Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

By Martin Korda Published 5 October, 2007

And they're fighting like beavers!

Just three weeks to go. Still, if you can't wait that long for a taste of the full game, fear not, as we've just returned from a four-hour playtest of the latest (approx 90% complete) PS3 code. We did try the 360 code, but bafflingly, the shoot and pass controls insisted on defaulting to the trigger buttons, making any kind of dissection virtually impossible. So without further delay, let's get to it...

If you've had a chance to check out the demo, you'll already know roughly what to expect from the general pacing. It's still quick but there also appears to be a greater emphasis on player skill when it comes to pulling off tricky passes and through balls. PES2008 seems to possess an ever so slightly more tactical edge than its predecessor, while never compromising on the excitement levels. FIFA 08 may have taken the realism route this year, but Konami's effort has kept one foot firmly placed on both sides of the fence, with a slight bias towards arcade action.

Example: Players were far more flexible and lithe, and were able to flick the ball off their chests then turn with greater fluidity than in PES6, making for more flowing matches. Conversely (and perhaps this will be tweaked in the final version) star players such as Ronaldinho ran like they were on rails, enabling us to smoothly pull off dribbles that made Maradona's surge against England in ‘86 look like an everyday occurrence. If you're more fond of dribbling than a toddler with an over active saliva gland, you're likely to be in seventh heaven if Konami don't make any last minute alterations, though some of you will no doubt be spitting bile at just how easy it can be to bamboozle opposition defences with more skilful players.

This next one you're either going to love or hate. Diving. Yes, after much cogitation Konami has finally decided to include the dirtiest trick in the book (bribing referees aside) though it struck us as strange that the game was bereft of an option to turn this feature off. Hopefully, Konami will have had the foresight to put this into the final game and help prevent the usual online pissing contests (between die-hard fans with diametrically opposed views) that generally arise from development decisions such as these. The question here is, does it work? Well, kind of. While it was fun to take the odd opportunistic tumble, the constant stream of yellow cards was a pretty sobering experience. In fact, we didn't have a single decision go our way and not once did we see the AI try to use this tactic. What's more - and here's hoping this is sorted before release - we were even yellow carded after taking a dive when there wasn't an opposition player within a ten-meter radius. Ludicrous!

'Pro Evolution Soccer 2008' Screenshot 1

The Master League has received a revamp this year.

While we're on the subject of cards, refs still seemed a little too keen to dish out the yellow and reds for slightly mistimed slide tackles, which when timed correctly, often resulted in the opposition just getting the ball straight back anyway.

Let's move onto ball physics, which admittedly, is always a highly subjective topic. This build saw a decent improvement over last season's pinging pig's bladder and there was a far greater sense of weight to how the ball moved. Slow passes bobbled as they skimmed over the grass, while thunderous shots looked as though they'd been fired out of a cannon. Bounces were also slightly more muted (no bad thing), resulting in free flowing games containing fewer farcical pinball incidents.

These refined ball physics also complemented the revamped passing and shooting controls. This year it seems we're back to having more control over pass and shot power, while through balls are far tougher to pull off. However, when we did manage to thread the eye of the needle, the teeth grindingly annoying defender teleportation feature (whereby the last defender would miraculously outpace you once you were through on goal) from last year's version didn't seem nearly as evident here.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 2008' Screenshot 2

Games are still quick and action packed.

Keepers also looked more realistic, moving with feline flexibility to palm away shots and get down low to push away stinging drives. They also seemed to react later when unsighted before flying into an Oliver Khan-like rage and bellowing at their defenders. However, there were some problems here, too. Perhaps it was just a balancing issue, but keepers tended to spill the ball rather too easily and palm power shots directly into the path of onrushing attackers, a flaw that was most evident (and exploitable) when playing in multiplayer.

Clearer in-game player fatigue, a revised quick freekick option (whereby you can now watch the player grab the ball if it's nearby and quickly resume play), increased crossing accuracy when you make the player look up, more player animations to refereeing decisions, beefier sound effects and some great player likenesses, including a double chin on Ronaldo that practically trails on the ground (though as ever, other well known players were barely recognisable) all proved excellent touches, though we have to admit to really disliking the new behind the keeper angle when facing penalties, which just felt, well, a bit crap really.

