Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

This looks like being the first review of the PS2 version of PES 2009 (I am too poor to afford a PS3). I will begin by saying the usual comment reviewers of PES make which is 'I have been a fan for years blah blah' which is true - my first copy was ISS Deluxe on the SNES back in 1995 (happy days) and have bought virtually every new incarnation of the series on its release date, such is my love for this game.

2009 is no different, even though 2008's game offered very little obvious exras or improvements over PES 6 I still ended up buying this year's game on its release date, hoping at least a few changes have been made. I have only managed to squeeze in a few games so far but initial thoughts: 'same old', i.e. gameplay very similar although the use of right analogue stick to perform the 'Marseille Spin' has now been changed to useing th D-pad (feels awakward to perfom). A big disappointment is the licensed boots do not feature in the game - feel let down by this.

In a nutshell - although its a 'relatively' cheap price at around 18 quid its still disappointing that not much effort has been put into the game for us loyal fans who have stuck with the game for years. I know I will still play it virtually every other day (hence 4 stars for fun rating) but would have been nice to have some new features added - doesn't even look like the champions league is featured on the PS2 version for a start. Ho-hum.

The graphic is excellent and is quite easy to learn how to play. When you start playing you just want to play more ! It is my favorite game

Up to some ten years ago, i was a follower of the EA Sport's FIFA Football franchise. That is until i decided to satisfy my idle curiousity and check out Konami's International Superstar Soccer Pro '98.

Needless to say that the difference in terms of game-play between the two was, at that time, vast. FIFA was as good as i had thought a football sim could be, with 6 to 10-0 scorelines being common - until i played ISS Pro '98!

ISS Pro '98 could rightly boast to be a true simulation of the beautiful game, because - certainly in comparison to FIFA - that was genuinely the way that it played. I was completely converted from the first few hours of playing it, and have bought each yearly installment/upgrade ever since, without the thought of entertaining the notion of even playing a FIFA game ever entering my head.

Throughout it's various incarnations on the the PS1 and PS2, i have eagerly awaited each yearly release with justifiably great expectations, and have never been disappointed - until i played Pro Evolution Soccer 2006.

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was, in my own opinion, the peak of this long-running series, as it has somehow been moving in reverse gear ever since.

My first impression upon playing both PES 2006/2008, was that Konami appeared to be now trying to emulate the arcade-style of gameplay that has long been FIFA's trademark characteristic. Gone was the patient and tactical style of play that had long been it's unique and defining stand-out quality, replaced instead by an A.I. engine that was seemingly better suited to 'quick fix' style players. For some reason the balls also did not seem to bounce/move along the ground in the realistic manner that they did in PES 5 anymore, instead being more akin to kicking around a lead weight that at times felt as painful to watch as it surely would be to actually phsically do.

It was with some anxiety and apprehension then that i purchased Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. In my opinion, at least half of the many faults that were predominant throughout the previous two installments have been addressed. The game speed has rightfully been slowed back down and your CPU controlled players thankfully attempt to find space to run into once more.

However, this offers scant consolation considering that the some of the more disappointing factors that corrupted the previous two versions still remain - in particular the woefully suspect CPU defending and player tackling for the ball, and the almost superhuman ability of the CPU attacker to sometimes ghost through your defence and into a clear scoring opportunity - something which until PES 2006, was a FIFA-like cheapness that i had never associated with the mighty PES series.

I won't mention the licensing issue because no true follower of Konami's prized asset purchases a PES game merely for the cosmetic appearance of the product. In fact, it is this mammoth sized editing process associated with the title that has always made PES a more personal experience.

In summary, Konami's behemoth has been floundering for a few years now, and i regret to say that i believe they still have some considerable way to go so as in order to reach the heights of previous incarnations once more. A much needed breathe of life needs to be injected into this now stuttering franchise, because churning out what appear to be hurried and improperly nurtured upgrades like PES 2006, 2008 and now 2009, will not see it sustain.

For two years now, i have continued to purchase each new installment/upgrade of the Pro Evolution Soccer series and yet have sold it within a week, instead favouring to continue playing the far more fluid and realistic simulation of the beautiful game that is PES 5. I will be doing the same again this year.