Customer Reviews

Pro Evolution Soccer 09

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I fully admit I have long been a Pro Evolution fan over the FIFA series, but I also must admit that I came very close to making the switch after last year's PES and having read all the great reviews for the new FIFA. However, I went with my gut and gave PES 2009 a shot, in part b/c the price of $39.99 for a new copy of the game is tough to beat. Boy, amd I glad I did.

First, the differences between Konami and FIFA are the same: PES 2009 is for true fans of the sport who genuinely understand how the game is played; if, however, you're looking for the arcade-style gameplay, then FIFA is your game. They have slowed the ball physics and player movement down a bit from last year, so the build-up play is more deliberate in PES 2009, which I think is a positive. Also, you cannot turn on a dime while dashing like you could last year, so you'll have to make smarter passes and movements. I view all of these as positives.

Although the graphics are a bit better in FIFA, this year's PES is a vast improvement on last year's. The stadiums and crowds, as well as player animations are better. Perhaps most importantly, they corrected whatever problem caused the terrible framerate on replays and cutscenes in PES 2008. Overall, I would say this is finally the next-gen advancement that the series needed, although as FIFA illustrates, there is still room for improvement.

Ah, the licensing issue...everyone's favorite complaint about PES. Well, frankly, it doesn't bother me that much, especially given the extensive editing feature of the game. First, many teams are fully licensed (Man Utd, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villareal, Espanyol, all of the Italian and Dutch Leages, French League, etc.). So, Arsenal is still called North London; well, just open up the Edit mode and change the team name, all of the players are already featured, so changing the team name takes all of about 30 seconds. One disappointment was that the Spanish League used to be fully licensed, but now it is only about 50% licensed. However, once again, just change the team name...the uniforms are almost identical anyway, and once again, if it really bothers you, then edit the jerseys. Finally, the UEFA Champions League license is a pretty cool feature and adds a cinematic feel to the game.

Overall, the gameplay is what makes PES 2009 a better game than FIFA in my book. That, and I love the Konomi's Master League. I have yet to try out the new Become a Legend Mode, so I can't make a recommendation on that one way or another. Nevertheless, if you're a long-time PES fan, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Things are simple: Fifa is for those who like to WATCH soccer; Pes is for those who like to PLAY soccer. Being soccer games is barely the only thing they have in common, cause both games aim to targets that are not necessarily the same and, of course, offer different gameplaying experiences. My choice is Pes because is the game that hits closer to the things I want to do when I'm playing and the things that are shown in game... that's gameplay pals, and I preffer it much more than thousands of stadiums and licenses.

I played FIFA 2009 for months and it is a great game but Pro Evolution has the edge on FIFA. The Master league is a lot more fun to play then Manager mode on FIFA. Scoring is difficult but very rewarding buying players is a challange which it should be. There are more players that look like they do in real life than there was in FIFA. You can score from crosses into the box which seamed to be an impossible way to score in FIFA. The become a legend mode is hard but fun. I love PE09 and can't wait for the next version.

The game is ok, but is NOTHING compared to FIFA. Konami just doesn't have the finances that EA Sports does to create a really sweet game.

Great inheritance from Winning Eleven series on PS.
The new "become a lengend" mode really offers lots of fun.

Always a fan of Winning Eleven or the now called PES the play mechanics are still top notch and a fun as always. The down side is still what i've had a problem with these games, lack of officially licensed teams. The edit mode is now more robust than it use to be last year which allows me to create my favorite teams. love the game.

THIS is an *AWESOME* game. The graphics might be a little bit worse than fifa 09 but since it got their UEFA champions league license its all good. pes has better gameplay than fifa. Do NOT listen to review on bottom

Pes 2009 needs alot and i repeat alot of improvement.
player movement on the ball is good but thats about it. Konami developers need to learn the rules of the game. the offside play is over the top and refferees are so card happy, soccer is a contact sport and i dont think a card should be shown for every body contact especially when you play against a tough team. the throw in plays leave you with very little options and you get a red card for every slide tackle on the wings even if you make clear contact with the ball and you are not the last man in defence.
But worst of all in the competition mode with one player setting, as you advance to the final stages of the competition the programme is rigged to make sure you loose even in regular mode. Your team all of a sudden cant seen to do anything right, and the computer's team cant seem to do anything wrong. Your team becomes sluggish on the ball, crucial passes never get to their target, crosses are always intercepted, they get flat footed in front of goal, chances that should easily be converted all of a sudden gets balloned all over the place except into the net, I love a tough match with a good side but i dont think it is fair for the programme to completely disable my team in every aspect leaving me no choice but to chase the opponents all over the pitch for the entire game due to the fact that all their passes are so accurate it is unreal and the ball just keeps bouncing in their favour.
And lastly vast portions of the pitch behind the full backs is always undefended during attacking plays. I hope hope they do alot of home work before releasing the next version by studying the rules of the game, refferring and please dont disable my team to create the experience of a tough encounter, it's terribly frustrating.

i like pes since it's started but I read the inf about the new things on pes 09' what they included which is great! but i don't like the idea about the other leagues not been fully licensed and that is something that I wish they can change or fix so all teams can be licensed on the game,but still the best game to play and have fun!

the game is pretty sick if you like soccer and spacing the field out. shooting is particularly odd / difficult.. but I imagine they want you to log in some hours before it becomes second nature!