25-Oct-2001 Remember when people used to play footie outside? Forget that. Your living room is the new National Stadium. Contrary to what the Bible tells us, the Garden of Eden was no paradise. Yes Adam had all the fresh fruit on offer he could possibly want. Yes he could burp and fart, punctuating each emission with a different pose and hand gesture. But something was very wrong. Adam was bored. Luckily, Adam had dreamt up the perfect pastime. Twenty-two men would gallop gazelle-like across grass, kicking a ball to each other as they tried to score goals in the nets at each end of the park. Passion and skill would run high, and Adam would control it all through a handheld device called a 'pad' watching the action unfurl on a 'telly'. Much as he tried to build a 'PS2' out of bananas and twigs, he kept failing. It kept coming out all rubbish like an Xbox. God said he'd have a try, and he'd get back to Adam when it was ready.
This meant more time to kill. Spying a tantalising apple hanging on a low branch, Adam rose like a salmon to nod the fruit off the tree. It dropped to the ground, and Adam flicked it up like Pele. He did a few keepy-ups, and volleyed it at a snake hanging out of a tree. The snake was hurt, but advised Adam he could have a lot more fun with this non-digital football if there was someone else to play against. Eve arrived, and she was pretty good at footie for a chick. They played and played, and the human race would've ended right there but for the fact that Eve had breasts.
Thousands of years later, God's cracked the football game. Trouble is, human faith in him has waned and it'd scare people to death if he started raining down a biblical plague of PS2 game boxes. His solution was to let a bunch of Japanese programmers take the credit. But God's no fool. He knew when people played Pro Evolution Soccer, they'd know it was God's own football game.
IT'S FINALLY READY It's not spectacular graphics or an official-sounding name that make this the finest football game ever made. It's the fact that for the ten minutes you sit down to play a match, you feel like you're playing football. Not just a football videogame. From the moment your men march out onto the pitch, you know it's football things that are going to decide the winner. Who passes the ball better. Who defends better. Who puts the chances away. Perhaps a defensive lapse will break the deadlock in a nil-nil draw, but a series of random bashes of a 'special move' button will not.
The players here look great. Though lacking the almost photographic likeness of the players in This Is Football 2002, efforts have been made to make the famous players look distinctive. Konami claim that 200 players were singled out for special treatment, and it really shows up in the replays. Beckham is unmistakable, but looks like a videogame representation of the real player. The visual style refuses to sacrifice the fluidity of player movement to make them look like photos in the static shots.
ZIZOU? IT IS YOU, IT IS YOU! Nevertheless you don't need the game's commentator to tell you when Michael Owen, Jaap Stam, Zinedine Zidane or Gabriel Batistuta are on the ball. Better still, each player's individual skills are translated to the game as well. The blistering pace of Owen has always been well represented in games, but the more subtle skills of Figo and Zidane have always been more difficult to represent. Traditionally these lower-paced 'touch' players have looked ordinary in games that prize speed as a player's best attribute. Not any more.
PES rates its players on 45 different criteria. Speed is one of them, as is shot power, but so are skills like one-touch passing and technique. As a result, Zidane can turn sharply away from attending defenders, and hit slide-rule through balls 60 yards to feet with his first touch. It's testament to the game's control system that so many different attributes can still be used instinctively by the players.
Like ISS Pro Evolution 2 on PSone, the four main buttons are used to shoot, tackle and pass. All the basic stuff. The giant leap comes in the control of the pace of each player, with four different run speeds called up by different presses of the shoulder buttons. At full tilt, wingers might skin slow defenders, but will struggle to change direction. A drop in speed means greater manoeuvrability, but a greater emphasis on the player's skill to shake off his marker. Buttons can be double- and triple-tapped to launch crosses into different areas of the box, and run button taps result in defender-foxing shimmies.