Also new this year is a revamped Master League featuring bolstered player interaction features (admittedly we only had a chance to take a quick look at this and will reserve any judgement till the finished version) and a Track Record section that charts achievements and sets specific goals e.g. win ten penalty shootouts or score a 35-meter goal. Track Record will also keep a record of how many games you win, lose and draw, and even provide you with a set of grades for your tackling, passing, and attacking abilities.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 2008' Screenshot 3

You'll either love or hate the new dive feature.

As you can probably see from the screenshots and given that many of you will have played the demo, you'll be well aware that PES2008 is unlikely to win any awards in the next-gen visual stakes, especially when compared to FIFA 08's highly buffed graphics. Overall, PES2008's visual changes appeared to be more incremental than revolutionary, ranging from the more animated but still basic-looking crowds to the contemporary yet hardly eye-popping menus. Perhaps the only serious gripe was the way that players sometimes looked like they were pulling off a pair of pigs with their fists while running. Otherwise, the graphics and animations were generally solid.

While Pro Evo 2008 is unlikely to be a revolutionary leap forward for the series, it certainly looks to be an improvement over last year's version, tackling several key issues and adding some great new tweaks and features. It's too early to make concrete predictions right now, as the version we played was still around 10% off completion, but things are certainly looking positive, despite the odd concern. Just three weeks to go...

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About Martin Korda

Read more articles from Martin by visiting the Martin Korda archive page.

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Comments (61) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • old_skool #1 4 years ago

    diving is a really bad idea...

  • vane101 #2 4 years ago

    Probably stick with my under played 2007 version.
    Edited by 1 at 05/10/07 @ 14:24

  • lambtron #3 4 years ago

    indeed

  • Darren #4 4 years ago

    What I'd like to know is whether the slowdown and juddery framerate of the replays and cinematics in the 360 demo have been erradicated in the PS3 version because it's the PS3 version I have pre-ordered, purely for the convenience of being able to download the edited Options file from a PC and transfer it to the PS3 via a memory stick.

    Also when are we PS3 owners going to get a playable demo? The 360 and PC ones have been out for over a week now...

  • old_skool #5 4 years ago

    if there's one thing that needs to change it's the throws-ins
    Edited by 1 at 05/10/07 @ 14:26

  • Steroyd #6 4 years ago

    >:( No PS3 PES demo Sony are a bunch of fugly hairy nipples. >:(

  • Bonus #7 4 years ago

    They're going to finish the game, get it certified by Sony and ship it on PS3 within the next 3 weeks?

    I smell something fishy.

  • Corben_Dallas #8 4 years ago

    Micheal Owens nickname is Sicknote.

  • Les #9 4 years ago

    "While Pro Evo 2008 is unlikely to be a revolutionary leap forward for the series"

    What's the point of repeating this statement in each and every PS3/360 (p)review?

  • El_MUERkO #10 4 years ago

    Sounds interesting but i'm still confused as to exactly when everyone started to think of PES as the more arcade-like of the pair.

    I have to say I'm finding FIFA more enjoyable than PES on a number of levels but mainly because the game seems fairer even if the keepers cover up some of the ai's weaknesses.

  • Ace_McCloud #11 4 years ago

    This doesn't look very good.

    /walks away with head down, hands in his pocket, kicking at the grass. Muttering "Konami you're wank. You've become arrogant and complacent. You've become...........EA!"

  • DjWhizzkidd #12 4 years ago

    Keeprs do spill it far too often, at least they do in the demo anyway. Pro has never got the keepers right.

  • dazzaman #13 4 years ago

    "Perhaps the only serious gripe was the way that players sometimes looked like they were pulling off a pair of pigs with their fists while running"

    Still chuckling about that now, thanks for the Friday funny

  • Fab4 #14 4 years ago

    They should implement a fan running on to the pitch and really hurting Dida...the lame-ass cvnt that he is....effing disgrace to football.

  • gman7714 #15 4 years ago

    Mmmm, disconcerting....

    Glad I haven't pre-ordered. I'm seriously considering Fifa which prior to PES6 I would of deemed as lunacy.
    But not being particularly impressed by either demo I might just have to forego a footy game this season :(

    Edited by 1 at 05/10/07 @ 14:56

  • Darren #16 4 years ago

    So EG how much better is the PS3 version than the 360 one then? Is it "three times better"? (chuckles)

  • Steroyd #17 4 years ago

    Nelson: HAHA

  • Steroyd #18 4 years ago

    What the hell is with that passing shooting trigger bullcrap, does Konami want the Xbox 360 to do crap.

