Virtua Con Football (Virtua Pro Football (PS2))

Member Name: scream4bruce

Product:	Virtua Pro Football (PS2)
Date:	21/05/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The lawyer whom you befriend is no bad looking

Disadvantages: It's like a weak FIFA game engine with PES's worst touches

In the Player mode, selecting keywords shapes your player. Your relationships with people are fickle and forgetful, so you can supposedly win/lose the trust of people twice in short succession. I reckon you need to score a goal to avoid criticism from the manager, and this thought is echoed by commentator Alan Green - who has a go at star players for not scoring regardless of the position they play. The commentary feels forced, and whomever came up with his lines should be shot.

Shopping for items which are of a benefit to the player might help pass the winter (hmm) and summer breaks, though the prices of some goods can be ridiculous to say the least! Whilst it got tiring going through the same static screens, I'm surprised I managed to survive the six seasons - which is how long this mode lasts - since my attempts to forge more than a friendship with a female friend failed after a few seasons. But there was a funny side to things when a team-mate asked for advice on his flailing relationship with his girlfriend and I offered to speak with her - only for him to refuse and say that he'll sort it out himself!

When you Practice you play a Training game when your Motivation Gauge is full. But as these mini games are ill-thought and highlight bad play and AI, it's a good thing that your player can still level up in stats when the Motivational Gauge is not full (and you don't have to play a Training game). You only participate in a couple of matches per season - in scenarios where you're expected to save the situation from the second half (or less). Strangely, switching to your own player is not as seemless as should be.

The passing can be unpredictably poor that there is no safe pass. Sometimes, instead of playing a close range pass the player takes a heavy touch on the ball. And they can apply a heavy touch when changing direction. Then it's almost as if the players are restricted to running in eight directions. The sliding tackle only works in close proximity to the ball so it can't be used in anticipation. 9 times out of 10 the CPU opponents get onto the receiving end of a cross, whether it be your team or theirs as provider, and they seem to be able to make up lost ground on the pitch. A lack of player movement in dead ball situations. The offside rule is not well implemented and the referee's decisions are inconsistent.

It also has some of PES's worst qualities. Passing from a free-kick is a farce. Not being given enough control of the player, and then not having the brains to apply the necessary touch needed. Unlike PES, there's not the quality for quicker one-touch football here as players feel the need to take a touch. Sure enough it has couple of league licenses, but simply, it's not football as it's meant to be.

Summary: Virtua Pro Football for PS2