Pro Evolution Soccer 5

By Tom Bramwell Published 14 October, 2005

New balance.

Picture the scene. Two people are playing a new version of Pro Evolution Soccer. (Actually, given the protagonists, it's probably best not to picture the exact scene.) They've watched the intro, remarking that it looks like a cheesy unimaginative rip-off of the ad-type favoured by Nike, they've skipped to the two-player area, picked their teams, and assembled on the pitch. The ref blows the whistle. The chap with the ball lurches forward, while the other races toward him, immediately pressing and jostling for the ball. Tumble. Whistle. Foul. Repeat.

For those of us who've come to rely on holding X and square to press the player in possession, PES5 is going to prove frustrating to begin with. Konami's decided that since every footballer now falls over like an elephant straddling a house of cards whenever they feel the touch of another man's flesh, pressing ought to be anathema. This is annoying. It's also one of the best possible illustrations of why PES continually picks up high marks each year.

It changes, shifting toward certain extremes as dramatically as a player's stats-pentagon expands toward brilliance whenever he's bought up by a big club. It may have its flaws and quirks, its consistently alright graphics engine whose true strength is in depth of animation, its peculiar affection for the anybody connected with the English national team, and so on, but it always responds differently to your touch. You already know what the buttons do, but you don't necessarily know how to use them to best effect any more.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 5' Screenshot figo

Dance Dance Figo-lution.

Today's isn't a question of how many marks out of ten it's worth, but it's worth outlining immediately that it's still a high number, and it's still a high number for a quantifiable reason. This isn't like Tiger Woods PGA Tour, to name something that's doing the opposite. You have to rate games within the context of their peers and predecessors; PES withstands that comparison. So yes, the review's coming next week, when I've had a chance to take the game online against various opponents, investigate the Master League, see what that PS2/PSP link-up's all about, and run rings around the AI. But, since you're all so impatient, I've been ordered to tell you where it's shifted this year. (Mainly because they found out that I spent longer playing it this week than anything else. Bloody spies everywhere.)

Pressing, then. It's a foul more or less automatically. This is annoying (sorry, annoying), but you do get over it. S'useful too, because it forces you to take more direct control of defensive players rather than lazily clamping face buttons. It'll break the game up initially, but you'll wise up to it and learn to use other approaches. Tackling more directly, for example - slide-tackling is more effective, and taking control of a player and then lurching toward 50-50 balls has an almost Sensible Soccer-like air of pre-emption about it. Get the line right and you can block advances quite effectively. Realistic? Not especially. But it works.

Of course you can avoid losing the ball to cheeky slides by passing it around, and one-touch passing plays a bigger role as a result - with an increase in the number of animations to match. You're frequently able to stick a boot in quickly - where previously you wouldn't have been able to interrupt the animation - and first-time volleyed crosses, for example, are tangibly more useful. As ever, it's the extra sharpness here and there that presents the most attractive new football - a volleyed cross converted with a first-time side-footed volley is, to say the least, beguiling.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 5' Screenshot henry

Henry smoking. Or: the way breath hangs in the air.

Attacking in general is probably artificially easy to begin with as players learn not to press the same way they used to, and it also seems as though the midfield is artificially standoffish at times to ease the flow, although that might just be the way we were. It's certainly a game that wants you to move upfield though - passes in general are more like through-balls, fed in front of the player, while the through-balls themselves, while less effective than they used to be (hardly a bad thing), are more pronounced. Actually, I had most of my luck with them - passing it back and forth into the final third and then waiting to carve up the defence.

And, actually, I had rather more luck than usual. Traditionally, my sparring partner and I share victory around but he comes out on top. This version seems to be catered more to my natural game - which is to say, I suppose, that I like running around kicking, screaming and flapping. Another illustration of how PES shifts.

Speaking of flapping, I've got some question marks lingering next to AI and ball movement. Movement off the ball from AI players is typically awful - they always run too late - but there are goalkeeping quirks now too. Keepers have been given a bit more attention than usual - they're still mostly automated, but they can toss the ball Schmeichel-esque distances now and kick it in a couple of new ways - but they also have a tendency to, erm, chuck the ball in their own nets. Maybe not a tendency, but it's happened to me twice - the first time, a clearance pinballed off an attacker's head and his mate nodded it toward the empty net. Rushing back, the keeper managed to get to it and push it into the net - just as it was about to spin wide. Oops. Just hours later, a similar goalmouth scramble ended in similar embarrassment.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 5' Screenshot facist

Henry: secret fascist.

In general, PES remains one of the best ball simulators in the genre. The way it moves from players' feet and reacts to control and direction is one of the most captivating elements of the game. But equally PES's remains one of the quirkiest balls in the bag, pinballing off legs and running loose. Satisfying and exciting when it tumbles loose in your favour; maddening when it goes against you.

As ever, the changes in presentation have been trumpeted to an inexplicable degree of fanfare, being as they are just animation tweaks and a few more layers of polygons (although the new snowy pitch with orange ball is quite pretty), and it'd be really nice if Konami took a closer interest in throw-ins, free kicks and corners, rather than simply tweaking them. Creating an artificial bubble around the nearest receiving player on throw-ins doesn't fix anything; it just renders the process even more tedious. But whether those complaints will weigh against it in any meaningful way is something best left for the review. I'd say PES5 leaves a strong first impression. As ever, there'll be those who feel it meddles too much. Whatever the grander truth, what's obvious is it's not the same. And that's a good thing.

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 is due out on PS2 and Xbox next Friday, October 21st. Full review next week.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (65) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • darkphoenix #1 6 years ago

    Better than... ( rruuummmbblllleeeeeee ) FIFA, then?

  • Huntcjna #2 6 years ago

    /Awaits both ps2 and xbox versions from HMV for £14.99 each with baited breath

    If its not here by next friday it gets bought on release day so I end up with three ;-)

  • Luc #3 6 years ago

    darkphoenix > Has FIFA ever been better than PES? No. I'll re-phrase that. Has FIFA ever played better than PES. Hell no.

  • Furbs #4 6 years ago

    I got a tenner says this thread goes the way of ANOTHER FIFA vs PES slagfest without discussing the merits or failings of the game in question.

    Lemme just summarise it to get it out the way with. FIFA=arguably easier to pickup and play so great for friends coming round who dont play games alot. Feels more authentic out of the box due to complete licensing. Great presentation and commentary. Also has challenge modes to break up standard gameplay.

    PES=More depth to the game play, more like playing real football, greater tactical depth, awful commentary and getting better with the licences.

    Right, thats that bit covered, can we avoid a flamewar now? :)
    First person to says "PES is for the hardcore" or "PES is for the real football fan" or "FIFA is for chavs" or "FIFA is style over substance" gets a brick in the mouth.

    kthnxbye

  • ElephantMonkey #5 6 years ago

    I can't wait to play this on my PSP!

  • AHiFi #6 6 years ago

    "Henry: Secret Fascist"

    Hehe

  • krudster #7 6 years ago

    I have to say, having played both a fair bit, the old argument about FIFA being easier to pick up and play no longer applies. I found this year's PES far easier to get going with than the rather sluggish FIFA, and that's coming from a long-term FIFA apologist.

  • Furbs #8 6 years ago

    Fine, start a flamewar in your own preview comments. See if I care. :p

  • krudster #9 6 years ago

    Bring it on. I like both, incidentally, to defuse the inevitable baiting comments.

  • Eighthours #10 6 years ago

    I love the PES series.

    I do have to say, though, that it remains baffling to me how Konami haven't tried to sort out the throw-ins, which have been awful now for God knows how many games...

  • pantherboy #11 6 years ago

    The picture on the main page for the article - Henry should head butt him

  • ekko #12 6 years ago

    I love PES, and I will be buying this (thanks HMV!), but surely by the fifth (+ the other ones) version the game should be perfect? The problems highlighted this time all seem minor when compared to the product as a whole, but surely things like throw ins, free kicks and corners have needed an overhaul since forever? I know it lacks the polish of FIFA, but I'm not on about that...

    Are the pitches any better this time? I thought most of them in PES4 looked a little ugly, and one was down-right fit enduciing.

