For years now EA has strived to bring FIFA up to the same standard as PES, often mimicking Konami's masterpiece or (ahem) 'borrowing' gameplay elements in the process. PES, meanwhile, has procrastinated, barely changing for each iteration until - finally - it finds the boot's on the other foot; FIFA's the champ and Konami are looking to EA for inspiration.
But while some of the Xbox World team (cough Pellett! cough) might be loving the current switcheroo, for those of us who have always obssessed over PES, this is painful to write. So what's gone wrong?
PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
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PES 2010
Gameplay footage
2:03We're a bit shit in this. But watch the next one for a wonder goal
The most obvious thing is that the pace has been slowed down to make for a more ponderous, attritional kickabout. It may be more akin to the real thing but the game's better when the speed is slightly exaggerated and you can indulge in lightning quick counter attacks. Players are more evenly matched for speed, too, so attackers with genuine pace, such as Walcott, will struggle to shrug off the attentions of even the slowest defenders, making it tough to steal more than a yard.
Ah, but this means that you'll have to work harder to create space and pick your passes with more care, right? True. If only they hadn't messed with the through-ball and made it devastatingly ineffective. What was once your greatest weapon has been rendered mildly useful at best, and calamitous at worst. For the majority of the time, through-balls just don't seem to reach their intended target, either getting intercepted or simply not landing where you wanted them to. Perhaps we need another 40 games to shake off our PES 2009 habits, but it's a worry.
More concerns. It's tougher to control the ball when receiving a pass. Again it's a nod to a more realistic take on football where boots aren't tipped with superglue, but we found passes pinging off the intended recipient and straight to the opposition on an alarming number of occasions. And as for the 'keepers... They flap, they fail to claim, and they gift the opposition goals. Only the weakest of shots seem to stick in their paws.
There's been much shouting about the new 360 on-the-ball control for both FIFA and PES. Sorry PES, but FIFA beats you hands down on this too. You can really sense the difference in EA's game - unlike here. You'd be hard-pushed to tell the difference from last year and, if anything, shimmies and shuffles are harder to pull off.
Dammit, enough of the negativity, we're starting to sound like Alan Green. Retaining the age-old PES template means it's not all bad. Players are quicker to react than last year which, for anyone who played version 2009, will know is A Big Thing. If an attacking player loses the ball in a fair challenge, there's only a minor stumble before you can attempt to win it back. It helps sides add pressure in an attacking situation. Throw-ins have been reworked so there's no longer an invisible barrier around the recipient, which again helps you to maintain pressure on an opponent. Happily, the AI has been tweaked so that the defence holds its shape (right- and left-backs frequently went AWOL in 2009); and the level of tactical tweakery on offer has been enhanced and simplified via a series of sliders that adjust a given tactic.
Visually, it's fantastic. Get close up to the more famous kickballers in a replay and the likenesses are staggering. In fact there's an overall level of visual polish in all areas... although, alas, Champion's commentary and Lawro's punditry is still utter shite, even if crowds sound better). Shame you never get to appreciate it in the Wide view, eh?
In regard to game modes, it's largely as you were with a full Champions League to play through plus all the usual league, cup and quick match options. Master League has finally been reworked too. Whether it's enough to keep long-time PES players' eyes from wandering remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Pro Evolution Football is no longer the champion.
My ego is stroked after reading this review since I already purchased FIFA 10. While FIFA 10 is tremendous fun when the plays go right, it can also induce game-controllor-throwing-desires levels of frustration with some of the less amicable "quirks" in that game. If PES 2010 is worse then I would strongly recommend renting it first, just as I recommend you rent FIFA 10 as well if you have any doubts whatsoever. I don't regret buying FIFA 10, yet I got it at half RRP price so that helps, and I do find it to be tremendously satisfying and fun as my skill has increased but there are still naggles. Oh yes, there most certainly are....
My ego is stroked after reading this review since I already purchased FIFA 10. While FIFA 10 is tremendous fun when the plays go right, it can also induce game-controllor-throwing-desires levels of frustration with some of the less amicable "quirks" in that game. If PES 2010 is worse then I would strongly recommend renting it first, just as I recommend you rent FIFA 10 as well if you have any doubts whatsoever. I don't regret buying FIFA 10, yet I got it at half RRP price so that helps, and I do find it to be tremendously satisfying and fun as my skill has increased but there are still naggles. Oh yes, there most certainly are....
That is exactly how I feel about fifa, didn't buy 09 and haven't played a football game for ages, and lept on fifa when it was Ł25 and am glad it was the right choice.
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
Whilst I'm not disputing the key facts such as PES 2010's poorer animation, commentary, goal keepers and control when compared to FIFA 10, it seems this and other reviews have barely gone into depth of the new Master League mode - which many still judge as superior to FIFA's Management mode.
Also no-one has reviewed online (which, although I understand is hard to judge until everyone is on the servers) it should certainly be quite a big part of a final review score. So yet again another large aspect of the game is overlooked.
PES 2010 may be disappointing in many ways but so are these short reviews. PES has made big strides to re-gain some ground, if Konami can sort out the above issues and continue to push forward as they did this last year, then PES 2011 will be a worthy competitor again!
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
I'll tell you why, well, my theory anyway.
The reviewers don't play a full season. In fact, I reckon most reviewers just have a few matches when it comes to footy games and then just score it.
I've been convinced of that ever since I saw a number of reviews of EAs Euro 2008 game where they said it was 'FIFA 08 with the European Championship license tagged on', when the actual truth was that it was unrecognisable from FIFA 08 and had much more in common with FIFA 09. It sounds daft, but the difference was so clear and apparent that I've never trusted a footy game review since.
Interesting review, I'll still be picking PES up, the buggy mess that is FIFA's manager mode is forcing me back to the Master League, which you seem to suggest is the major plus point.
Actually, now that I mention FIFA's manager mode problems... why is it that not one single review anywhere mentioned the fact that it was a buggy mess? It can't have been that hard to miss...
That's seriously dented my confidence in a lot of reviewers.
I'll tell you why, well, my theory anyway.
The reviewers don't play a full season. In fact, I reckon most reviewers just have a few matches when it comes to footy games and then just score it.
I've been convinced of that ever since I saw a number of reviews of EAs Euro 2008 game where they said it was 'FIFA 08 with the European Championship license tagged on', when the actual truth was that it was unrecognisable from FIFA 08 and had much more in common with FIFA 09. It sounds daft, but the difference was so clear and apparent that I've never trusted a footy game review since.
100% spot-on there. I thought I was the only one who thought that, such was the difference IMO.
I'm glad I bought FIFA 10, but the reviewer doesn't always make sense. he seems to criticize PES for trying to be less arcadey and more true to its simulation roots. The demo wasn't very good, and it was enough for me to give my money to EA for the first time in a decade.
This is a very poor review, who ever wrote this should be embarrased. He just moans about the game being not arcade enough when thats exactly why PES 2008 And 2009 were slated. Also "Players are more evenly matched for speed, too, so attackers with genuine pace, such as Walcott, will struggle to shrug off the attentions of even the slowest defenders, making it tough to steal more than a yard". Thats just lies!!
well i finally bit the bullet and switched to fifa having played both demos and i now feel vindicated in my choice. sorry konami you actually need to try hard now, you cash cow is on its way to the abatoire!
What the crap is wrong with the PES people? How can they go from producing games that were so good it was unreal, to games of such a quality that make us want to check out dross like Fifa?! So disappointing. And kudos, to the reviewer, for managing to get as far as half-way through the second-to-last paragraph before mentioning the completely irrelevant aspects of the game, like the commentary
As much as I like FIFA, and I've bought it the last 3 years, I still prefer PES, but PES has gone wrong now, so I'm stuck between both of them. The PES demo was poor IMO, and the FIFA demo was fun. Seems like a big power shift now, I think.
The biggest problem with PES is that it's such a rigid game. Even playing FIFA 10 with all the aids on you still feel like what happens on the screen is your own doing. If that isn't enough you can then take the aids and turn them down a notch, or off completely - which incidentally is well worth giving a go, because as odd as it feels at first, the more you get used to it the more it opens the game up way beyond what you can do with the aids on - and match the game to how you wish to play.
A few years ago both PES and FIFA lacked that element. FIFA have introduced it, yet PES continues to force people to play a game that gives you so little control in comparison. Until they allow we, the gamer, to have more influence, PES is going to live in FIFA's shadows.
I'm a little confused - was historically a PES fan but fifa 09 was sooo superior and PES 09 crap. But.. played both demos and Pes 10 was much more fun! Don't know which to buy. What shall I do? (refuse to buy both)
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Looks fantastic
