Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Demo
I'm glad I didn't write this mini review directly after the first match I played on the Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 demo (Xbox 360), as it would have fallen way short of the Fifa demo.
Initially, it felt too fast and more arcadey than any previous games. I think what has happened this year is Fifa have gone too realistic, and have forced this extremely slow (but, perhaps, more realistic) paced game on to it's gamers. Where as PES, although faster (maybe, still, a little too fast) gives the player that freedom to slow the game down with their individual style of play. Now, it's hard to gauge the success on this with the demo, as it's only a 5 minute match so it's hard to really play a slow passing game with the clock counting down (up?) so fast, but it's an option that's plain to see.
Graphically. I feel I'm missing out. I don't own a 30'inch HDTV, I have a 15 inch portable that I play my games on, but it does look better; improved much so. But no ground breaking. The likenesses of the players are perfect and leagues ahead of the license-grabbing corporation that is Electronic Arts.
Gameplay. The different types of players handle and feel different, where as, with the Fifa demo, this wasn't so obvious; every player seemed to handle almost the same even though it was obvious who were the better players. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, firstly allows you to play your style, but also limits that with the players you have at your disposal. Say you play Morientes instead of Torres (Spain nation team). Morientes is marginally better than Torres in the air, but Torres offers that thread in behind; he's faster and more direct. However, compare Torres to the more slight build but more skillful Villa; Villa has more tricks and a better touch, but the taller more heavy built Torres will be harder to knock off of the ball. Now that goes for every player; every player has his own strengths and weaknesses and thus far it looks like this has been tweaked to it's best in this most recent version.
A few niggles however...
Goalkeepers. Are these men between the sticks so difficult to code? Fifa's were in some kind of slo-mo limbo, where as there's a host of bad things about the keepers of PES. I feel the goalkeepers are worse than they were in PES6, which just isn't on. They'll rarely keep a hold of a shot, even when it's fired straight at them. We were promised that goalkeepers will try to push shots around the post instead of into the path of an oncoming striker... Bull-hucky! They're worse than ever! At least Fifa have the animations down to a 'T', PES goalies are lacking in this area too. Fix it KONAMI
Lots 'O Glitches. Animation popping, telekinesis goalkeepers, terrible hit collision... The list goes on. I accept that this is a demo so I assume these will all be fixed for its release.
Ref and Lino's. Refs seem better but less consistent! They now let well timed challenges go, even if you get the ball and the player! Score! But they'll now send you off for fouls on the half way line, and give penalties for perfectly timed challenged coming in from the front?! Sort it out..
And that's it really. I'm really enjoying it apart from the occasion glitch and (sometimes related) terrible goalkeeping/Referee error. If the niggles are fixed it should be the best PES to date (maybe!).
Full version still expected for 26th of October - so about a month!
Much love,
RU
Monday, 24 September 2007
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008: "After-the-initial Impression" Impressions
Monday, 17 September 2007
Update 'eth the Blog 'eth (Games)
FIFA '08 Demo
Now there's essentially 3 types of people in this world; those who like and play the Fifa franchise (i.e. the goons), those whom play the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise (the cool cats) and those whom don't care either way, usually because they don't like football (!) but sometimes because "they like both". Pah!
Previously, I would have placed myself among the "cool cats" (naturally), however I did waver slightly when I got my hands on the 360's Demo. As always, the game looks pleasant, but it's usually what's under the hood which has let FIFA down in the past. This year there's a huge improvement. Here's a mini-review I did on PESFan.com
Bad things
Goalkeepers. Terrible. The A.I is atrocious; they never come out to close players down, when the balls played through - or anything.
There's still too many "Hollywood saves" in my opinion. Not to mention how they seem to be diving in slo-mo. That leads me onto my other annoyance:
Game speed. Was it lagging? I changed the camera from the default cam to a closer one and it seemed to play faster? Anyway, it's still rather sluggish. It's possible that I'm just used to playing PES6, but I also watch a lot of football too and don't think it's at that pace.
Passing. It's harder, but there's something about through passing that doesn't seem right. Either it's intercepted or it'll get through to your player no matter what. And by that I mean it felt scripted. At one point the ball went through a defender and my own player as it dropped over (through) my player and I volleyed it home (looked nice, but when I saw the replay I wasn't impressed...) There's no freak occurrences, no mistakes (unless obvious)
Good things
The tricks. Difficult to pull off (partly to do with the speed, maybe) but also because they're just difficult to pull off successfully. However, once mastered it could make the game too easy (I'm still not a master of PES6 a year on...) Once you do pull them off though, they work effectively - leaving the defender in your wake.
Animations. As expected they are very good, and they do seem to add to the experience instead of just being something aesthetic.
Physics.... Are better but still not as good as PES in my opinion. It's less scrappy than reality, less gritty - but it is better and has been improved. I like how players will stick out a foot to try and gain advantage of a short pass, though it happens sometimes when it is required to which may become annoying.
Overall. I'm really considering getting it. It used to be a 'this or that' choice between Fifa and Pro but I feel this year they both (will) offer totally different things. When it comes down to it though, PES is my kind of game. Fifa still feels much more like an individual showboat than a team effort.
FYI: Pro Evolution Soccer also has a release date (October 26th) with Fifa releasing their title a month before (September 28th)
Saturday, 11 August 2007
The Premier League Returns!
The Premier League is finally back... and with a bang!
Newcastle (that's my team, through religion rather than through choice..) 
actually won, with Big Sam (pictured) off to a flyer against his former club Bolton; Charlie N'Zogbia claiming one with a cross-come-shot and Obi-wan grabbing two! All within the first 25 minutes, too! Bolton claimed little more than a consolation in the second half with former Arsenal striker Anelka putting one past Harper.
Final score, Newcastle 3 - 1 Bolton
For a full report on the game go here or here
Other scores as follows:
Sunderland 1 - 0 Tottenham
Sunderland (admittedly, probably deservingly) beat Tottenham with a late Chopra (ex-Newcastle, ooof!) goal! Other than that, neither goal keeper had much to do, with both teams looking rather cagey.
Game analysis here
Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool
An OG (own goal) from Villa center back Martin Laursen gifted Liverpool with the lead before underrated Gareth Barry gave Villa a life line in the 85 minute after slotting home a penalty after Carragher's handball. However, it would be Liverpool who laughed last (and loudest) as Mr Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, scored from a freekick directly after Barry had pulled Villa back on level terms.
Game analysis here
West Ham 0 - 2 Man City
Sven Goren Erikson's first game in charge was no less than a huge success, with Bianchi and Geovanni netting for the Swede's new look Man City side.
Game analysis here
Derby 2 - 2 Portsmouth
Derby's Matt Oakley opened the scoring with a 10th minute volley, only for City's Mwaruwari to grab an equalizer 15 minutes later. Pompey must have thought they had won it when Utaka popped in an 83rd minute header. But it wasn't to be as veteran Andy Todd equalized things once more seconds later.
Game analysis here
Everton 2 - 1 Wigan
Everton opened the scoring after just 26minutes with a Leon Osman header, and then all but wrapped up the points in the 75 minute when Anichebe scored from close range. Ex-Newcastle striker Antoine Sibierkski scored a late consolation goal for The Latics.
Game analysis here
Middlesbrough 1 - 2 Blackburn
England international Stewart Downing gave Boro' the lead with a left-punted free-kick, however, Blackburn turned the game around first with a Santa Cruz header before Derbyshire curled in the winner.
Game analysis here
Other Fixtures Over the Week
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Arsenal v Fulham, 12:00
Man Utd v
Tottenham v Everton, 20:00
Fulham v
Reading v
Wigan v