NO DEGREE REQUIRED Sounds very complicated doesn't it? It's not. Pro Evolution Soccer doesn't offer the same level of instant expertise that FIFA games offer, but it's fairly simple to get started. Learning the basic button set is enough for a pair of inexperienced players to enjoy a cracking match, but you can integrate the other skills into your repertoire one at a time. You may only need to execute a little dink over an onrushing keeper once in three games, but once you've reached expert levels that's the sort of control you'll have over PES's little digital football. And we're not talking days for a full mastery of the controls here: you're looking at weeks - months even - of competitive matches and trial and error to see what works and what doesn't.
Special moves have always been conspicuous by their absence in ISS Evolution games, and PES makes very little change here. The reason for this is that Pele-style overhead flicks and spins are cheap if all you need to do is press a button to do them. Where is your incentive to hit probing passes around the pitch if a cheap trick move will repeatedly get you in on goal? PES is ruthless in this respect. You earn every strike on goal through inventive football. The only real trick move to speak of is the shoot feint, where a player shapes to shoot, then darts to one side. It's enough to beat defenders stretching to block a shot, and it is the perfect end to a passing move if used to dance around the goalkeeper.
The big change from ISS Pro Evolution 2 (which also featured the feint) is the ability of exceptional players to feint either way at will. Call upon a clumsy player to sell a dummy, and he doesn't have anything like the control over the execution that Rivaldo has.
ADAMS SHINS IT INTO ROW Z Shooting too is a hit-and-miss affair depending on which player strikes the ball. Expect Tony Adams to cane a half-cleared corner into the goal from the edge of the box and you're dreaming. Nine times out of ten it's going into row Z. Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard are much more likely to score from range, but you've got to strike the ball properly. Quickly hitting a shot will most likely see it scuffed into the floor. You've got to get the power spot on.
Again it sounds tricky, but it isn't. As a player steps up to hit a long shot, you're almost thinking in slow motion. You instinctively feel how hard and where to hit the shot. It's not simply a matter of watching a power bar rise - experience teaches you to feel how hard to hit the shots. It really is like playing real football.
Passing similarly relies on feel. Hit a lazy through pass through the middle of the park, and a midfielder will pick it off easily. Better is to glance down at the pitch radar at the bottom of the screen and hit a player in space. The same radar is your clue that the opposing keeper is rushing out when you break through alone on goal, and coupled with a zoomed-out camera perspective makes up for the restricted vision you have gazing on the pitch through a TV.
DON'T NEGLECT FOUR-PLAY The satisfaction of working a move through space to put a striker in on goal is almost as satisfying as finishing the job by rolling the ball into the net. This is the reason why PES works as a multiplayer game when you and your mates are playing on the same team, as well as in opposition. While your mate is running with the ball, you have the control to peel your striker off the marking defender into space, screaming for the ball. With the maximum four humans on a single team, you pull off the kind of passing moves that the game's own AI can't ever hope to replicate. Again, the sensation is like playing real footie with your mates down the park.
The game's AI is still very good though, and you'd struggle to tell CPU teams apart from a decent human player. They're equally capable of surprising you with an audacious overhead kick as missing a glaring chance when one-on-one with the keeper. There's never a set route to goal, so an intensive solo session can be just the thing to sharpen you up before a tournament when the lads come round.
Sometimes you'll come up against a team that plays to restrict your flowing football. Like Italy for example. You'll find opposing players swarming over your every touch and looking to kill the game off. They'll succeed if you let them, and the game will fizzle out as a frustrating nil-nil. This demonstrates again how like real footie PES manages to be - a dour no-score draw can follow an electrifying 4-3 extra time win. To combat the bore draw, you need to dip into the tactics screen.
GET TACTICAL Hit pause and you can shuffle the pack a little. Of course you can substitute a player and change the formation, but the scope is much wider than that. Tactics can be fully customised, right down to the individual player. You can drag your strikers deep so they show for the ball more, or you can tell players to man-mark the danger men on the opposing team. Flick back to the match, and you'll notice the changes immediately. An extra body in midfield can see you wrestle control of a hard-fought game, while restricting the space of Zidane can be the key to stemming the supply line to Henry and Anelka. As with the subtly nuanced control system, the tactics editor is there to be exploited only if you want to.
