The latest PES is not so much an evolution (Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS3))

Member Name: JamesJDoyle

Product:	Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS3)
Date:	15/07/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great graphics, Champions League mode

Disadvantages: Removal of popular teams and stadia

Konami's latest installation of the hugely popular and successful Pro Evolution Soccer series is something of a slight let down. For those fans that were expecting a huge improvement and difference, from the 2008 version, will feel they have been short changed some what. Why is this? PES boasts excellent graphics, and the individual attention to the star player's appearances is spot on. The likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Ronaldo have frighteningly real faces, and are very well done at the same time. For those who play the FIFA series, will be familiar that despite the photo realistic faces that the players have, they sometimes have a slight "zombie" look about them. Faces appear motionless, while playing; it can look like a photo of the players face, slapped onto a virtual model player, and the effect isn't particularly great. For PES however, appearances are very realistic, and do not have the "zombie" look, that FIFA has. The gameplay of PES is still very enjoyable, all the favourite tournaments, leagues, and the Master League are still present, and there are two brand new modes: The UEFA Champions League and Become a Legend. In the Champions League mode you take a team of your choice, and lead them to glory. The clever thing about it though, is that it is fully licensed. It has a great, authentic look, from the official Champions League music, to the logos, even brief videoclips of moments from last season.
Become a Legend is where you can play as yourself. This is achieved by taking a photo of your face with a digital camera, and scanning it in, putting your own unique appearance in the game. Or, you can simply create your appearance, using the familiar editing tools. You then select your favoured position (except goalkeeper or defender), and then a secondary position. Once you have entered all your details, from height to neck length, you begin, as an unknown 18 year old, playing for a fictional team in front of scouts. If you impress sufficiently, you will be offered a place at a League club, and if you can keep impressing, you earn a place at the Man Utd's, and Barcelona's of the world and even go on to represent your country at International level. Sounds good? It's not quite as simple as that. After impressing at the fictional club, I had a choice of Hull City, West Brom and Wigan, who all offered me a place. After selecting Hull, you then take part in team training, just to earn a place on the bench. In Become a Legend, you are only in control of yourself, and it can get frustrating, running around, imploring your teammates to give you the ball. Training with the likes of Caleb Folan, and Dean Windass, just to get a place on the Hull bench, can get as dull as watching your local pub team on a wet October. It's very difficult and takes a lot of perseverance. If you have that, Become a Legend may be for you. Despite its flaws though, it is still a welcome new mode. Another welcome new addition is the arrival of some new teams to the international roster; Canada, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

These are some of the PES plus points, but what about the negatives? The most disappointing aspect of PES 2009 is that it is not much of an improvement from the previous version. It is almost like a glossy add on. How so? The Master League is exactly the same, bar some photos on the menu screen of fans celebrating in a pub, players being interviewed, and fans making their way to the match. These are a nice addition, but they do not add anything to the actual Master League. In previous additions different elements have been added to it, so the Master League gets better with each version, but with 2009 it is exactly the same as it is on 2008. Another disappointment is that there has been no new licences for English teams. Man Utd and Liverpool are the only licensed clubs, the rest are left with the usual bland strip. Another regards the stadiums. While Wembley is a very welcome addition, the famous English football grounds of Old Trafford, Anfield, St James' Park and Stamford Bridge, are no longer in the game. Another big element that has been removed is the German Bundesliga. Sorry fans of German football, but there are no German club teams in the game. To not have one of the Top European Leagues, is a blow, and would surely have a very negative effect on game sales in Germany. The speed of the game has also been called into question; matches go at a high-speed, unrealistic pace. Messi is almost a cheat player. Simply give him the ball, and it is far too easy to run and dribble past literally everyone. Referees are now unrealistically harsh. The most simple of mis-timed tackles can result in a straight red card.

PES 2009 is a very good football simulator. If you're a fan of the series it is worth getting, but there is a slight feeling that this could have been much more.

Summary: PES 2009 is worth getting, but there are still old flaws which just havent been removed.