I’m pleased to say that, for the first time since the PlayStation 2 era, significant changes have been made to Konami’s long-running series. But are they enough to help the genre’s former powerhouse win back some of the ground lost to FIFA over the past few seasons? Let’s find out.

Loved
Welcome To 2009 – Konami finally worked out that games released on current generation hardware need to look like current-generation games and have given the game’s graphics a serious overhaul. While animation is still a little clunky, the lighting, stadiums and especially player kits and likenesses have seen massive improvements to the point where they stand well ahead of FIFA’s.

Front And Centre – Another of Pro Evo’s more archaic elements — the game’s front end and menu system — has also been overhauled. It’s now simpler, more attractive, and most important of all, quicker. This means you can get in, make your necessary adjustments and get back into the action.

Online Play – Hooray! Online play now works. Die-hard Pro Evo fans will no doubt be both shocked and overjoyed to hear this.

Hated
Poor Man’s Game – You’d think by now that Konami would realise that one of the chief areas that they’re falling behind EA Sports is in securing the rights to use real team names and real team kits. Yet whether through lack of intent or simply a lack of resources, Pro Evo is still sorely lacking in official teams, particularly when it comes to international sides and, more importantly, the English Premier League, where only two teams — Liverpool and Man United — are available. Where five years ago it was “cute” going through and editing every team’s name and kit to reflect their actual real-world appearance, now it’s just a pain in the arse.

Stiff As A Board – While faster than previous editions, Pro Evo is still far too slow. And I don’t mean in the pace of the game, I mean in the pace of the players, who take far too long to take possession of the ball and take far too long to get rid of it. Football can often be a slow, methodical game, yes, but at times it also needs to be fast and fluid, something Pro Evo is still unable to really capture.

Be A Pro? We’re Trying… – Much like FIFA, Pro Evo has a mode where you can create a player and assume control over just that player throughout their career, playing games not as an all-seeing football God, but just one of the lads. In FIFA, it’s a joy to play, with constant feedback allowing you to both gauge your progress and revel in being a superstar. In Pro Evo, you’re dropped into your career and just… left there, rarely knowing if you’ve had a good game or not. Without those trimmings, the game mode is simply 1v11, and that’s no fun at all.

I like to think of the battle between FIFA and Pro Evo as being a battle between Liverpool and Chelsea. FIFA are Chelsea. Once also-rans, enough money has been poured into them over enough time to simply guarantee success. They’re brimming with talent all over the park, boast a large supporter base, and at the moment, are top of the table.

Pro Evo, meanwhile, are Liverpool. A series with a proud history and a willingness to compete, but in the modern era, they simply lack the resources to present the kind of depth and year-in, year-out challenge Chelsea can muster. Sure, in some areas they can pull level, and on the odd weekend (or even season) could overcome the Londoners, but overall, and in the long term, they’re simply no longer in the same league.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 was developed and published by Konami for the Xbox 360 (version reviewed), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PC, Wii and PSP. Released on October 23, retails for $US59.99/$AU109.95 (Xbox 360 version). A copy of the game was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Played all game modes in single-player, and several matches in multiplayer, both locally and online.

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According to a report from IGN, series lead Shingo ‘Seabass’ Takatsuka has said that the Pro Evo team is “looking at integrating those devices into our games very aggressively”. We doubt they’re the only ones at Konami HQ getting up to speed on the Wii Remote’s pair of competitors.

While it could make headers in Pro Evo a dangerous prospect, we can see it working in other Konami titles. Just imagine being able to immerse yourself in a cardboard box in real life, then see Solid Snake do the exact same thing! Or imagine what Koji Igarashi could do with a motion controlled Castlevania.

I’m guessing a vampire slaying driving game.

PS3 Wands Coming to PES [IGN]

As it stands, these are for the Japanese market, but if they turn up in Europe as well, don’t act all “oh my GOD” and pretend you never saw it coming.

They’ll be out in November, both consoles are 120GB versions, and both will cost ¥38,000 (AU$482). Which gives a slight edge to the 360 bundle, what with it including an extra controller and all.

PS3/X360『ウイイレ 2010』は11月5日発売、本体同梱版もアリ [Dengeki Online]

Appearing on the cover of this year’s edition are Barcelona’s pint-sized Argentinian Lionel Messi, who reprises his role from last year’s box, and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, perhaps the most achingly beautiful man in European football.

Wonder what’s behind the logo there, for them both to be looking at it so…longingly? Can’t be money, they’ve got enough of that. Can’t be that Photoshopped football, either. Must be a nice ham sandwich. Because all the money in the world can’t guarantee you a good ham sandwich.

Here you’ll find some in-game shots, pictures of the new “card” strategy system, along with shots highlighting the improvement to the player models over last year’s version.

Yes, up til now if you wanted to play a Konami game on your console, not only have you needed a 360 or PS3 online account, you’ve also needed a Konami ID AND an account with the relevant game. So three accounts. Silly. So silly, in fact, that even Hideo Kojima totally hates the scheme.

But the publishers of Metal Gear and Pro Evo have today confirmed with Gamekyo that this year’s version of Pro Evolution Soccer won’t require a Konami ID for online play. Instead, Microsoft and Sony will run the game’s servers, meaning when you want to play an online game, you can just… play an online game.

Welcome to online gaming in the 21st century, Konami. Be sure to do the same thing with Metal Gear Rising, OK?

L’Online de PES 2010 entièrement retravaillé [Gamekyo]

Sure, Konami’s bragging a bit about the visual tweaking its doing to player models for the 2010 iteration because we already have solid details on what to expect for this year’s version. Konami PR points out that the first in-game screen showcases the soccer game’s “all-new dynamic lighting effects, where the position of the sun or the illumination from the floodlights is reflected in real time within the shadows cast both on the pitch, stadium, the ball and players.”

We’ll leave it up to the Pro Evo fans to decide whether Messi’s digital model is worthy of highlighting. It’s doubtful you’ll see this angle too often, so I’d imagine it’s the gameplay that matters.

There was a Pro Evolution Soccer in 2008. 2007, too. And 2006. And so on, and so on. So it will be again in 2009, with the release of Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

Last year’s edition was a crushing disappointment. For the first time in recent memory, the series yielded its crown as the best football game on the market to EA’s FIFA, primarily because Konami seems intent on releasing the same game over and over and over, with tweaks, rather than really adding anything new.

So what’s in store this year? Judging from this first press release for the 2009 edition of the game, sadly, it doesn’t sound like much. Because while there’s lots of talk about a little nip here and a little tuck there (with lots of vague marketing speak in between) there’s no mention of real improvements or additions to the game’s two fundamental flaws: an ageing game engine and a lack of licensed real-world teams.

Instead of a new engine, Konami are boasting of “live player expressions to be depicted with an improved lighting system”, along with “grass and other in-stadium elements [that are] finely depicted”. That sounds a lot less like a new engine and a lot more like incremental improvements to an engine that’s showing more of its last-gen roots with each passing year.

And instead of promises of an increase in the number of officially licensed teams, particularly in the Premier League, Konami can only proclaim that, along with the Champions League licence from last year, they’ve added the new Euro League. As in, the UEFA Cup. As in, something nobody cares about.

In fact, the only thing I can really see that’s a significant improvement is the promise to get an entire team working on online multiplayer. Then again, fixing something that was broken in last year’s version isn’t really an improvement.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty of time for these things, and more, to be announced in the coming months. But if there was an all-new engine, as we saw with FIFA a few years back, wouldn’t it have been announced in big letters in the game’s first press release? And if there had been big improvements made in the number of licensed teams, wouldn’t that also be something to crow about?

Let’s hope Konami are keeping a few things under their hat, and that Pro Evo 2010 doesn’t follow the precedent set by the last couple of current-gen versions and try and pass off a tarted-up PS2 game as a modern football title.

For those interested, here’s the full list of promises made in that press release.

• Gameplay: PES 2010 focuses on enhancing the excitement of matches between players, making for a truly challenging experience that will constantly test the player. Intuitive zonal defending will cover spaces and players need to look constantly for new ways to attack. PES 2010 focuses on being a real football simulation, as it requires both strategic play and quick reactions, as in real life. In addition to key out-field elements, goalkeepers are more versatile and with abilities matching those of modern shot-stoppers. The game’s referees have also been reworked, with smarter AI elements allowing them to make more balanced calls during matches.

• Improved Visuals: PES 2010 has undergone a major visual revamp, with its celebrated player likenesses and animations now even closer to those of real-life players – including live player expressions to be depicted with an improved lighting system which differentiates between various conditions! Stadium detail is also massively improved, with the grass and other in-stadium elements finely depicted.

• All-new animation and moves: Animations now dovetail into each other seamlessly, with dribbling and shots on goals worked into dribbling animations. More individual skills are also on show, including new flicks and tricks that have a definite showing on the way a game flows. Several elements have been completely reworked, with the dribbling, turning and kicking animations greatly enhanced, while there is a noticeable change in pace when a player passes a ball from a standing position than from within a run.

• Match-Day Atmosphere: Crowd reactions to the on-field action are now more varied, with all new chants and cheers. The subtle difference between Home and Away matches will be reproduced, and the crowd will react spontaneously to specific situations in a game, showing their disdain or pleasure as fouls are committed and goals scored. Likewise, the commentary has been altered to offer a fresher, more concise overview of the game.

• Enhanced Master League: Master League has been thoroughly renewed with the enhancement of managerial aspects, which enables users to enjoy managing a team for a longer career lifespan. Seen by many as a key contributor to the series’ success, the Master League elements in PES 2010 have been bolstered by far-ranging and vital new additions, dedicated to enriching the mode. Further details will be announced shortly.

• AI: The Tokyo team has worked to improve the AI of the game, with Teamvision 2.0 implemented. Midfielders and defenders now work together to cover open space and close down attacks, meaning that cover can be provided for lower-ranked defenders. This also has the additional effect of removing soft goals, thus returning PES 2010 to its simulation roots. In terms of attacking, players can also now move several players once, sending them into different areas, opening up more goal-scoring possibilities than ever before. As such, PES 2010 necessitates a new level of control from the player. Strategic thinking is as important as quick passing, but the new system greatly opens the way the player oversees control of the team. In free kick scenarios, for instance, players can now instigate the runs of the players awaiting the ball in the penalty area.

• Individual Play Characteristics: In previous PES games, the team formation has determined the movements of the players. PES 2010 introduces a new system wherein the individual attacking and defending nature of the players is integral to the way they play. Each player enjoys unique AI tied into their best abilities, and is reflected in the actions of their team mates – i.e. if a player who is known to be a good crosser of the ball is in possession, more players will flood the penalty area to receive it. Similarly, if a player is known to be good with close control, defenders will work to cover their stronger side, while lone strikers will be automatically supported by midfielders on receipt of the ball.

• Strategy Use: A new power gauge system allows users to balance their strategy in a quick, but wide-ranging way before a match. Every element – pass frequency, movement, the line of defence, width of play, or the position of the front line – can be altered to match those of a favoured club: Juventus Turin are a dangerous side on the counter-attack, for instance, while FC Barcelona use width in their attack. These formulations can be altered at any point, too, with Home and Away matches forcing different circumstances on the user, as does the rigours of a Master League season.

• Penalties: An all-new system has been implemented, offering greater control, placing and accuracy.

• Enhanced Online: A new dedicated section of the Tokyo team is committed to improving the online side of PES 2010. More downloadable content is also planned. Konami has supported PES 2009 with the release of new licensed teams, transfer updates, etc, and this support will grow for PES 2010. Team and content updates are planned throughout the game’s lifespan. These will make the game even more bespoke to the player’s match day needs.

Konami has strengthend its relationship with UEFA and can announce it has secured the exclusive video game rights for the Europa League Licence (formerly known as the UEFA Cup). In addition Konami will be enhancing and developing the use of the UEFA Champions League within PES 2010 to make even better use of the best club football competition in the world.

Pro Evo will be out later this year on 360, PS3, PC, PS2 & PSP (the Wii version now being a separate title in the series)

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 gets release date [VG247]

BECOME A LEGEND – They’ll tell you this was a part of the Japanese versions of Winning Eleven, but really, the institution of a “control a single player as he rises through the ranks” mode is a response to those found in the EA Sports games. Still, it’s a neat addition, especially if you’re the type who likes to squeeze every last Master League match out their Pro Evo, especially since you can save your player data and use it during online matches.

SPECIAL MOVES – No more combos or specific controls for special moves. Instead, these are going to be introduced contextually, and will be activated depending on where/how hard you can yank/twist the analogue stick when performing a certain move or dribbling in a certain direction.

GRAPHICS – Konami are promising that the game’s had a “radical aesthetic upgrade”. Specifically, they say stadiums now have better effects (including LED hoardings), depth-of-field effects and “new face and body detail”, along with new facial animations. Which should be nice, but fall short of a full engine overhaul, which the series badly needs, since there’s only so long it’ll be able to polish up a stiff, robotic player animation system that was developed a generation ago.

EDITING – Ah. Some good, good news. The editing system – crippled in both current-gen versions of the game – is fully-restored for Pro Evo 2009. You’ll be able to draw your own sponsors and club crests like you used to, along with new features like the ability to import crowd noises for custom home games.

Course, none of that will matter a damn if they don’t fix the awful online play from last year, but we won’t be able to test that until the game’s out in the Fall/Autumn (unless you own a Wii, then it’s out in 2009).