  • Ecanem #13 6 years ago

    Sorry for my ignorance.. when's the PC version due?

    (since I bought the USB-PS2 dual adaptor I've hardly used my PS2)...

  • Xerx3s #14 6 years ago

    "Better than... ( rruuummmbblllleeeeeee ) FIFA, then?" - Well, thats not that hard eh? Even a text based footy game would be better then fifa.

  • OnlyMe #15 6 years ago

    You know, we're getting to a point where FIFA vs PES is just pointless, as PES just continues to improve while FIFA has been more or less stagnant since FIFA2000. I play FIFA06 on the pc, then I try PES4 on my PS2. I can't believe FIFA actually is a 2006 game, with its lack of fluidity and basically loose and cheap controls.

    And I used to like FIFA.

    But what I wanted to say was, we're getting to a point where we can say PES vs SWOS, and we'll end up in a draw. And that's a pretty big achievement.

  • wolfen #16 6 years ago

    FIFA has been more or less stagnant since FIFA2000.

    I suggest you try to play the ping-pong, overhead kick mania FIFA 2000 is, and then try 06. I did that, while checking the replays stored on the old computer, and can't disagree more with that.

  • Furbs #17 6 years ago

    Zzzzzzzzzz see, you fanboys are so predictable. If you honestly think Fifa 2006 has less improvements over its previous version than PES5 has over PES4 you either havent played both, or are totally blinded. Thats not me saying FIFA is the better game, but they've added a hell of alot to FIFA this year, wereas PES is just tweaked.

    Anyway, time for my old joke to be rolled out...
    Apparently Henry WONT be on the cover of the game this year due to an error at the printers. Something about going missing for big games?
    ROLFLMAOOMGGWTFFLLOLL!!!hundredandeleven!!!

  • Feanor #18 6 years ago

    @ Tom - have you ever made a video of some of your best PES goals? You seem like a rather expert PES player so I'm sure you must have a Max Drive and dozens of great replays saved.

  • matrim83 #19 6 years ago

    Ummmm kinda worried. I don't like changes in my franchises (PoP & DX). I hope its more of the same, just with better graphics. (I'm gonna get burned for that aren't I?)

    You know the idiot that keeps buying Splinter cell and Commandos sequels?
    /Raises hand.
    Right here.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/05 @ 19:58

  • OnlyMe #20 6 years ago

    Furbs, I know FIFA has changed a lot since last year, and moreso than PES. The difference is, one game is still bad and the other games just gone better. I really wish FIFA06 was really really good, but everytime I play it I'm dissapointed again. It's just so far from PES, there's really no point in playing FIFA. Not even the licenses can justify the extreme gap between them in terms of gameplay.

  • matrim83 #21 6 years ago

    No need to be worried, matrim. If you've played PES4 a lot, you'll notice the difference straight away. The players are slower and only the best passes make it through. As I mentioned though, I won on my first go (Only on 3 stars, mind) so ain't that hard.

    What difficulty do you normally play on?

  • Yazoo #22 6 years ago

    The whole game looks so much more "real" with the new graphical touches. I havent touched a pad to play it, but the ingame demo reel just makes me want to... buy the game longtime

  • Furbs #23 6 years ago

    Jaypea, when Arsenal have won back to back Championships and about 18 of them, oh and 5 European Cups, come back and take the piss out us :p

    Sorry Slurpy, I dont use MSN. I'm guessing your a non-XFire user?

    Back to the game though, what would people say if EA released a new version of FIFA with the minimal amount of changes that Konami did? Even if you had "The Best GAME EVAH" to release it with minor tweaks at full price (HMV cockups aside) is a bit naughty no? Double standards?

    OnlyMe, I accept your opinion that you dont like FIFA, but to say its a "bad game" is no different to saying "OMGOMGOMG PS3/360 r0XXOrz, 360/PS3 suXX0rz" and isnt bourne out by any review I've ever seen since FIFA 97 came out. Unless average scores between 70-90% scores over the last 7 years count as "bad" now.

    But, once again, as can be seen, a PES thread becomes a PES vs FIFA thread. And whilst PES is my game of choice, every time it happens, its the same lame arsed comments dissing a decent enough rival. Stinks of insecurity to me. Oh and its boring as fook.

