Review: PES 2010
Konami's popular title serves up another helping of football gaming, but is it any good?Published 02/11/2009 at 15:30 by tom_lord
First things first, PES 2010 is a definite step forward for the Konami developed football series. In comparison to PES 2009, 2010 has come on leaps and bounds. But here’s the rub. A certain other well known football franchise has also improved and was released earlier in the year to a fanfare of excellent reviews. Yet, Konami seem to be extremely confident over the games sales performance, shipping 3 million copies to Europe for its launch last week, so has that confidence been repaid with a great game?
Off the bat you can see the improvements that have been made. The menu system has had a complete overall, now operating in a slick and up to date fashion with some cool stylised affects and real music. It seems like such a simple thing to do, but in this day and age the outdated front-end and horrible music on the previous PES titles really was comprehensively behind the pace. Next, the Champions League licensed mode is a real blast adding real authenticity to proceedings and a sense of occasion. This has been in PES now for a couple of seasons, but the presentation has been improved further in the latest addition. There is the new Europa League to boot too.
The main meat and two veg of PES has always been the Master League. You start off with a team of your choice with either the actual squad (for example Man City) or with the classic made up Pro Evo team (the names of Castolo, Espimas and Minanda will bring fond memories to PES fans). You then progress through the league, cup and European competitions, buying and selling players as you go along. Many years ago, this was cutting edge stuff; however Master League has been stuck static for the past few editions. With 2010, Konami has given it a thorough refresh. There is actual currency used for transfers, you get sponsorship money based on performance and richer clubs have bigger budgets. However, while in past iterations of Master League have let you tie up to negotiations yourself, the latest version has a scout that sorts out the money and contract conditions for you, which detracts from the experience somewhat. Overall though, it is a welcome step forward in all directions.
But what about the actual on pitch action? After all this is what will make or break a football title. Well, you can’t just run straight down the middle of the pitch anymore, which while initially a little frustrating (every new football game always has a learning curve) is for the better. It requires more skillful passing of the ball and clever use of the wings. In short, it plays more like real football. The passing itself is smoother and if you have some good players, the one-touch passing is super slick. The stats system for each player is now much easier to use: you can see how good each player is now with a single rating out of 100 (which has been the case now some time with other football games), but you can easily delve in to much deeper stats at any point with L1 and R1. There is also a star next to players that have a special ability (Agbonlahor for example is rated 77, but has a star for speed). This makes it much better to set up your team for your style of play. Also, I have always found tactics a little daunting, but now there is a much improved slider system (again, out of 100) for team style in areas such as player support, position switch, defensive line and pressing. As you slide the bar up and down, an animation is displayed, showing what affect that has on the team.
Having each player not only look like their real-life counterparts, but play and feel like them has always been a strong point of the PES series and 2010 does not disappoint. It really seems like instead of just upping the stats of the best player, a huge amount of time has gone in to how they perform. The running style, positioning, tricks and general flair of each player feels unique and compares to how they act every weekend. It’s one thing that PES still has the advantage over that certain rival series. It gives a greater sense of involvement to the players, the way the players feel like when maneuvering around the pitch almost makes up for the lack of licenses (still).
The final major plus point of PES 2010 is the graphics. Yes, the stadiums are not all there and the ones that are lack visual polish (especially the crowd), but then this does not really matter. What does matter is what the players look like and in 2010 they look stunning. Seriously, Fernando Torres may as well be real, he looks so lifelike. They even make facial expressions and you can pause the game at any point, select replay and zoom in on a player, they look exactly how they do during a goal celebration or cut scene. All 22 players look brilliant in real time, all the time.
So far, so good. But there’s a big but. With PES 2010, Seabass and his team at Konami have taken a very positive step forward. Alas, Pro Evolution Soccer is not the only fish in the sea and FIFA 10 is innovating with the football genre. PES feels like it is refining the football genre. FIFA may have all the licensed teams, but it’s more than that. The 360 degree dribbling feels a lot more responsive in FIFA in comparison to the system in PES (While also 360 in PES, it never really changes the game and you can still play effectively with the D-Pad controls). The passing play in FIFA is even better. When I played PES online it was a laggy mess. PES’s Become A Legend mode is dull and again, not as good as FIFA’s Be A Pro. Ultimately, FIFA is more enjoyable for a longer time.
Pros
- Amazing player graphics
- Control feels tighter and more responsive than in previous PES titles
- Refreshed Master League
- Champions League mode is brilliant
Cons
- Commentary improved, but still bad
- More licenses please
- Online mode still needs fixing
- Little of it is actually brand new
Pro Evolution Soccer’s loyal fans will not be disappointed by PES 2010, far from it, but FIFA has taken the lead. For some it may be a hard pill to swallow (including myself, an advocate of PES over FIFA for many years), but what EA have achieved something to be savoured. One word of warning though, if you are used to FIFA it takes a lot of playing to get under Pro Evo’s skin (My friends who have only played FIFA 10 first impression of PES 2010 were less than savoury) and likewise if you have been a PES fan over the past few years, converting to FIFA will have a relatively steep learning curve. But now is the best time to make the transition over to FIFA. Next year may be a different story again. If Konami can build upon 2010 and add a little innovation to the mix while fixing the online modes, then PES 2011 should be on to a winner. Better, but not the best: 8/10
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
cc_star | 02/11/2009 15:33
Team TSA: Writer
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“When I played PES online it was a laggy mess”
Tells me all I need to know.
waddo_89 | 02/11/2009 15:42
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494 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
…..just like last year, played it at a friends online, awful.
Ryan1991 | 02/11/2009 15:42
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2001 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I never have like the arcadeyness (if that is a word) of PES. FIFA has been winning it for me the last few years but that statement there (^) has confirmed my opinion of PES. I thought that online could save it but to ME, FIFA has go it right this year.
*awaits abuse from PES fans*
topgear | 02/11/2009 15:56
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30 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
when I play online I get no lag but you get a delay, I think that’s what he means, im also on a 20mb connection do i don’t know what it’s like for those on a 2mb connection, and also I believe that everything is correct except when he said “more licenses”, konami can’t get the premier league license as EA have an exclusivity license so konami are stuck with the maximum of 2 licensed premier league teams. I hate EA with their exclusivity as this stops us getting porsches in gran turismo 5
overall i prefer pes because of its challenging AI and getting an easy platinum, also each stadium has it’s own atmosphere as in certain stadiums the nets are coloured to the home team strip colours
ive got FIFA10 as it was cheap at £21 but I find the the atmosphere of the game not very exciting, i must admit I love the dribbling and the chip shots awesome and the licenses are a plus.
but in fairness both games haven’t really proved to the hype they tried to show off
3shirts | 02/11/2009 16:00
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2494 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Actually GT5 will have Porche becasue EA’s exclusivity on them has ended
tom_lord | 02/11/2009 19:07
Team TSA: Writer
580 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Playing on a 8mb connection, players where sometimes jumping all over the pitch and appearing elsewhere. Also, there was a distinct delay between when I pressed a button to the action actually happening, meaning it played completely different to offline.
cc_star | 02/11/2009 19:23
Team TSA: Writer
7879 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Bandwidth shouldn’t be too much an issue, anything over 1.5mbps is more than capable of transmitting the minuscule amounts of data needed for online gaming.
Your ping, and your ISPs traffic prioritisation/shaping/throttling are far more relevant to lag (or delay) than your bandwidth.
topgear | 02/11/2009 20:58
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30 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
but did you play against the people on a red/yellow connection if so thats probably why, anyway it works perfectly for me so its probably upto the isps like cc_star said
Roynaldo | 02/11/2009 15:45
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I am a FIFA fanboy, this review makes me happy for sticking with them.
Thanks
djhsecondnature | 02/11/2009 15:54
Team TSA: Media
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Nice review but I have to disagree with the controls. I thought they were the worst in a PES game to date.
tom_lord | 02/11/2009 17:43
Team TSA: Writer
580 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I don’t think I praised the controls?…..
tom_lord | 02/11/2009 19:10
Team TSA: Writer
580 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Oh right, in the pros bit I did. I do feel that after you put a good few hours into it and get used to them, the controls are a step up over last years PES. They can feel clunky, especially I found after playing it after FIFA.
oMega-W | 02/11/2009 15:57
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I played the demo of this, and played a fair bit of the FIFA 10 full game, and sure, FIFA is clearly a good game, but I just found PES more fun, so I bought it, and am happy with it. No need for arguments. Plus, with an easily downloaded and installed option file, all the licenses and kits magically appear, making for an even more enjoyable experience.
gnipper | 02/11/2009 16:00
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709 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Ive bought Fifa for the past 2 years but have to admit to quite liking the PES demo. I already have Fifa 10 – do i have enough room in my life for PES too.. hmmmmm
tom_lord | 02/11/2009 17:44
Team TSA: Writer
580 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I think there is space for both PES and FIFA. To me they both play very differently and so can be seen as 2 very separate titles
C_S15 | 02/11/2009 16:00
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1566 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Good to see you using a pros and cons thing at the end of reviews now. Looks much better =)
Glad I stuck with FIFA this year.
Bilbo_bobbins | 02/11/2009 16:00
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1406 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Every year, Konami say this is it, the best game they have done. They have done everything every one wanted changed like online and controls and speed of the game but every single year they don’t win us over, because they hardly change anything other than the graphics. I played it over my mates this year before I was going to buy it because I have been stung too many times. As I thought, it hasn’t improved much and for me (Was a big PES fan) I think FIFA is now better. I hate to say it, but Konami to do something special to beat FIFA IMO.
tom_lord | 02/11/2009 17:46
Team TSA: Writer
580 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I think that it is the best PES to date, it’s just that “the game that shall not be named” is further ahead and the improvements to PES this year should have been done a while back.
gazo69 | 02/11/2009 16:05
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Good review, agree with the score.
The only gripes i have is the commentary is the same as last year which is lazy, also there is a lazy mistake in the become a legend mode on the news ticker, it says “Liverpool on the huge match against A. Johnson” when it should say “A.Johnson on the huge match against Liverpool” this is just a lazy mistake and one that i don’t expect to see in something i spend my hard earned money on.
Apart from that the game is great i am loving it, for me the game play is much improved from the last 2 games.
jacklum | 02/11/2009 16:07
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991 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
I see lots of people have been complaining about serious bugs in FIFA’s manager mode, but I haven’t seen a single review mention them. Seems like they’re more willing to gloss over FIFA’s flaws for whatever reason. I’ve only played the demos for each and thought they were both good – being able to change passing/shooting in FIFA to manual was a welcome feature. I’m not bothered by online in PES as I’d spend all my time playing the Master League mode anyway.
blackbriar101 | 02/11/2009 16:50
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A respectable review from a respectable website.Hardcore pes fans are loving the game,and for me its a massive improvement from last years.
BIGAL-1992 | 02/11/2009 17:23
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Let’s face it, FIFA has overtaken PES in best fotty game.
Lfc-Gaz | 02/11/2009 20:23
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FIFA overtook when PES realeased their 2008 game.
Yung Jones | 02/11/2009 17:35
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910 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Coming from a former die hard PES fan, Fifa is the king of football games. PES hasn’t been the same since Pro 6, but true say i’m going to get 2010 for the ever entertaining Master League.
stingraz | 02/11/2009 17:38
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2241 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
agree on it hasn’t been good since 6. Then fifa’s rule began – and is still.
iNsAnE_gAmInG | 02/11/2009 17:41
* Banned *
-1930 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
I buy PES every year on PSP as they are always good, arcadey titles that provide top footie action for on the go entertainment, but the console version puts me off for three reasons: 1) Konamia constantly claim they have ‘reworked’ the online, changed servers, whatever; it’s always the same lag fest present 2) It lacks as many interesting game modes, licences and the general authenticity of Fifa 3) Fifa is just going from strength to strength and is truly winning the battle… EA have nailed it!
Nice review.
TheHostilePenguin | 02/11/2009 17:45
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204 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Good Review, not sure I agree about the controls though. Also, isn’t Be A Pro FIFA, and Be A Legend PES?
gazo69 | 02/11/2009 17:49
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PES is Become A Legend!
Sympozium | 02/11/2009 19:36
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1651 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Need to pick up PES later next year maybe, its always worth trying both