  • some1 #19 4 years ago

    FUCK!!!1

  • sd99 #20 4 years ago

    The 360 demo didn't use triggers to pass... plus all buttons in the demo were configurable (I always switch the bumpers and the triggers over).

  • Sid-Nice #21 4 years ago

    The game will be broken with Michael Owen on the box.

  • monkie_king #22 4 years ago

    I think they should spice things up by reintroducing the commentary from the original PS1 ISS Pro - "That boy's got a steel skull!", "He must have lead in his boots today!", and every time anybody got carded: "It's yellow. That's an early bath."

    Good times.

  • sd99 #23 4 years ago

    Michael Owen? Does that mean we can only play internationals? :)

  • KingKongBassett #24 4 years ago

    The things that are absolutely rubbish are:

    The camera angle for penalties.
    The fact that when you dive, the referee orders a freekick to the other team. If the other team gets the ball, play should continue and the ref should book the player the next time play stops. It happens with fouls in PES already, should happen with diving too.

    Otherwise, it's alright.

  • chiz #25 4 years ago

    The more you play it, the more you love it - it's like every other pes that way.

    Can't wait!

  • Steve007 #26 4 years ago

    90% complete with 3 weeks to go? That's bollocks. At this stage, the game will be complete & they'll be ironing out as many bugs as they can before the deadline.

  • Steroyd #27 4 years ago

    They could always patch it.

  • varsas #28 4 years ago

    Ah...so they have re-introduced diving from the old version of Winning Eleven on PS1...

  • MJ #29 4 years ago

    I was always bothered by the fact the keepers only moved if a shot was on target, otherwise they just stand there casually watching the ball - even if its close enough to hit the post.

    Has that changed I wonder?

    Also, it is Kahn not Khan i think?

    KHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNN!
    Edited by 1 at 05/10/07 @ 16:47

  • deaner #30 4 years ago

    Diving is going to be the most useful thing in the world to me. My housemate has mastered all of the little nudges and bumps, and every last legitimate foul you can use without the ref blowing up.

    Now I'll be able to ditch like Robben and whine like Mourinho every time! The balance is restored!

    Really just can't wait for this game. I've booked the day off work, have brought my number of controllers up to eight, and so far have nine people coming round for 'PES Day 2008'.

    All I need now is for the names/teams/players/pitches/kits patch to be ready on day one, so I'm not stuck playing with 'Trad Bricks' or 'Merseyside Red'!

  • Nostromo13 #31 4 years ago

    Oh chris Kamara, your jibba jabber never ceases to amaze me.

  • d0bbo #32 4 years ago

    The thing that most worried me about the demo was that the ability to go on mazy runs with the top players was far too easy, hope they tone that down a bit.

  • SeesThroughAll #33 4 years ago

    Konami has made Cristiano Ronaldo proud

  • mcmonkeyplc #34 4 years ago

    8

  • Razorus #35 4 years ago

    This looks the same as any other football game. I'm no expert, and I know PES is better than other brands, but there is never enough improvement to warrant purchasing the same thing every year.
    People can argue the same thing about beat 'em ups. Every iteration is similar to the last but at least they have a story to progress and (sometimes) real changes.
    I could never understand the fascination with football games.

  • Kosmoz #36 4 years ago

    I have managed to get away with 1 dive on the 360 demo, my opponent got booked. Also my mate had an AI played dive against him, in the box but the ref caught them.

  • deaner #37 4 years ago

    I think you're talking bunko, wazzer!

    I went to the pre-launch of the FIFA 06 just a few weeks before launch and was playing a code that was less than 90%.

    It's simple construction dynamics. You have decide at what point of the Development you'll stop and push out a playable product. 90% is a good mark, but in the time it will have taken for them to test that, add gloss and organise an event to showcase it - they'll already be at 100% and there will have been changes.

    Nor to dev's say 'it's not finished' to cover their hides when there are critiques on that code. They say it because you're playing something which has already been changed.

    Coming back to the FIFA 06 pre-launch, there was included a lot of features which ad already been taken out by the time anyone played the unfinished version.

    As for your comments on 'proper stadiums', clearly you were never enough of a fan to properly patch your copy of any Pro Evo title to give you all of the proper stadiums, etc.