You see, it really is just like real football. But if it didn't look convincing, all of this good work would have been for nothing. You can give the digital Shearer enough AI to make him run into space, but if he runs like his spine is made of jelly it all looks a bit ridiculous. Good job that PES is the slickest moving footie game out there.
Players run with purpose, step over the ball like Ryan Giggs and make a tangible connection with the ball when hitting volleys at goal. You can rewind and play the replays all night and you won't spot a flaw in the animation - players draw their foot back to hit the ball, and don't magically pop into a volleying pose. Headers look equally great with centre backs climbing all over the backs of strikers to head clear. The game runs with a pace and fluidity that makes the PSone games look geriatric.
When a vicious foul comes clattering in, the victim is sent crashing to the ground. The offender protests his innocence as the man in black reaches into his top pocket for a card. We'd have liked to see the players react to bad tackles by pushing each other around, but they're all a bit too well behaved after the referee has blown the whistle.
PAPER FANS IN THE STANDS Another minor graphical flaw is the twitchy flat crowds that occupy the stands in PES's magnificent stadia. Whereas every beam of the Milan's San Siro and Munich's Olympic Stadium are modelled in polygons and look fantastic, the fans are a little bit of a let-down. They twitch on a basic animation loop, showing little appreciation for the footballing banquet laid on for them. It's only really during set pieces you notice the cardboard people though, as your eyes are firmly fixed on players when the ball is in play. The TV-style match intros show the grounds off brilliantly, and the smoke flares and confetti really build the match atmosphere.
The authenticity is upheld in the teams on offer. PSone's ISS Pro Evolution 2 was the first ISS game to feature proper player names (courtesy of the FIFPro licence), and the real players make it over to PES as well. The England squad is bang up to date, with the 11 that started the Germany and Albania games lining up as the first team. Club sides are current too, with Jaap Stam lining up in the blue of Lazio, and old man Blanc struggling at the heart of the Man United defence. The licence only extends to the names, so the shirts bear only a slight resemblance to the replicas they sell in sports shops.
GO CLUBBING For the first time in the series' history, you can play one-off friendlies with club sides. There are seven English teams in the game, lining up against the cream of club teams from Europe and beyond. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Leeds and Chelsea make the list on merit, and you can't blame the developers for sticking in Newcastle United to hoover up a few more sales in the footie-mad North East of England. We're at a loss to explain why West Ham haven't been kicked out since the PSone games.
For some players this perceived lack of authenticity is going to be the biggest barrier to them choosing PES over the likes of FIFA 2002 (due on November 9). Both FIFA and This Is Football 2002 beat PES for quantity of playable teams, even if the actual action of Konami's game is the most realistic seen on a console. You have to question why Konami haven't fixed this fact by now, as it's been the reason the best football series is never the one that sells the most copies.
Played with friends, PES will entertain you every day. The football system is so rewarding you'll play right up until the next version is released. Most players will want to play solo a great deal, and the most rewarding play mode for this involves the club teams. You can play World Cups and European Championships as much as you like, but Master League is where you'll lose most of your time. In fact, you might as well phone round and cancel all your friendships before you even press X with the Master League option flashing on the menu screen.
TURN ZEROES TO HEROES You take the reins of a club side, and attempt to guide them to ultimate glory in a world club superleague. Regardless of the team you choose, your initial squad is the same bunch of hopeless chancers. You've got to be very shrewd tactically to avoid a caning even in the lower of the two divisions, and every win and draw wins you points to spend on new players. Early on a decent striker and midfield player can drastically change your fortunes, but you'll need to carefully trawl the subs benches of lesser national teams to unearth a diamond on the cheap.
