Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

These days, it’s fair to say that Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series and EA’s FIFA series quite simply belong next to each other on the game store shelf. They’re always released within a few weeks of each other, and it’s often difficult to talk about one without mentioning the other. They’ve become one of football’s great double acts, like Shearer and Sheringham, Clough and Taylor, Romario and Bebeto, and Liverpool and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Changes are definitely afoot in PES this year. First and foremost, key elements of the match engine have been augmented and modified in important ways. Passing is notably more difficult to master, with a steep learning curve. On default settings, even experienced PES players are likely to misplace a greater number of passes than they are used to. There is now little margin for error in both direction and power, and so possession is turned over even more often than before. There’s a fair argument that this offers a more realistic experience than before, but this has to be offset against the inherent frustration now borne of struggling to string more than three or four forward passes together, especially when the player is starting out with the game. Notably, simply playing the ball out of defence to a wide or centrally-placed forward is particularly tough to get right, as you can’t see where you’re aiming under traditional camera angles. As such, relieving pressure and attempting to break against opponents is often nipped in the bud immediately, with little for the player to learn from.

An abiding memory from my early experiences is when I almost killed Lionel Messi after he took a throw-in to Daniel Alves and I tried to nonchalantly tap it straight back to him. The ball launched at his groin with biblical ferocity. A happy side-effect was that I spent five joyous minutes re-watching it in the, as always, slick and intuitive instant replay tool.

Shooting has also been re-jigged and can be similarly challenging to get to grips with. At times, the player seems to be given a satisfying sense of precise control over shot placement. At others, the ball seems to launch directly over the centre of the bar regardless of the shooting position. Combined with the minimal margin for error in passing, it can sometimes be very difficult to score in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. This can be irritating, but of course makes it all the more rewarding when the net finally ripples.

There is an underlying sense of rigidity at times which can further affirm these frustrations. Possession is frequently exchanged, but it can feel like there is not enough variation in footballer animations, which can leave the player with a deflating sense of over-familiarity as a specific forward is robbed of the ball by a specific defender in the same way repeatedly during a match. This is at odds with the player models themselves, which, when it comes to the famous clubs, are detailed and lifelike. Additionally, and despite a very slick and refreshing implementation of team management and formation customisation options, it is still rare for players to take up unpredictable positions, which would create space for improvisation and unpredictability as the defence is forced to react. Strategies and formations can be tweaked to improve on this, but without the player making this effort there is less sense of authentic identity between the famous teams than in FIFA. Images of Lionel Messi are proudly emblazoned across the box art and in-game presentation, but his in-game Barcelona teammates fail to exhibit the fluidity of movement they achieve great success with in real life.

One element that does appear a little more dynamic this time round is the ball physics. Deflections seem to occur with greater frequency and realism, which is most welcome and leads to some nice moments. Entertainingly, I scored one goal against a luckless Real Zaragoza defence in the first two minutes that hit two opponents and the post before going in, which was so unfortunate that it drew a dismayed “Oh… no” from one of the commentators.

The balance between realism and fun is more successfully struck when running at defenders. There’s a wide array of trick moves (sequences of which can be pre-defined to certain button inputs by the player) available, but they’re often not required to beat defenders. Coupled with the need for precisely timed tackling in defence, a reassuring responsiveness enables the player to express themselves and penetrate defences simply through changes in pace and direction. As such, less fervent concentration is required in this respect than in FIFA, and so some encounters provide an immediacy and simple platform for energetic flair that isn’t really matched in the market.

Jon Champion and Jim Beglin make up the English commentary team this year, but end up sounding quite tinny in the mix, alongside the atmospheric chanting of the crowd (who can now be sat in stadiums built from scratch using the in-game editor). At one point I could swear that Champion announced, just after the whistle was blown for half time, that “this is where the managers earn their porn”, which was unsettling.

On the whole, presentation is good in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. Navigating through the array of modes, options and editing tools is generally crisp, quick and accompanied by a nice selection of music, including such luminaries as The Temper Trap. Data updates can be downloaded, covering recent transfers and the like. A healthy sense of humour still runs through the veins of the series; some genuinely funny customisation options can be unlocked.

The exclusive Champions League mode continues to add value, and is now joined by the South American equivalent, the Copa Libertadores. This brings a substantial number of licensed South American teams to the table. However, there are only two English Premier League teams licensed and the Spanish and Italian leagues are only partially licensed. Only a handful of German teams are included, but note that there are plenty of ‘blank’ teams which, if you have the inclination, can be edited to build omitted teams. The Master League has added online functionality, and continues to underline the fact that if you engage with Pro Evolution Soccer, there is enough variety and depth included in the package to provide ample reward.