    Any anyway, 'genuine footy fans' are more concerned with how much fun they can have in a videogame homage to the beautiful game - than having the right looking badge on a strip that's the right shade of blue.

    But as I said, patch your Pro Evo and that's not even an issue!

    Don't get me wrong, I love footy games and have played the FIFA 08 demo to death. But I have a much better time on my PS2 version of PES6 (because the XBox version was awful! Short pitch, thick AI, zero responsiveness).

    Basically FIFA 08 would have to be a miracle bag to provide half the entertainment that even PES 6 does. If PES 2008 is at least as good as it's predacessor - EA have already lost.

    Not that they've been competition for the last 12 years!

  • thepiedpiper #38 4 years ago

    unfortunately i agree with wazza, pes is now a shell of its former self. pes 6 was an insult, and it's looking like this one hasn't done much to improve upon that.

    generally i think that pes is for gamers and fifa is for footy fans. more so now then....

  • peeetah #39 4 years ago

    "generally i think that pes is for gamers and fifa is for footy fans"

    Complete and utter bullshit.

  • thepiedpiper #40 4 years ago

    "Complete and utter bullshit."

    so you're a pes fan then

  • coastal #41 4 years ago

    there's too much michael owen staring at you on eurogamer right now. bring back spiderman 3.

  • spadge #42 4 years ago

    3 weeks to go and its 90% complete? Bollocks. Sounds like it's 6 months from retail then if thats the case... If thats what they told you and thats what you believe then fair enough as you've been had. Thats not how things work. "Last minute tweaks" occur 2 months from console release dates - small matter of fact of submission, QA and production of goods, PC tweaks can happen a few weeks prior to release. This game was likely submitted and finished well before the demo went live. PES 2009 then...

    Not that I care, I'll still get it...

    We have a saying that the last 10% takes 90% of the time, btw.
    Edited by 3 at 06/10/07 @ 05:11

  • tbl #43 4 years ago

    Konami's quote on the box art this year:

    "Ten percent of the time, it works - every time"

  • levis #44 4 years ago

    Its all about the gameplay. Also, how are people judging the game already? It hasn't even been released yet. The stuff I read on these forums pains me sometimes.

  • gabba19 #45 4 years ago

    people do my head in complaining about this is crap and and that about the game but yet the same people cant wait for the game to come out lol stupid or what, me personally cant wait for the game to come out ive bought every pro evo each october so bring it on i say

  • Eurolamer #46 4 years ago

    It never ceases to amaze me just how many people will choose to judge a game before they've even played it...

    PES has never been a perfect game. As a series, it's always had (minor) problems. However, the sheer strength of it's positive is enough to more than doubly compensate for any of these.

    The difference between FIFA and PES? FIFA builds itself up each year as "THE BEST FOOTIE SIM, EVA!! tm" and routinely dismantles itself for the next version, which is barely recognisable from the previous. Gimmicks anyone? Remember 'Be the 12th man'? 'Off the ball control'? Some guff about dotted coloured lines all over the pitch to see where your man was running too? All complete pish, and all duly abandoned after being written off as tragic failures. I promise you FIFA 09 will bear no resemblance to 08. Oh, but there'll be the ability to gob snot from Wayne Rooney's mouth in the all new, 'Gob like the Pros(tm)' mode. Probably.

    Now take PES. Spare a few anomalies (eg handballs in PES3) the series has seen a natural evolution in design and control. Play PES3 now, you can see the building blocks in place. PES is about careful and delicate refinement of a well balanced and already outstanding engine. Quality speaks for itself, that's why PES scores consistently higher with those who want to play a real game of football, and why FIFA consistently scores higher with those who are happy to masturbate loudly about official badges and the inclusion of Rushden & Diamonds special edition 3rd kit. Simple pleasures for simple minds.

    Some things in life spring eternal.

    The sky is blue.

    Grass is green.

    PES is better than FIFA.

    Get over it, grow up and move on.

    X

  • peeetah #47 4 years ago

    "so you're a pes fan then"

    Yeah and a football fan and I know of many other pes playing football fans who arent massive gamers, thus your logic is wrong.

  • thepiedpiper #48 4 years ago

    Yeah and a football fan and I know of many other pes playing football fans who arent massive gamers, thus your logic is wrong.

    ---------------------


    fairy muff

  • syphon92 #49 4 years ago

    cant wait for that game, in my opinion PES has allways been better than fifa....