  • freedumb #24 6 years ago

    I hope they've fixed the keeper problem, thats always miles off his line and easily lobbed, or rushes out withouht you teling him to. Also how static the keep can be when you roll the ball across the box for an easy tap in.

    And Furbs, you're not really counting that 5th European Cup last season as an achievment, are you. It was a fluke, as Wenger said, like Millwall winning the F.A. Cup, a team that hasn't won the league, or even cme close to challenging for it in 15 years are suddenly crowned champions of Europe? Its absurd.
    Edited by 2 at 14/10/05 @ 22:40

  • Furbs #25 6 years ago

    Oh. You mean we dont get the trophy cos we "fluked it"? Buggah. I guess we'll have to take away Arsenals last few trophies for being lucky Henry turned out to be so good. Or the fact their "invincibles" tag would have been nowhere that had Ruud not hit the bar at Old Trafford. Or their 1989 Championship win when they were lucky Hillsborough left us with a fixture backlog. Or their Cup Winners Cup victory where Seaman was lucky to guess the right way in the penalties against Sampodoria. Or we'll take away Man U's CL win since they were lucky when Bayern hit the post, or the ref decided to add some injury time. Or we'll revisit the league tables and remove the goals Cantona scored after his kung fu incident since he was lucky to still be allowed to play the game. Or we'll discount all their trophies since the late 90's when they were lucky such an awesome crop of players came through together. France? Well they cant have the 1998 World Cup as they needed penalties against Paraguay. And they were lucky Ronaldo had his fit but had to play. Seem to recall they had abit of luck in the 2002 Euros? Oh, and Englands 1966 wasnt an achievement either I guess. Need any more?

    Funny, we were lucky against Olympiakos, lucky against Juventus, lucky against Chelsea, lucky against AC Milan. Thats a lot of luck. More than would happen by chance.
    I think Jack Nicklaus put it best.
    "The more I practice, the luckier I get".

    Oh and you seem to forget we finished 2nd a few seasons ago. Not good enough by our standards, but its hardly "not being close".

    Incidently, how exactly was it a fluke?
    Edited by 2 at 14/10/05 @ 23:10

  • OnlyMe #26 6 years ago

    Furbs: yeah, I understand what you're saying. I know FIFA isn't such a bad game, it's obviously the second best option. It's just that I feel that PES is so far ahead of FIFA that it's like it's from a whole different decade. I guess it's the somewhat unpolished controls in FIFA that's ruining it for me, and how PES feels more and more connected to the player.

  • Furbs #27 6 years ago

    PES + FIFA's licenses, commentary, presentation and 1st touch system = the REAL nexgen.

  • Celeborn #28 6 years ago

    Does anyone know exactly how the online mode works for each version (PS2, Xbox, PC) and what the differences between them are.

    PES4 had its matchup thing on the X-Box. Is it now the same matchup thing in all versions (thinking more of the PC version here which relied on 3rd party tools for finding opponents online?)

  • Furbs #29 6 years ago

    Dunno, but on PC I'll just wait for the PESLauncher thing. Its awesome ;)

  • Feanor #30 6 years ago

    There's a thread at PESFan about this preview with, shall we say, a lot of strong criticism of the previewer. I'm pretty sure Tom isn't a woman nor a FIFA lover, hehe.

    But one of the refs (moderators) posted this in reponse:

    "Quite amazed by the comments in this thread. That preview is from Eurogamer, and the guys that wrote it are die hard pes fans and always have been. Eurogamer always champions PES as the best footie game available.

    I read it earlier and thought it was a well written and balanced preview. They state a number of times that the game still scores v. highly, however they also point out some of the areas that some players will find difficult to get used to after playing previous versions. I thought it summed up very well what PES does, in turns providing both enjoyment and frustration.

    Some of the retarded fanboy responses in this thread are laughable. All because someone actually wants to point out some negatives or things people may find hard to get used to in PES5. Even then, the vast majority of comments in the article are actually positive if you take the time to read it..."

  • Talha #31 6 years ago

    I don't believe how stupid these threads get. I love both PES and FIFA for different reasons, and buy both every year. However, I don't get the PES fans painting themselves into some kind of holier-than-thou gods by the simple expedient of preferring the game they ALREADY like, drives me nuts. You find folly when EA does yearly updates, but you worship Konami when they do the same. And most PES fans have no idea what changes occur in FIFA year on year. They have just made up their minds in the manner of some neanderthal-era logic: FIFA=BAd, PES=Good, Rest of the World=go to hell.

    Aren't BOTH games getting a little tired? And just for record, though I understand EG's evaluation of FIFA06 and appreciate it, the game has some stellar reviews from other sites, notably a nine from GameSpot.

    Don't get me wrong. My point is that I love both games, and surely there is room in the world for two footy games, isn;t there? Whats the point in fighting?

  • Martin #32 6 years ago

    The only footy game I can stand is Fifa Street (and only with 3 of my best mates). Does that mean I'm disqualified from posting here?

  • Talha #33 6 years ago

    @Martin: Mate, if you are asking PES fans, you are not only disqualified, but deserve to be hanged! How dare you even MENTION anything remotely FIFA? You scum.

    Just kidding, by the way.

  • Martin #34 6 years ago

    Heh, I kinda though that FIFA purists would hang me too. :)

  • Mold #35 6 years ago

    Based on the demo the play is sluggish and unresponsive... is this progress?

    Also I can see what he means about having to change your tactics on defending, your players don't seem very keen to close down the opposition even when you press the control in the attackers direction. So you have to watch as they easily move up the pitch with no opposition at all.

    It also suffers from the - they can constantly sprint the whole game, while your players soon get tired problem

    Not very realistic IMO.

    Some nice changes to the interface regarding player stats when changing them, but whats the point if all they are going to do when on the pitch is ignore your controler?

  • Mold #36 6 years ago

    "All that they have done is reverse the R2 button, so if you want to actually turn to the left or right, hold R2, if you don't, you will sidestep. It's just the opposite of Evo 4 and works well IMHO"

    Nope - that sucks - another example of the odd mental process that goes on at Konami - "hey the player should be able to move his player when the com team takes a set piece - ok we'll implement a 3 button combo that will allow this to occur, while we're at it, do you think it's a bit easy for the player to move up the pitch, not enough button presses involved i thought"

    whoever thought of that was obviously denser than a neutron star.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #37 6 years ago

    "@ Tom - have you ever made a video of some of your best PES goals? You seem like a rather expert PES player so I'm sure you must have a Max Drive and dozens of great replays saved."

    I'm not that much of an expert! I wouldn't profess to know everything about it, nor would I claim to be right about everything that I highlight. The thing that I love most of all about PES is that everyone who plays it reacts to it differently, and it seems to react to the way everybody applies their footballing knowledge differently. The fact that inspires so much debate is a testament to how versatile it is - it may not reflect football precisely, but it inspires just as much conversation and analysis amongst those who engage with it.

    I wouldn't write a review of it this way (as you'll hopefully see next week!). It's not meant to be a balanced appraisal - I just wanted to talk about what I've seen and thought about it so far. I'm actually pleased there's a PESfan thread telling me off - it'll be a sad day when Konami releases a version of the game that everyone can agree on.

  • theiceman #38 6 years ago

    Me too JC2. Cant wait to kick my bro's Liverpool ass. Roll on Friday WOOHOO

  • gamesport #39 6 years ago

    xbox version is still going to be better online, b/c you dont run the risk of playing someone with a phone line connection, something that happens in ps2 online

  • #40 6 years ago

    No one has really picked up on Tom's major gripe about the pressing. By the sounds of things, it has been relegated to something completely pointless, and this disappoints me as I can't tackle worth tuppence.

    Why didn't they just take it out all together as opposed to making it next to useless, and as Tom says, ANNOYING.

  • Feanor #41 6 years ago

    I have been a hold SQUARE and X player for the most part, but it's a pretty unrealistic way of defending so I think it's good Konami have changed things. In PES 4 it's actually better to press SQUARE to bring pressure from a team mate while manually controlling the nearest defender (i.e. not pressing X) to either cut off passing lanes or strip the ball carrier.

