Pro Evolution Soccer 6 Review

By Kristan Reed Published 26 October, 2006

Solid on PS2, but the 360 version's doing a Robinson.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Tom sharpens his studs

I was sitting in my lounge last Thursday playing Pro Evolution Soccer 6 with a friend, and halfway through our second nil-nil - as Brazil and France bounced off each other's stubborn, powerful defences - a third friend, who had been patiently waiting for something to happen, started to chant quietly under his breath: "Allez! Allez! Allez!"

This, he insisted, after being beaten up with a cushion, was Pro Evolution Soccer: Liverpool Under Gerard Houllier Edition, closer to real football than ever in terms of its grittiness and its physicality, but not exactly fiery and explosive to behold - unless of course you're referring to our third game of the evening, when my opponent's patience ran out and was replaced by exasperated use of the slide-tackle button. 11 versus 8, that finished, and I only won one-nil.

Individual players' pace is much less of a defining factor now, with acceleration in short supply. Players like Ronaldinho struggle to break through on pace alone, and even when Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo receive the ball out wide in line with the centre circle, they're much better off making for the byline than trying to cut inside. There are fewer "godly" players here in general, and with the top sprint speed now reduced, it's also a more physical game. Stature is incredibly important. Pick a heavy-set back line and you can deal with a lot of threats before anything develops, because they will do a surprisingly effective job of closing down nippy forwards even if their legs are older than Maldini's. Cesare Maldini's. Meanwhile in attack, finding composure on the ball is simultaneously more necessary and much harder, with a lot of shots ballooning away unhelpfully unless you're perfectly set to strike, or your attacking stat point is breaking through the top of the skills pentagon.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot x360

The 360 game is noticeably different, graphically (as you'd expect), but still characteristically PES.

Fortunately off-the-ball movement has improved, and it's possible to do more with the ball in close confines using the shielding button, holding it up and pivoting away from defenders. You can do a clever little dragback turn to create space, too, and in each case it's just as well given that PES6 relies so heavily on patient build-up play. Where once you could get away with surging forward and playing a quick one-two to reach the edge of the penalty area, here you'll only be using that through-ball button during moments of supreme vision and excellence, and even then you'll probably find the defence has tracked you back by the time you approach the penalty area.

There are at least some things that improve on the balance and flow of the last major Western release, PES5, like the less twitchy referees, who can now thankfully stomach the odd bit of argy-bargy from the defensive 'pressing' buttons, and the ability to keep the ball when sliding in with a tackle, which does more than anything to keep the turnover rate within reasonable bounds, and certainly helps to discourage profligate use of the dash button in central midfield. Meanwhile, the addition of a quick free-kick function, activated when it's possible by pressing the two shoulder buttons closest to you at the same time, allows you to continue without having the entire opposition team standing ahead of the ball, as was the case in the past, and the advantage rule is better-handled, with players being punished even if play has subsequently taken quite a while to stop.

But equally it's hard to escape the feeling that this shift in balance has led to a more frustrating game overall. Konami wants us to be excellent before we can dance through teams, and it's a noble goal more ably realised than in previous versions, but is it actually fun?

The answer is that that probably depends on what you want out of it. If all you want to do is take Ronaldinho on a whistle-stop tour of every blade of grass, pirouetting with the right-analogue-twirl through a lead-footed defence on the way to smashing the ball past the goalkeeper, you can achieve that by notching the difficulty down to the first or second levels. (In the Xbox 360 version's case, that's certainly the best way to mine it for gamerpoints - with most of them available for winning leagues and cups, which can be done on any difficulty level. Grr.)

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot ps2

While the PS2 version looks a bit gritty and even cartoony at this point, the animations are still second to none.

But surely, for the more adventurous, simply bouncing around midfield until you can find a sufficient bludgeon is just forced attrition?

Well, maybe on your own, but in multiplayer, I'm happy to say, there's still a great game to be had. Multiplayer games see both players working hard to maintain possession, shielding the ball and fashioning openings through deception, dragging defenders out of position and using flair players like Zidane, whose characteristics inspire his team-mates to work more confidently around him, to switch the play. But although the lack of speed pushes you into certain tactical brackets, the things that are brilliant about PES remain intact: the individual players' real-life strengths and weaknesses convincingly portrayed through a set of statistics and particular aptitudes; the need to think like a footballer to create chances, and the need to act like one to seize on them; the precise fatigue and injury systems that demand tactical considerations often absent from the competition. Most importantly, there's the genuinely convincing illusion of football: PES looks like little footballers playing football. Sometimes they're a bit dim-witted, failing to pounce on a loose ball (and the goalkeepers make some fairly horrendous mistakes now and then), but the illusion itself remains intact, the players' shortfalls themselves quite convincing.

