PES2009 - very hot and cold (Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS3))

Member Name: McGenius

Product:	Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS3)
Date:	16/07/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant attacking play

Disadvantages: Horrible defensive play

While it may not be intentional, PES2009 amazingly captures the ups and downs - and the sublime and the ridiculous - of this way of life we call football, but largely not in a good way.

Like previous PES titles, you can play some really fluid and realistic patterns of play, while running through an entire opposition with a Fernando Torres or Kaka proves just too easy, helping to spoil online mode (more on this later).

Defending can also be a nightmare, with horrible scripted player AI continually being bewildered by a lob or hoof upfield making it so once you gain control of your player you just don't get there in time.

Playing against the computer - while enjoyable - can be a monotonous experience. The last time I checked I didn't see every single team in the world play exactly the same style of football, with 99% of the players (hardest difficulty by the way) with exactly the same level of ability.

A nice touch in the game - while it hasn't been implemented that well - is the ability to add mp3 tracks into the game's playlist, but also as crowd chants during play, meaning you can add your team's chants, provided they are in an mp3 file and don't last longer than about 40 seconds so you can hear them all.

Online mode is a major disappointment. Lag is almost constantly noticeable, even with a good connection. Gameplay is slowed and jagged, and while he is awesome, I don't see the real Lionel Messi literally teleport about 20 yards when you play yet another person online who uses Barcelona due to a bad connection and poor servers.

Gameplay: 6/10
Story: N/A
Visuals: 8/10
Music: 6/10
Controls: 8/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

Summary: Play it offline with friends and it's as good as it gets