in common with FIFA 09. It sounds daft, but the difference was so clear and apparent that I've never trusted a footy game review since.
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
I'll tell you why, well, my theory anyway.
The reviewers don't play a full season. In fact, I reckon most reviewers just have a few matches when it comes to footy games and then just score it.
I've been convinced of that ever since I saw a number of reviews of EAs Euro 2008 game where they said it was 'FIFA 08 with the European Championship license tagged on', when the actual truth was that it was unrecognisable from FIFA 08 and had much more in common with FIFA 09. It sounds daft, but the difference was so clear and apparent that I've never trusted a footy game review since.
100% spot-on there. I thought I was the only one who thought that, such was the difference IMO.
I'm glad I bought FIFA 10, but the reviewer doesn't always make sense. he seems to criticize PES for trying to be less arcadey and more true to its simulation roots. The demo wasn't very good, and it was enough for me to give my money to EA for the first time in a decade.
This is a very poor review, who ever wrote this should be embarrased. He just moans about the game being not arcade enough when thats exactly why PES 2008 And 2009 were slated. Also "Players are more evenly matched for speed, too, so attackers with genuine pace, such as Walcott, will struggle to shrug off the attentions of even the slowest defenders, making it tough to steal more than a yard". Thats just lies!!
well i finally bit the bullet and switched to fifa having played both demos and i now feel vindicated in my choice. sorry konami you actually need to try hard now, you cash cow is on its way to the abatoire!
What the crap is wrong with the PES people? How can they go from producing games that were so good it was unreal, to games of such a quality that make us want to check out dross like Fifa?! So disappointing. And kudos, to the reviewer, for managing to get as far as half-way through the second-to-last paragraph before mentioning the completely irrelevant aspects of the game, like the commentary
As much as I like FIFA, and I've bought it the last 3 years, I still prefer PES, but PES has gone wrong now, so I'm stuck between both of them. The PES demo was poor IMO, and the FIFA demo was fun. Seems like a big power shift now, I think.
The biggest problem with PES is that it's such a rigid game. Even playing FIFA 10 with all the aids on you still feel like what happens on the screen is your own doing. If that isn't enough you can then take the aids and turn them down a notch, or off completely - which incidentally is well worth giving a go, because as odd as it feels at first, the more you get used to it the more it opens the game up way beyond what you can do with the aids on - and match the game to how you wish to play.
A few years ago both PES and FIFA lacked that element. FIFA have introduced it, yet PES continues to force people to play a game that gives you so little control in comparison. Until they allow we, the gamer, to have more influence, PES is going to live in FIFA's shadows.
I'm a little confused - was historically a PES fan but fifa 09 was sooo superior and PES 09 crap. But.. played both demos and Pes 10 was much more fun! Don't know which to buy. What shall I do? (refuse to buy both)
do not buy fifa 10 passpasspass goal realy enoyn and boring i had it 4 a week thought it was gona be awsome passn is slick the men r dead wood as always with fifa ended up hating it, pes 10 has slight improvements from last year stick with it GooD LucK
I have bought the world magazine regualar as clockwork and have always considered their reviews to be some of the best around . However this proevo10 review is a joke if you compare it to last years review they contridict each other massively, you say that konaml have sat on their cash cow not bothering to improve. Take a look in mirror standards are slipping. Review of fifo 10 is shat too (90) wake up the ability too defend on the game is inept at best (no balance no game).
like many PES stalwarts, i finally started to get frustrated with the lack of improvements and add ons in recent years, so (and it was a huge decision) i decided to buy fifa 10, my first fifa game for some 12 years.
yes, its realistic. yes the animation is superior. but heres the rub. ITS JUST NOT FUN. i have gained absolutely no enjoyment out of it. clearly i havent given it much time, and i wont be trading it in in a hurry, i will be buying PES2010 on friday. because i love pes, dammit. and i like fun games.
Fifa has always been poo compared to PES and I have always been a Pro evo fan...until Fifa 09 came out and now I can't even play PES now...I tried the pes2010 demo and the lack of commentary and the robotic footballers made me feel like it was step backwards...As for buggy Fifa10, is it only me who hasn't noticed any major errors? I've read a few comments about the bugs but I haven't come across any...Maybe im just lucky...or ignorant...
This review is a joke, the improved master league hardly gets a mention, and the comment about the slowest defenders matching the fastest attckers for speed is just outright false.
I actually bought Fifa 09 last year because i found PES 2009 too arcadey, i always prefered the PES series becuase it was a more realistic simulation of football and provided more of a challenge, so i for one am glad of the changes...although its true the commentry is still awful
I would like to put some of my views forward, long time PES fan, since snes. but also given Fifa a go on more than one platform.
Pro Evo 2010 is miles ahead of Fifa on graphics and player likeness. and now i would like to discuss my views on Pro Evo 2010 only.
ive noticed some differences to 2009, firstly it seems sluggish to start off with, a bit slower paced and harder to tackle. but this was the exact same that i thought when playing 2009 for the first time.
I went from PES6 to 2009 after trying 2008 briefly it was abismal so i spent the rest of the year still playing PES6 as this was better than anything Fifa had.
2010 has that i need to get used to this feel, which is a good thing (not at first but overall).
Something strange has happened, the realism of the game is absolutely amazing.I Don't know how they have done it, but many players actually play like their real life counterpart. Rooney moves like Rooney, Gerrard and Torres interweave so well together, Torres with the skillfull turning volleys and gerrard with the low drives. Lennon on the wing for Tottenham is amazing, get close to the corner and whip in a cross and its useless and misses everyone, how have Konami done this.
I played against Barca and Xavi and Iniesta, just played the ball all over the park, i didnt get a look in at midfield.
Drogba even went down from the slightest touch in the penalty area, (without pressing the top 4 buttons for a dive) and i got a yellow.
Freekicks seem to be more like PES6 rather than pes2009 where they were very hard to master.
Goalkeepers do not seem very good, easy low shots seem to go trough them (or their legs) however when playing against Real Madrid and Chelsea Cech and Casillias did make a difference so it is clearly based on skill. Didnt take long to wrong foot them though.
Running is good and taking on players is good, but the player has to be able to do it in real life, Torres, Ronaldo and Messi etc can take on a few players and out run most, but Giggs is not getting past a good defender.
But even the best palyers cant run around a whole team, passing is essential, and the new advanced movement of your AI players really helps this. players seem to make sensible runs, and do not stray too far off-side with a run like before.
Master League is different. Champ League and Europa League built in makes a great improvment. you also get to make transfers at the beginning of your first season which was never possible before. not to the end of my first season yet though so dont know too much.
i have not yet messed around with the tactic sliders which have been praised in reviews, but will post an updated review of this and any other bits i havent mentioned.
Review of PES2010 (Played on PC with Nvidia Geforce 9800GTX OCX)
I would like to write a good review of PES 2010 as it seems to be getting a lot of bad press, especially when compared to FIFA 2010.
Firstly I would like to say that after a week of playing PES 2010 I can honestly say that this is the most realistic and enjoyable football simulation of all time.
There have been a number of changes to PES with this years instalment and I think they are all for the good of the beautiful game.
Graphics:
Konami have created a visual masterpiece with this one, from the player models to the stadiums and animations nothing is left to the imagination. The player models are about as close as you could possibly get to the real thing, you can almost smell the sweat and desire. From the mole on Torres’ neck to Aaron Lennon’s shaved eyebrow, I even challenge you to study a picture of Wayne Rooney and count the freckles to see if they add up, I can tell you they are spot on (no pun intended). The faces are created with immense detail and while I agree that this does not make a game, it certainly adds to the spectacle. The fine detail does not stop with the faces alone, every player has their own stature and demeanour, from Berbatov’s relaxed hunch to Terry’s towering authority, you really feel like you are there with the player.
The stadiums and pitches are nothing short of magical. 2010 has seen the inclusion of some realistically modelled stomping grounds, The glorious Santiago Bernebau offers a unnerving atmosphere fit for heroes alone.
Game play:
The game play has also taken a positive turn in 2010, somehow Konami have managed to capture the beautiful game in its very essence. Going along with the graphics theme of every player is different, the game play fails to disappoint. Somehow every player is unique, now this is much more than differing stats. If you get the ball as Rooney he actually runs like Rooney, Gerrard and Torres interweave so well together, Torres with a delightful back heel and Gerrard Powers a low shot home from just outside the box. Aaron Lennon is lightning fast on the wing, he goes round one, then two and whips a cross in from the right (misses everyone and veers off for a throw in). Drogba is through on goal only the last defender to beat, a towering Pique steps up and clears the ball from under Drogba’s feet with clinical accuracy, Drogba goes down under non existent contact and rightly receives a yellow card for his amateur dramatics. (no swearing at the camera as of yet).
My question is how have Konami managed this? I remember the old school days where Roberto Carlos would take his trademark run up to a free kick or you would score a 40 yard screamer with Adriano’s left foot. But now it seems like every player has the attributes of their real life counterpart. This alone makes PES 2010 the most realistic football simulation of all time.
One of the headlining features of PES 2010 is its new tactical sliders feature. This gives you the opportunity to fine tune your tactics using a number of slider bars ranging from 1-100. You can adjust attacking style, compactness, defensive line, movement and more. You can instruct players to move into free space when you are on the ball or stay close and provide maximum support to the man in possession.
You also have the introduction of skill cards which allow you to make sure your team is performing to its maximum potential. If a centre back has a rating of 80 in his position you can move him to left back and you will see his rating drop to 60 this forces you to play your players in their preferred positions. However some players are able to play more than one position effectively, for example Ronaldo who is naturally suited to the wing will not drop his rating if you move him into a centre forward position to stretch the opposition defence.
The ball no longer seems stuck to your feet like it has previously, you have to work to control a long pass. While this will feel like a hindrance to some, it can work in your advantage, if you are 1 on 1 with the last defender and you receive a pass well it can take you right past him and your through on goal.
It is now not so easy to use one player for most of your attacks i.e Ronaldo for Manchester (Real Madrid) or Messi for Barca.
Master League:
The Master League has been slightly revamped in a few areas but remains ultimately not too different (why mess with a winning formula). There is a new circular navigation screen that makes skipping around the menus easy and stress free.
The main innovations on the Master League are in the tournament itself, The Champions League and Europa League are now integrated with the Master League, giving you a lot more playability and variety to the campaign.
You are also able to make transfers at the beginning of the season which means no more waiting until January to bring in your first new signing.
The finances are also changed for the better, not only do you deal in multiple currencies across the globe, you now have the introduction of Sponsors.
Sponsors pay you performance related bonuses this has replaced the old system of accruing money based on wins. You also receive ticket and TV revenue from home games only.
For the first time money is also realistic meaning that you pay 20m for a quality player rather than 20,000 points.
So all in all a more realistic experience of a real seasonal campaign that will keep you playing until 2011 arrives.
Others:
The game now has a fully licensed soundtrack including The Klaxons, The Chemical Brothers, Black Kids and many more. There are no changes to the monotonous commentary, but the crowd sound is improved, the chants are clearer and fit the teams playing. The crowd also reacts to in game action with cheers and boo’s.
Other minor differences include improved loading times, considerably better than 2009, and polished entrance scenes, including full team layout and formation views.
The Champions League mode is particularly attractive.
Overall:
Overall the game is much more life like, it is much harder to score spectacular goals and you have to work hard as a team.
While you have to do more to play well when you do you are greatly rewarded and the game flows a lot more freely than its predecessors. You have the general feeling that you are more in control than before and you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Looks fantastic