And, of course, so much is decided by that great footballing truism: that anything can happen. You may not be able to roar past the left-back, but you can always outwit him to create space and get the cross in, and nowhere is that more true than against a football-loving friend, the way PES is meant to be played. When it all pays off, and you split the defence in the last minute, calmly slotting the ball past the advancing keeper, the sense of elation is almost without compare.

Even so, I would probably still rather choose PES5, or even Winning Eleven 10 (which, while almost comically fast, is far more accessible and visceral) to play with others, because as much as there's a demand on skill and planning here, there comes a point in time when you lose a game because Henry was caught by a defender despite starting off a couple of yards ahead of him, and that grates.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot online

Meanwhile, online is much better on PS2, with more players supported.

And while we're on the subject of grating, let's address the differences between the PS2 and Xbox 360 versions, which hardly flatter the new boy. On PlayStation 2, you can play four versus four online. On Xbox 360, you can play one on one, or two versus two offline (Xbox 360 has no support at all for more than four players on one console, either). On PS2, you can choose from 33 stadiums. On Xbox 360, there are eight. On PS2, you have the PES Shop to work through, unlocking extra bits and pieces. On Xbox 360, there is no shop - you get what you're given. On PS2, the menus allow you to quickly flick between starting eleven and substitutes; to view the scorers during a game by hitting the pause button; to save off replays to your memory card; to edit virtually anything in the game; to play an International Challenge mode, based on World Cup qualifying, and Random Selection matches, where teams are randomly drawn players from a chosen continent (simply brilliant for multiplayer pick-up matches). On Xbox 360, of all of that, all you can do is edit the player names. You can't even save replays, which is just ludicrous - particularly given that the manual actually says you can.

Graphically, the Xbox 360 has widescreen support, and many more polygons pumped into every area. Movement in both versions is slick and believable, to a degree it hasn't been in any other version. Players now tumble over challenges that they can't hurdle and goalkeepers tip the ball around posts single-handed. On that level, Konami continues to impress. Body shapes are convincing, those little flicks look just like they do on TV, with players prancing to avoid follow-through, and although the 360 players are a little bit Madame Tussauds in places, that version's conservative enough in other areas to avoid the impressive fuzzy-felt effect of other sports games. Then again, and this is true of both PS2 and Xbox 360 to some of extent (the latter of which has Dolby Digital support), the crowd remains quite dead at times, chanting away but rarely all that excited when the ball flies into the net, and although the 360 graphics are slick and in places believable, we're not talking about Fight Night levels of realism here; this just looks like a PS2 game put through a few filters.

Konami has also resisted whatever urges it may have felt about some of the game's other core mechanics. Throw-ins, corners, penalties - all a bit rubbish, all the same. Free-kicks are still acceptably skill-based and interesting, and success has a lot to do with the player you've chosen to stand over the ball (hint: deselect, wherever necessary, Roberto one-in-a-hundred Carlos). But this is still old-PES. You get the feeling the series needs to put PS2 behind it and focus exclusively on the next-generation formats before it will find a new level.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot stadium

Xbox 360's stadiums are much nicer, graphically, but there are far fewer of them.

Somebody also needs to get a bit more proactive in the licensing department. With FIFA seemingly on the march in a gameplay sense, the disparity between EA's gotta-catch-'em-all approach to licensing and Konami's positioning-a-bedsheet-under-the-window is all the more apparent. Chelsea are back to being London FC, even though Manchester United are in. The Germans appear to have gone completely, but for Bayern Munich's lurking in Other Leagues A. The Master League (thankfully they remembered to include that on Xbox 360) feels a bit lifeless as a result, and of course if you buy the Xbox 360 version, you can't rely on somebody painstakingly altering everything and then offering the save-file to download, and nor can you do everything yourself. There's also a bit of hangover from World Cup squads - with players like Zidane and Beckham still there, despite their real-life circumstances.

All of which means that Pro Evolution Soccer is worth your money for the sixth year in a row, but hardly the massive leap that it has been in the past. If you have a choice of formats, PlayStation 2 looks to be the way to go, with better features in almost every department - including online, despite Xbox 360's service-level superiority. Indeed, Xbox 360 owners have every right to be disappointed by this release, and chant angrily from in front the screen. In the end I'm left feeling the same way about Konami's current PES-base that I did during the summer the mighty 'pool booted Ged Houllier: what we have is solid, and refinements could propel it back to glory, but really it's high time we started over from scratch.

Kristan's take

Normally I just leave Tom to review Pro Evolution Soccer on the basis that he's put so many man years into it that his knowledge of the game boots mine into row Z. That doesn't mean I don't have an opinion on PES, and it certainly doesn't mean I don't play it from time to time. I just try and avoid having my spirit crushed too often by playing him.