    Here's a link to my 22 MB PES 4 video:

    http://www.mega upload.com/?d=XLVL3ZC5
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/05 @ 17:57

  • 8bitMofo #42 6 years ago

    xbox version is still going to be better online, b/c you dont run the risk of playing someone with a phone line connection, something that happens in ps2 online

    Que?
    You can't play PS2 or XBOX online unless you have a broadband connection.

  • Ecanem #43 6 years ago

    Where the hell is the "download" button here???

    "Here's a link to my 22 MB PES 4 video:
    http://www.mega upload.com/?d=XLVL3ZC5"

  • Yossarian #44 6 years ago

    "The excessive CPU-catch up and "cheating" another."

    this infuriates me more than anything else in PES4. 90% of the goals I concede are within five minutes of my having scored at the other end.

  • 8bitMofo #45 6 years ago

    Where the hell is the "download" button here???

    "Here's a link to my 22 MB PES 4 video:
    http://www.mega upload.com/?d=XLVL3ZC5"

    After the countdown, it will appear as 'Click here to download'. You might need to close the pop-up that covers it.

  • varsas #46 6 years ago

    I always read these comments about the cpu cheating but I don't see it at all? I think it's probably down to lack of concentration after scoring a goal.

  • praetorian #47 6 years ago

    Does anyone have any idea if this is the same game as Winning Eleven 9?

    Or is it slightly tweaked as PES4 was to Winning Eleven 8?

  • GTBurns #48 6 years ago

    I don't like to think of myself as a fanboy; nor do I make this post as an intentional flame. However, if you're in any doubt as to whether PES 4/5 - or indeed any of the series to-date is 'better than FIFA' simply go to PESFan (www.pesfan.com) and download some of the goals or compilations like the one Feanor mentions above.

    I own FIFA 06 and have enjoyed playing it - particularly the manager mode. But I'd have to be pretty obstinate, stupid - or both - to insist that it's general playability is in the same league as PES. The assertion that it's easier to pick up and play cannot be used if you're trying to make an argument over which is the better football game. Those of us obsessed with footie are always more likely to opt for the game which we feel simulates real-life football in a more thorough and considered manner, no?!

    Ps. Feanor: Some crackers in that compo fella. I particularly liked the half-volley by Kaka - probably because the sheer power with which he banged it in the top corner. Though some of Blackburn's efforts are a tad unrealistic!? ;)

  • Sunrise #49 6 years ago

    It seems to be silightly tweaked, faster gameplay.

    Haven't really played Winning Eleven, so I can't say whether it's a downpoint for me. But the general opinions I came across were that the WE-gameplay is better than the tweaked PES equivalent.

    After playing PES4 for about a year against human opponents, I'm really fed-up with the easy dribbling, the incredibly effective chipped passes and shots (double-tap). While these (so I've heard) were gone from WE9, they seem to be back (less effective, but still) in PES5.

    So I guess I'll have to accept the fact that if the opponent chooses Ronaldo, I'm going to need three defenders to run in to the Brazilian at the same time to stop him. I'm going to have to accept the fact that my right and left back act like total donkeys when a high pass is played to a winger. I'm going to face several lobs where my goalkeeper decided to run out for no apparent reason at all.

    It's (going to be) such a great game, but that's part of the problem. It's a game, it's not football. But that's what we all want it to be....

    Anyway, I can't wait for the game any longer. It's like, sitting in your room. Wondering whether to play PES4, other games, watching DVD's, going outside, but all you do is thinking about how great it would be if you had PES5 in your XBOX.
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/05 @ 14:13

  • Feanor #50 6 years ago

    "Ps. Feanor: Some crackers in that compo fella. I particularly liked the half-volley by Kaka - probably because the sheer power with which he banged it in the top corner. Though some of Blackburn's efforts are a tad unrealistic!? ;)"

    Hehe, Blackburn are my Master League team so that explains the unreal play from them. :) I just bought Maradona and did a nice Rabona off the post which is particularly un-Blackburn-y. I still have Emerton and Reid in the side after 5 years, though.