The big change from the Master League mode in the PSone games is that you need to pay your best players a retainer so they'll stay with the club at the end of a season. It's no good breaking the bank to get Ronaldo leading the line for the Toon, if he hits the road as soon as you get promoted. There's a lot of football to be played to win the top division, and after you've battled enough to survive the first few matches the rewards are massive. You will feel like your squad can beat anybody in the world.
Unfortunately there are aspects of PES that could have done with being tweaked a bit harder in the jump to PS2. Control at throw-ins is still lacking, and it's obvious who you're going to throw the ball to. It's harder to score from free kicks which is a welcome change, but it still feels a tad hit and miss when you're aiming a corner kick into the box. You feel lucky rather than skilful if your striker out-jumps the defender, which is at odds with the fairness of the rest of the gameplay.
But these are minor criticisms in what is undoubtedly the best footie game ever. Believe us - we've played a few. For footie fans, PES is the reason they needed to run out and buy a PS2 like the racing nuts did with Gran Turismo 3. You'll play this for months and months, and get progressively better with every game you play. We just feel sorry for all those PS2 gamers out there that aren't football fans, because they'll miss out on what's probably the best PS2 game so far. God gave rock and roll to you, and now he gives football to you on a shiny silver disc. Truly he moves in mysterious ways.
Dean Scott
// Overview
Verdict
It's God's own football game, and possibly the PS2's best yet. Footie fans must own it
Uppers
Best football game ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever Fluid, rewarding gameplay Fantastic player animation Works well in multiplayer, even played four-versus-four Infinitely replayable Master League mode will strangle your social life to death
Downers
Fewer teams than the likes of FIFA The commentator needs to be put down Some aspects are the same as the old PSone games
It's all very well Michael Owen banging them in against the Germans, but what about you? You with your thin white legs and stupid face. Why can't you have a piece of the glory? Because you've got no ability. Luckily, PES will let you take a few liberties with the truth as you create your very own player. Bang out a brand new superstar in your own infallible image, and drop him into any team you fancy. When the glory comes, it's all yours.
Then get in the England team, and feel the glory. Scott must score... Yes!
Be realistic when setting up your skills. Pace 95? Sounds about right.
Next choose your physique. Don't kid yourself: you're way fatter than that.
First up, pick a face. Urrgh! That looks just like Roy Keane! Perfect.
// THE EVOLUTION OF EVOLUTION
It's been a long and winding road to get to this Everest of digital footie, and this is how we got here. Two teams make ISS games at Konami - KCEO were responsible for the Nintendo ISS games, while KCET coded the Evolution games for PlayStation. Now both have games on PS2.
KCEO: ISS (2000)
PS2 got an all-new ISS from KCEO, but fans were more used to ISS Evo-style action and gave it a lukewarm reception.
KCET: ISS Pro Evolution (2000)
Glorious animation, enhanced control over shots and a number of new moves made it number one. Club sides included too.
KCEO: ISS (2000)
A simple three-letter name, for a PSone port of the N64 games. Played inferior to the reigning champ ISS Evo. People worried.
KCET: ISS Pro '98 (1998)
More dribble-heavy than its predecessor, and the pace was quicker and slicker than any footie game before.
KCEO: ISS 64 (1997)
The first of the three cracking N64 ISS games arrives. Arguments raged over which was best n this or ISS Pro on PSone.
KCET: ISS Pro (1997)
Introduced the fluid ISS gameplay. Player animation was slick, and through balls were the path to goal glory. Tactically great too.
KCEO: ISS DELUXE (1997)
PlayStation's first ISS game was a direct port of the SNES update from two years earlier. The gameplay made up for the looks.
KCET: Goal Storm (1995)
The mighty KCET kicked off with a bit of a stinker. Angular players, hit-and-miss shooting, wonky animation. It got better.
KCEO: International Superstar Soccer (1994)
ISS began here, on the SNES console. It set a precedent for ISS games ruling the roost.
KCET: ISS Pro Evolution 2 (2001)
Real player names in Evo for the first time. Looked nice and was much harder to score, but the series seemed to have peaked...
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Best football game ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever
