Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

I have strange feeling of deja vu as I write this. Not because this year’s Pro Evolution Soccer offers too little to recommend it over its predecessor, but because once again it’s Konami’s soccer outing that just can’t seem to make up the ground it has lost against rival series FIFA. It’s like Road Runner and Coyote cartoons - poor old Wile E. Coyote keeps on pulling out all the tricks in the bag, but that damn Road Runner just keeps getting smaller on the horizon. To whip together a more fitting analogy, Konami’s franchise is the defender chasing down EA’s star striker who is slowly but surely pulling away towards the goal. We thought that PES 2011 posed a formidable threat for the title of top footie game, but while this latest version has more to offer than ever before, it’s becoming clear that this franchise is starting to lag behind the competition.

Those who have been cheering for Team PES for years needn’t panic - even though I may not have painted an overly positive picture so far, PES 2012 is still by far the best bit of footballing goodness to come out of the Konami stable in years. PES 2011 provided an impressive base on which to build, having finally given EA’s FIFA franchise a bit of a scare for the first time in ages, and this edition improves on that base in just about every way. As is to be expected from a sports franchise which hits us for our cash every year, what you get for your money is more of a refinement than a total overhaul, so those of you who have grown fond of the series’ depth and somewhat serious attitude will feel right at home.

Of the additions and refinements this year, some of the most obvious and most influential have taken place on the pitch - elements which, for the most part, add a new layer of technical depth to the game. Central to these new developments is the more hands-on off-the-ball control system, which now allows you to maneuver your free player into a more opportune position while you are charging along with the ball. This can be either just flicking the right analogue stick to get him to run into space, or by using the stick to take direct control of the player. The effect is much like trying to type a text message while driving a Lamborghini - it takes co-ordination beyond your humble reviewers abilities. It’s testament then to the much improved team AI that I hardly felt the need to employ this new tactic, but for those who really want to thread together the most deadly, fluid passing motions, this off-the-ball control will be well worth the effort.

The punishingly precise 360 degree control system which last years version brought to the party is still essential for success, with the controls in general being tighter and more accurate than ever before - there isn’t much room for error with Pro Evo Soccer 2012, and until you’ve done the groundwork of mastering these controls you are going to struggle. Those new to the game will appreciate a number of player assists which can be toggled on or off depending on your skill level, going some way to relaxing the usually steep learning curve. Your computer controlled team mates are also far more helpful this year, cleverly getting themselves into space, or coming to your aid when chasing down a loose ball. Scoring goals is still a tricky affair though, and a ‘hit and hope’ approach will see the majority of balls sailing harmlessly into the crowd. On the topic of goal-mouth action, I found the goalies far too often inclined to parry strikes away instead of holding them safely. This may lead to more nail-biting goal-mouth scrambles, but it’s one area of the gameplay which feels slightly unrealistic.

This drop in authenticity is a rarity in the PES 2012 playbook - for the most part your actions on the field look and feel quite genuine. Player models are impressive, although they haven’t been tweaked all that much since last year, and once again it’s the big name players which have had the most attention. In comparison to the other soccer game, I felt that the PES 2012 players had a slightly more plastic look to them, less organic, but they still look the part. The various football stadia feel more alive than before, thanks in particular to the brilliant lighting which gives great depth and tonal variance to the crowds and grandstands, even to the players and the pitch itself. Where this title drops the ball though is in the player animations - there is an unnatural jerkiness to the some areas of animation, and it sometimes seems as if their legs aren’t quite in synch with the speed at which they are moving. On that subject, while the competition has made great strides in creating a believable player physics system which shows how players react dynamically to one another, PES 2012 seems to be a few steps behind - collisions and other interactions are missing something of that physical weight that makes it look like the real deal in motion.

Another issue I have with the PES series, and one that I have just about given up on, is the lack of licensed teams. This isn’t something that will bother everyone - many will argue that it’s what’s inside that really counts - but these fictitious team names and club logos leave a bitter taste, the taste of a lack of realism. Last year I mused that we are perhaps just spoilt by EA Games and the bottomless pit of cash at their disposal to snap up licenses willy nilly. Even so, again this year I was genuinely caught off guard when scrolling through the English premier league teams to come across the same silly names, with only Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur officially licensed from that division. Other countries fare better, with Spanish, French and Dutch top tier teams all present and correct, along with a variety of other teams from across the world. In terms of competitions, there are a number of tournaments to get stuck into, the main draw card once again being the fully licensed UEFA Champions League, with all the glossy, TV-style presentation that goes along with it.

The rest of the game mode roster has survived pretty much in tact since last year, with the most intriguing of options now being packed together under the new Football Life banner. Here you will find the engrossing Master League and Become a Legend career modes, as well as the new Club Boss mode which gives you the keys to the boardroom and asks you to make a financial success out of your team. It’s a valiant attempt at bringing more of a Football Manager-like element to the game, and even though it’s not particularly exciting it does mean that PES 2012 now offers an even more complete representation of the world of football.

Once you’ve tried on the suit and tie and have realized that PES 2012 is at its best when you are simply legging it out there on the field, it’s time to put what you’ve learned to the test by taking on the world in the various multiplayer modes. The Master League Online is the number one place to experience the full suite of what Konami has to offer here, but those looking for a less time-consuming way to play are well looked after too - a stadium packed with game modes, tournaments, ranked matches and more will scratch that competitive itch. Since everyone has gone social networking bonkers, it should be no surprise to see Facebook integration making its debut here with the myPES feature, a Facebook app which syncs with your game, broadcasting that painful 6-0 loss for the world to see. Thankfully the use of myPES is optional, so those not inclined to partake in the social networking side of things can simply ignore it.

Looking at the wealth of content that Konami has managed to squeeze into this years’ edition of this veteran series, it’s hard to imagine that this could be anything but a football fan’s dream come true. Even the traditionally rustic menus and clunky presentation have been given a good polish this time, making for a prettier game all round, although not quite as pretty as the number one competitor. The gameplay - the heart of the matter - is sleek, fast and fun to play, and even more rewarding to those who master the complex control system, while the significantly improved AI means that matches are more intuitive and challenging than before. It’s no question that PES 2012 is by far the most accomplished and fully featured title in the series’ history. It’s a game which does very little wrong, and if you’ve been a longtime fan of the franchise then it will probably be your footy sim of choice. Yet as impressive at it is, I can’t shake the feeling that Konami are still playing catch-up with the biggest player in sports gaming history.

Pros: