Pro Evolution Soccer 6 Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 December, 2006

Score on the train.

Version tested: PSP

I hate Christmas. Not the Christmas bit of it, you understand, but the weeks preceding it, during which I'm more than ever "the one who knows about games". "Help me," a long lost friend quivers down the phone. "I have to spend three days at my mum's house and I need something to dull the pain." Have you tried Lumines? "Have I tried what? Valium?" Close enough. "Help help help," says another in an email. "I'll have to talk to my step-dad while the others watch the telly. He's the dullest man alive." Sounds like you need Phoenix Wright! There's lots of suspicious murders in it though. "Good. I could use a few tips."

It's not all bad. I'd have lost touch with some of these people under different circumstances. But I do panic when they call me from the shop. And not just from the shop, but usually in some advanced state of purchase. "Hi Tom, I'm at the checkout in Dixon's, with 58 people behind me, and I'm holding two games. I'm reaching for my credit card. You have 15 seconds to decide." And yes, it's usually for a child, and yes, it's usually SpongeBob SquarePants' Quacking Quest versus Bayonet Frogdancers Apocalypse. I made the mistake, last year, of saying, "Forget those - just get him a football game. Pro Evolution's my preference."

A mistake because, as it turned out, I was advising a PSP owner. And now I never hear the end of it. Boxing Day: "Bloody hell mate, why does it take so long to get going? Have I got the cartridge in the wrong way?" January: "I don't understand why it's so jerky. I thought you said the PSP was really powerful." March: "Hi Tom. Just wanted to say thanks again for the recommendation. It's nearly finished loading."

Fortunately, because he's not the sharpest tool in the box (I see him more as one of those plastic compartments fastened to the inside that you use to store washers), I will soon be able to enact a great lie to rescue me: "Oh, you brought PES5 - I meant for you to buy PES6."

Yes, Konami has finally got its head round the PSP. PES6 still takes a while to load (although nowhere near as long), and it's still short of a few things, but in the majority of respects it's a solid improvement. The Master League makes a welcome appearance, most notably, and slowdown is almost negligible. Last time out, every free-kick was a complete farce - but the only farcical things in PES6 PSP have been farcically out of date on a series level for years, like throw-ins. In many other respects, this is as good as the PS2 version.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot graphics

The graphics look like other PSP sports games at a glance, but the subtler animations make a big difference.

Released from the burden of so much undercooked nonsense, PSP matches really fly, with all the things that made the PS2 version work as a simulation still intact: the emphasis on passing over running, the zing of the shots (much more so than the Xbox 360 version), the pressure on the ball all over the pitch, the intelligent AI movement, not to mention the range of subtle moves that allow you to wrap a leg around an advancing attacker to knock the ball away, flick the ball over your head to avoid a tackle, or execute a perfectly timed half-volley as the ball spins loose on the edge of the box. Now that it runs competently on the hardware, you're also able to enjoy some of the benefits the PSP brings, like its wider screen. The PS2 version has dodged a widescreen mode for years, and it makes a difference here, allowing you to enjoy the refined football simulation of the recent big-console releases without running into brick walls all the time. It's a godsend in midfield, where space is at a premium.

Control isn't particularly difficult either, despite the loss of a pair of shoulder buttons. It does mean that certain controls are clustered together again, or accessed differently. Those of you used to tapping R1 to push the ball ahead while sprinting will need to use the nub while holding the right shoulder button, for example, as tapping now performs a step-over. But it's by no means the handicap it might have been. You can still perform one-twos, dink the ball over the goalkeeper and add a bit of shape when placing the ball from 18 yards out. Once you've scored, you can also save off the replay - with tons of slots available, as you'd expect for a system with optionally upgradeable storage capacity.

You might not be able to go online, but the PSP version still allows for ad hoc wireless games with another player, and keeps a helpful record of your achievements in this respect, while you're certainly not short of other modes to play. The Master League's an important inclusion, and there are also six leagues (Serie A, Eredivisie, La Liga, Ligue 1, England League, International League) and seven cups (Reebok Cup, International Cup, European Cup, African Cup, American Cup, Asia-Oceanian Cup, Konami Cup), along with a fairly comprehensive Edit Mode, certainly making a mockery of the shameful lack of depth in the 360's equivalent. You can edit players, teams, boots, league and cup names and transfer players, although kits seem to be off-limits. The PES-Shop is back, too, offering extra players, teams, goal celebrations and ball effects, double speed matches and Master League starting point bonuses, all in exchange for the currency you build up with success on the field.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot ball

New ball effects for replays are oddly addictive, too. Hrm. Anyone fancy a quick nipperkin?

That's not to say that there aren't a few things missing - with the PS2 game's random exhibition match-making not obvious, and no commentary, again, apart from a bit of shouting every time you score. I can't help feel Konami missed a trick with the PS2/PSP connectivity, too - you can exchange data, which is useful, but dreams of continuing the Master League on the go are left unfulfilled. Even so, with more in place and a much smoother experience to enjoy, it's easier to the compliment things that last time out just seemed to make fun of the game's technical shortcomings - like an option to conserve battery life by turning off some of the superfluous special effects.

Mind you, the gameplay model upon which PES6 is built is by no means my favourite of the variations Konami has developed since the series' inception, but those looking for a PSP sports game to wipe away a dreary Boxing Day will be more than satisfied with its core competency, and there's still little to rival the satisfaction of scoring a well-worked goal because - whatever you may think of PES - one thing it's very good at is making you feel like you earned it. If you've been suffering with the last version in whatever form, success will be a lot sweeter for it, too.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
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.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • ecureuil #1 5 years ago

    8/10? Sold. :D

  • gizmo #2 5 years ago

    Got this for christmas hopefully :)

  • Murbal #3 5 years ago

    Thought PES5 on the PSP was a bit of a mini disaster so this sounds like a real improvement. Greatest handheld soccer game of all time?

    /awaits 'where's the Zelda review?' comments

  • Steroyd #4 5 years ago

    ZEEEL...

    this isn't the zelda review :/

    i'll wait till this gets cheaper the non transferable ML makes me sad.

    /keeps clicking F5
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/06 @ 14:23

  • Banksy #5 5 years ago

    "Oh, you brought PES5 - I meant for you to buy PES6."

    Ahem.

  • lambtron #6 5 years ago

    Oh THANK GOD.

    They sorted the loading times. This was the thing that all above else made me HATE HATE HATE HATE!!!! PES5. If it hadn't been a gift I think I would have smashed it with a hammer.

  • foxy2006 #7 5 years ago

    you guys havent finished Zelda yet have you
    clearly the claims about biggest Zelda yet aren't unfounded ;)

  • Dizzy #8 5 years ago

    Wow.. this might sell some PSPs!!!!

  • Moonprince #9 5 years ago

    Nah they said earlier today there wouldn't be a Zelda review. Best check back Friday I reckon.

  • ecureuil #10 5 years ago

    The Zelda review will be on Friday, surely?

    I don't see why it matters, it's one of the most pointless reviews EVER. It's an easy 9 or 10, everyone who's going to get it has already decided, and not a single person in the world is waiting for the EG review to make their mind up. Don't give a fuck about the Zelda review, it's not important because we already know about it.

    IMO this review has much more merit, since PES5 was potentially great but missed the mark, this one could gone either way. The review has actually convinced me to buy the game.

    I'm already buying Zelda.

  • Segnit #11 5 years ago

    Zelda

  • Kay #12 5 years ago

    Zelda review's been delayed, chaps.

    I tried this last night along with FMH 2007, and was very pleasantly surprised. Much better than FIFA on the PSP, imo - the animation is great and it all runs along super smooth. Generous amount of options, too.

    K

  • Zomoniac #13 5 years ago

    Can you adjust the camera? You couldn't on 5, and I like the swivelling camera that actually twists to face the goal instead of the stupid always-straight sideways-panning default that the original PSP version forced me to use.

  • Amicus #14 5 years ago

    So better than...

    /punches self in the face

  • Cuke #15 5 years ago

    My copy should be on the mat waiting for me when I get home.... yay! :)

  • Psychopompus #16 5 years ago

    It's really much better dan PES5, the loading times are still annoying though.
    is there a way to copy the UMD content to the MS, so the game runs on the MS?
    Without downgrading and using illegal iso's.

  • Kay #17 5 years ago

    Zomoniac - you can select between different zoom-out options, and also adjust the angle of the camera so that it faces the goal slightly. Not as comprehensive as FIFA in that respect, then, but zoomed-out view works great; I certainly had no problems with it in the few games I played.

    K

  • Furbs #18 5 years ago

    An 8 for a PES game in a review by Tom? Hmmm thats not so good.

    ;)

  • Cuke #19 5 years ago

    I wonder... perhaps some developers should start offering a kind of 'install to memory stick' option to help speed some games up. It shouldn't be forced, but an option if you have the space and want to speed things up a tad...
    Obviously not the whole game, cant have it looking like a way to pirate games, but bits of it, much like a PC game installs but still needs the original CD's to run....

  • tiddles #20 5 years ago

    I wonder... perhaps some developers should start offering a kind of 'install to memory stick' option to help speed some games up.

    As indeed is currently available for PS3 games such as RR7 and Resistance... would give scurvy pirates fewer excuses, too :)

  • Super_Zee #21 5 years ago

    Please tell me where I can buy Bayonet Frogdancers Apocalypse...

  • JediMasterMalik #22 5 years ago

    @LaDil - I agree with Dabo, why post that? It makes no sense in this thread.

  • SeesThroughAll #23 5 years ago

    Maybe he meant to say that this game nearly got him to buy a PSP, but that he'd rather go for the Wii this christmas?

  • killyourtv #24 5 years ago

    why do you take so long to get to the ****** point

  • Daikon #25 5 years ago

    Hey, at least EG is taking the time to play Zelda through first before sitting down to write a review.
    Most reviews I've read so far were mainly based on first impressions.

  • Cuke #26 5 years ago

    Well it was indeed waiting for me when I got home last night... I played it for a while last night and this morning and must say it plays a great game... but...

    I didn't get PES5 PSP so don't know what's improved but football itself is smooth fluid and just like PES should be, no real loading times in game that I've noticed but the loading times around the menus are horrible (and if they are improved from PES5 then I pity anyone who played that!!). I can forgive a delay going from the menu to the action itself after all its got a lot to load... But why from boot up to the menu? Or from a game back to the menu? I mean God it takes twice as long to load up the menus as it does the footie action itself.... why????

    Other than that its a fantastic game... but the loading times just don't make sense...

  • Feanor #27 5 years ago

    Great review. I got PES 5 for Christmas last year and enjoyed it to some extent, but it really had a lot of annoying problems.

  • InterMeLocal #28 5 years ago

    Loading times reduced....they couldn't of been much worse. PES5 was rushed out. I will be buying this based on this review, but its a shame that no infrastructure multiplayer mode is available.

  • jonsaan #29 5 years ago

    Well, I own this and the Jap DS version. The Ds version has no loading times but is absolute pants in comparison. It really is awful. The psp version has the master league and plays just like it's bigger brothers. And no, the DS version is nothing like ISS, I only wish it was.
    Edited by 1 at 12/12/06 @ 15:39

  • Tango #30 5 years ago

    Got this for xmas! It was wrapped with some other rubbish to make it look less like a PSP game when sitting under the xmas tree.

    But yeah coming from PES4 on xbox the handling for this is much much better. The loading time is bearable, so for me the only really really annoying thing is the lack of player development on master league. Oh that and the new theme tune being a bit crap.

  • InterMeLocal #31 5 years ago

    Not sure about the loading times actually being that great. I wish that you could play your next fixture in the league or cup without navigating away from the actual game. I.e. When the fixture finishes, you can select "Play Next Fixture" so the code does not need to reload everything again. - But it is improved over PES 5 for sure so not really complaining too much.