    I think the goal you mean is at 2:23 of the video - but that's actually Juninho. On the Option File I use (Watson's) his shooting stats are a bit higher/more realistic than his default stats, and I really like having him in the midfield for Brazil and taking the FKs. He can do the Rabona as well which is great. Kaka scores on a cool half-volley at 3:37.


    "The ball physics another. The excessive CPU-catch up and "cheating" another. PES4 was the worst iteration of the franchise. By far. It sucked ass."

    The ball physics in PES 4 might not be perfect, but you're having a laugh if you think the ball in FIFA is any better. And have you noticed that not everybody thinks the CPU cheated in PES 4 quite as much as you do? Perhaps you could have knocked the difficulty down a star and had less computer cheating and more fun.
    Edited by 3 at 16/10/05 @ 18:52

  • caligari #51 6 years ago

    Exsqueeze Me? Can someone please explain the whole 14.99 at HMV hoo hah?

    Is this an offer that they still have on (can't see it on their oh-so-bland website), or was it some kind of mistake that everyone cashed in on?

    SEE...I make an effort NOT to go into HMV high street stores (over priced, over loud...and that's just the STAFF I'm talking about)...so I guess this one has passed me over!

  • Furbs #52 6 years ago

    They mispriced it on the website, about 900 of us managed to get an order in before they realised. They've sent out emails saying they are going to honour it. Furbs is happy.

  • caligari #53 6 years ago

    Well, it's about time HMV gave something back to the little people.

    I mean Furbs is a dwarf right?

  • Furbs #54 6 years ago

    Have you been talking to my missus?

  • Eurowhiner.net #55 6 years ago

    OMG! A FIFA vs Pro Evo thread that hasn't digenerated into, "You suck 'cos you like FIFA" or "Pro Evo is for 1337z0r hard core REAL football fans and games fan!!1!1"

    *feints*
    *get's up*
    /Applaud everyone here in this thread
    :)

  • GTBurns #56 6 years ago

    "I think the goal you mean is at 2:23 of the video - but that's actually Juninho."

    Yep. That's the one. Very nice. I shall bear it in mind for our league encounter! ;)

  • Feanor #57 6 years ago

    Juninho is the world's best free kick taker, btw. Ok, that's just my opinion, but a lot of people might not be aware of how good he is because the french League isn't so popular.

  • Furbs #58 6 years ago

    Nonsense. Steven Gerrard is. Theres a bloke 15 rows from the front on the Kop and Gerrard hits him every single time.

  • Mellor #59 6 years ago

    Even better when most Eurogamers pre-ordered it for £14.99 from HMV

    When and how

  • GTBurns #60 6 years ago

    "Juninho is the world's best free kick taker."

    Beckham (Real Madrid), Juninho (Olympique Lyonnais), and Assuncao (Real Betis Balompie) - in that order. ;) Though FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho's not too far behind!

    /is pedantic

  • Feanor #61 6 years ago

    Beckham's free kicks look great, but he's not as consistent at putting them on target as either Juninho or Assuncao. Plus Juninho has significantly better range. I'm a Beckham fan, so I'm not being hard on him because of his many haircuts or anything. :) I just think it's clear that at the moment the other two are more likely to get the ball on target than Beckham is.

  • Furbs #62 6 years ago

    Le Tissier > everyone else evah

  • The Old Bill #63 6 years ago

    Turkey Twisslers < Le Tissier

    Vivvvvvvvvvvvvaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Las Vegas!

  • 8bitMofo #64 6 years ago

    pah, all this talk of who is the best freekick taker in the world...your still not gonna be able to score one with any of them in PES5.

  • The Old Bill #65 6 years ago

    I must admit that I've no luck cracking in any on the PC demo.

  • acegamer #66 6 years ago

    got the game think its brilliant but would like to know if anybody else has noticed that crowd dissapears in game but returns on free kicks, corners , goal celebrations etc. i am thinking that maybe this is just on PS2 version as to avoid slow down which happened quite alot in pro evo 4 or maybe i just got a bugged version if anybody could reply would be most grateful. p.s had fifa 06 for about 2 days took it back for REFUND very quickly joys of GAME but even if this is what konami had to do to make the greatest football game of all time oh well
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/05 @ 13:02