  • thepiedpiper #50 4 years ago

    cant wait for that game, in my opinion PES has allways been better than fifa....


    ---------------

    until last year

  • levis #51 4 years ago

    Thats why most of the complaints come from 360 owners, PES6 on the 360 was a shit version.

  • JANER #52 4 years ago

    PC version of PES for me, I can see past all the hype and don't mind waiting that extra month for it's release.

  • convercide #53 4 years ago

    Having been a PES fan since the first I'm sorely disappointed with the PES Demo and yet pleased with the FIFA one. PES still hasn't been brought kicking and screaming into 'next gen' territory yet. The texture detail distance on the pitch on the demo was horrendous and the players look like their last gen version with higher res textures. They need a stronger engine. If we're being honest, the last great Pro Evo was 3.

  • immateriaux #54 4 years ago

    Having also been playing PES solidly since the SNES versions, I think PES now badly needs to be re-written, it's starting to fall over itself at this stage and become a cliche of itself. And I'd say Konami badly need to get out and watch some football, their game is a parody of itself, not football. Thankfully Fifa has come on in leaps and bounds and does offer a good game now that we can play while Konami goes off and sorts itself out.
    Edited by 1 at 07/10/07 @ 18:16

  • Mart #55 4 years ago

    Having played the demo I hope they at least slow the thing down, the speed made the ball far too heavy and fast for a start.

  • MGG #56 4 years ago

    *PES*:
    Still got terrible commentry.

    Idiot AI players (Run down the wing with the ball, cross ball into box. See zero forwards and 20 billion defenders).

    AI Cheating.

    God AWFUL menu system.

    A Master League that was fun but limited back when it was first introduced - still pretty much exactly the same (with the same "random" players!) today.

    A Manual written by someone who can't speak English and doesn't mention half the things in the game.

    A pitch that is apparently getting smaller each year.

    Crap referees.

    Did I mention the £$%$%^$%^$^£$%"£$%"ing commentry?!?


    *FIFA*:
    Made leaps and bounds of improvements this year, to the stage where I am considering buying it (360 version played). *IF* it can make the same level of improvements next year and PES continues its lazy dribble to infinity, it could well overtake PES as the best game. And that could be the best thing ever to happen - forcing Konami to get their arses into gear and do some actual development, rather than out-EA'ing EA.


    My 2p.
    Edited by 1 at 08/10/07 @ 10:07

  • Eurolamer #57 4 years ago

    @rdexter

    I take most of your points. For the record, PES6 on the 360 was a complete dog and I wouldn't even begin to argue otherwise.

    I guess the rest of what you say fundamentally boils down to a matter if opinion. PES is scripted, but all football games are, and have to be. Without any computer assistance you'd have all your team mates stood around doing nothing, but it's the level of scripting that seems to get on some people's nerves. For me, it's at a good level, where all the important actions fall down to the player's ability. It's been at a similar level through out it's life span and for me, that level of familiarity is one of the game's stronger points. I believe they've got it right, 'if it ain't broke' etc, but if you don't believe it's right then I guess I can see how it would annoy you by now.

    People often refer to these 'cheats' that big bad ol' Seabass puts into his games, but what does that actually mean? Don't decisions sometimes go against you in real football? Perhaps you think I'm clutching at straws with that but I think it's a fair point. I think it's easy to confuse purposely programmed bad ref decisions and bugs. Refs cock things up in real life (see Man utd's pen vs Chelsea) so why should that not be in PES?

    The game hasn't changed an awful lot, and I can see how that's a issue for some people. Perhaps PES is going the way of Armoured Core and Dynasty Warriors, forever catering to it's hardcore fan base and stubbornly refusing to change to gain more supporters :-D

    Oh, and just as a final note, my FIFA bashing is certainly not an effort to be part of the 'cool bunch' as you put it. I'd struggle to think of anything less cool than discussing the pros and cons of football videogames on a internet forum... :-P

  • praetorian #58 4 years ago

    @rdexter - Spot on mate. Couldn't have said it better myself.

    And before all you PES fanboys start sharpening your knives, I've been as die-hard a PES fan as you can get, having purchased every single PES from 1-6 (not that I was impressed with 5 or 6 much) and also owning Winning Eleven 7, 8, 9 and 10 (compared to my last FIFA purchase which was 2002 I think).

    The sad thing is that Konami haven't even bothered to listen to criticism of their product. Not just this year but ever since the original PES. I'm sure I've not been the only person to complain about the 80's style penalty shootouts (six directions and even players on a red form arrow and a special penalty taking ability can miss the target completely? Ooookay.) So the biggest change to penalties this year has been changing the goalkeeper view to a worse one than the one we had before? Thanks, Konami.

    And then there's all the stuff rdexter mentioned, and two of my biggest gripes about PES6 (namely slide tackling someone perfectly only for them to instantly recover the ball while your player is still recovering from the slide, and Paul Robinson-esque goalies who insist on parrying everything right in front of goal when it would have been easier to concede a corner) seem to have been exacerbated in 2008!

    And would it be too much to ask for a way to design my own corner formations? How is it my fault when someone heads in at the far post just because I wasn't allowed to place a defender on the post? And why do I only have one player in the area attacking a corner when I'm playing 3-3-4 and I'm 1-0 down with ten minutes to go?

    As for this year's FIFA, it's definitely a vast improvement. It's not perfect and still feels a little clunky in places but right now I'm enjoying it more than PES (the PES demo at least). Perhaps this is because I've played PES to death and I'm now only too aware of its little imperfections, while FIFA feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison. I don't know, but I do know that for this to change, PES is going to have to change for it to feel fresh once again.

  • thehipster7 #59 4 years ago

    Always liked both games, with a preference for PES.

    But...whereas PES isn't addressing it's problems FIFA is.

    PES flaws - full backs running opposite direction to the way your pressing when a winger hits a certain spot. People dribbling the full length of the pitch time and time again. Passing and player movement off the ball generally awful.

    PES good points - ball movement, excitement and pace.

    FIFA flaws - ball movement (improving yesr on year), feels a little contrived at times (again improving year on year).

    FIFA strong points - feels like a real game of football, the pacing and passing and player movement are now excellent. Shooting is generally good.

    Received wisdom - FIFA = Arcade, PES = SIM.

    But I'd dispute this, FIFA was always more of a SIM but one with so many faults it drew the it's too arcadey title, PES played better so drew the SIM title. On the contrary the dribble through the middle, kick and rush nature of PES was always more arcadey. Now FIFA has resolved many of it's issues the SIM naature of the game is transparent.

    For me I'm reaally getting into this years FIFA, it's not perfect but it's an enjoyable game. It feels like Barca v Liverpool or Holland v Germany.

    PES plays like a kick about on Hampstead Heath or Portsmouth v Bolton.

    EA are coming good right now - NHL 08, FIFA 08 and Skate are all TOP games and really bringing to life the 360 for me (I hate FPS's!!).

  • levis #60 4 years ago

    I agree with the kickabout on hampstead heath because its fun, but Portsmouth vs. Bolton? How about Portsmouth vs. Reading (in recent times).

  • thehipster7 #61 4 years ago

    Hampstead Heath blimey I meant Hackney Marshes or Wormwood Scrubs playing field. Maybe even a school playground as 50 kids chase one football at the same time, the most skillful then attempting to dribble round the remaining 10 defenders before blasting a shot as hard as possible towards goal.

    Portsmouth v Reading if you like or Watford v Stoke.
    Certainly not Man Utd v Arsenal if you get my drift.

  • tmatharu #62 4 years ago

    Right....i am huge huge fan of the pes series....and i recall people dissing PES6, and i thought it was really good (on the PS2) that is. The 360 pad just isnt designed right for this game! lol.

    Anyway, i have just been playing the PC demo, and the first 10 seconds of play, i was like "this feels weird".....BUT, after that....my god, i love this game. Just feels right i reckon between simulation and semi arcade. Tactics are still sound, and the pure passing play and patient build up is top notch. Visually its nice, but i am not that bothered about the graphics....the animations are still quality!

    The keepers are good i think, and they will parry......and they didnt do it that frequently! The only downside is the ref is a tad harsh, but i can forgive that.

    This is defo gonna be my first buy for the PS3, when i get my 40Gb PS3 that is! GET IN!!!

    As for FIFA, played it, gave it a chance, and i WAS impressed.....after i played this demo.

    Do not despair, if u liked PES4 onwards, u wont be disappointed. If u liked PES3, which i felt was way to arcady, then u may be.

    Pre order now!