So 6 weeks after owning Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 for 360 what is the verdict of Konami’s latest effort? Not so good to be honest…
After the first few games I had this game down as one the best PES since PES5 was released way back on the original Xbox. A few weeks later I have it down as one of the worst.
This is the reason why it has taken so long to review as I don’t like to give knee-jerk reviews whether it be CDs, Films or Games. It’s easy to say something’s great after a few games but the proof is in the longevity. How many times do we love an album, say it’s the best, then a few months later never play it? A lot.
Anyway, I got PES10 a few days before general release and when I fired it up I was pleased to see how good it looked. The graphics shat all over EAs new baby Fifa10. Konami had gone into so much detail with every player. Fernando Torres even has his birthmark on his neck! Gone were the ugly menus and horrendous music. In came readable menus and songs from bands like Stereophonics & Kaiser Chiefs.
I played a few games with various teams and was (at first) impressed with what I saw. Everyone knows that PES does look strange at first due to the lack of licenses. I only had to wait a few days for a well known PES fan site to create an option file. The file gave me all the correct kits, team & player names plus a few teams that are not even in the game!
The game now looked complete and I was eager to start the Master League which has had a radical makeover this year. Gone are the points system and in comes real money. There is now a youth team for you to look after and this year they have implemented the Champions & Europa League into the Master League which is a touch of genius. Last year they didn’t and the CL license was a waste of time. There is also a transfer window of 4 weeks before the first league game and you or your scout can try to sign new players before the window slams shut until Xmas. The Master League was now pretty much perfect.
So with all that in mind PES2010 was set up to be a cracker of game. Unfortunately where in previous years PES had looked average and played magnificent this year it has switched around. The game looks amazing but playing the game isn’t a nice experience at all.
It seems that every year since the new generation consoles Pro Evo has gone backwards in terms of game play. I could be here for ages typing out what’s wrong with PES10 but so far I have told you what’s right with it as it’s easier on the fingers!!
I will though tell you a few of the problems with the game. The first is the passing. The ball pings around like a pinball and the simplest of passes goes astray. Keepers are worse than ever as shots are parried too often and every shot to the near post doesn’t even get a dive from the keeper. A cross and header on target results in a goal 9 times out of 10 as the keeper just watches it go in.
First touch? Unless you have a top class player all the players have a dreadful first touch which results in them losing the ball. The pitch is bigger than ever but you wouldn’t know it as the players are all bunched in the middle like my sons U/8s team.
But there are two bigger main flaws and the first is that you cannot get or give away a penalty. I’ve hacked down forwards when one on one only for the ref to wave play on and I’ve also been the victim and been hacked down for a blatant pen only for the ref to ignore it. Some people I know have had over 100 games and not seen a penalty given. Secondly the computers AI makes the game too easy. The teams the AI controls are too negative and don’t attack enough. I played Inter, AC & Madrid in 3 consecutive games and only had 3 shots made against me. The AI makes the team too defensive. After 15 league games I had only conceded 3 goals and I don’t exactly have the world’s best defenders. I upped the level and OK I didn’t hardly see the ball due to the AIs possession but again the shots on goal didn’t arrive.
So there you are. This is the third PES made for next gen consoles and this is the third less than impressive effort. The last great PES game was the first game available for 360 which was PES6.
When it came out in 2006 next gen owners were gutted as this was effectively a PS2 game put onto a 360 disc. The game wasn’t in HD and neither did it have next gen graphics. But after playing the game it was obvious that PES6 was the best PES ever made and it still is to this day.
If you really want to get PES10 then I recommend getting a 2nd hand PS2 console and buying PES10 for it. I have heard that PES10 is fantastic for the PS2 which is no surprise as that’s the format the game is made on. It’s probably the reason that Konami are still not able to make great next gen games for 360 & PS3.
Me? I be playing PES6 until I read the reviews of PES2011 because PES08,09 & 10 have all been major letdowns.
PES10 rating 5/10
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