Played against similarly skilled opponents, PES still ranks among the most entertaining games around. With even a modicum of knowledge of its inner workings you really do start to feel like you're crafting a football match with your own hands. Once you develop your own approach and strategy to the game, you really start to notice how good the AI is, how you can pull players out of position and take full advantage of space and the individual strengths of your team. The whole build-up play still feels thrilling.

But it's not a game without its crippling flaws that so many people seem willing to overlook year upon year. My main problem with PES has always been that it's absolutely no fun whatsoever against someone who plays it all the time, and PES6 merely seems to exacerbate that even more. In a game where keeping possession has always been quite difficult to master, PES6 attempts to get around that with the ability to shield the ball. But still, as Tom rightly points out, you forever find yourself with a pacey player in a good position - yards ahead of the opposition - only to get mugged at the death.

That doesn't mean it's always hard to carve out attacking manoeuvres, though - it's just that the dynamic now favours the defence even more than it has in the past, meaning newbies won't be murdered quite as badly as they perhaps once would have, but may find it even more of a tall order to break out of defence and score. It's an odd dynamic, because although the scorelines might be lower than before (and therefore the humiliation lessened) the barrier to entry for newcomers seems higher than ever unless you're content to play the beginner or amateur AI.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot flyovision

The amazing new fly-o-vision cam.

But whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, you'll share a common complaint - that PES6 appears to be the most difficult in the series to score. Having ploughed through two of the game's leagues and all seven cups against the AI, it's true that the first two difficulty levels are almost insultingly easy. But beyond that, and against human opposition online, it's an absolute lottery whether the game will let you score or not.

Okay, admittedly I'm pretty rubbish at PES, but not that rubbish. Half the time online I've matched opponents shot for shot, and occasionally murdered them - yet on every single occasion it was a real effort to get the ball on target. Occasionally I've been on the end of some real beatings myself, and found myself a few men short and rarely conceded more than one or two goals. Whether you're an old hand or bright newcomer, those headers and volleys just keep on ballooning high and wide when just tucking them away seems like the simpler option. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

Now, clearly there's a knack to all this. People repeatedly advise me to time shots properly, to try and press RT/R2 to cushion the ball and to make sure the players are not off balance, but it only seems to get you so far. I wouldn't mind if this was just something the less skilled players have to overcome with practice, but the fact that the very people dishing out the advice are shouting expletives at the game in sheer frustration hardly bodes well.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot missed

Missed!

Something else that conspires to reduce any fun you might get out of PES6 is how desperately laggy the online play appears to be at the moment. During corner kicks, the game repeatedly turns into a slideshow, and if you get an opponent across the other side of the world the game's practically unplayable. You have to more or less relearn how to play the game to take into account of the lag, with the power bar registering your input often seconds after you've pressed the button. With every other game badly affected by the problem, it seriously compromises attempts to build up flowing attacks - not to mention timing your challenges. It might be a great leveller, but it's hellishly annoying.

And what of the game's technical impoverishment? After playing FIFA on 360, you'll really notice how old school the animation is, with players' side-to-side motion resembling a team full of crabs. The adoption of widescreen, though, is a major bonus for a series so mystifyingly resistant to such a fundamental idea, and genuinely helps with building up the play effectively. And while the lack of all the stadiums might sound like a daft omission on 360, you'll hardly notice it once you're in the thick of play.

What you will definitely notice, though, is how little effort Konami has put into delivering the 360 version. With barely any major technical improvements over the PS2 version other than cleaner, sharper graphics, it appears that Konami is content to tread water for this year's release and eke out another edition before the inevitable arrival of a definitive next-gen version in 2007.

'Pro Evolution Soccer 6' Screenshot header

Another header over the bar?

Elsewhere, you'll still cringe at the appalling presentation, exasperating commentary and literally the worst soundtrack in any major game - not to mention the continuing lack of real teams after all these years. Having raked in the profits from selling literally tens of millions of copies of the various PES games over the years, it's absolutely mystifying why Konami still brings its most important game to market with such a degree of unapologetic poverty. PES6 stinks of a cynical, half-arsed attempt to mug the 360's hungry user-base into buying a next-gen version of their favourite football game. Not only is it far from 'next-gen' it's not even properly finished.

With so many features missing, a poor online implementation and a tragic unwillingness to treat this as a next generation project, Konami has taken a hefty gamble with PES6 on the 360. Factor in some of the unpopular design decisions and it's hard not to think that the series has taken a noticeable step backwards at a time when EA's busy taking giant steps with FIFA. PES is still a great game, but whether it's the greatest anymore is a more contentious issue than ever.

8 / 10

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About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (146) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Solly #1 5 years ago

    FIRST!

    now that's out the way, I hate footy.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 14:14

  • Benno #2 5 years ago

    damn second

    i knew they would screw up the 360 version
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 14:13

  • morriss #3 5 years ago

    Krud, Mugwun: What should I but tomorrow FIFA07 or PES6. I'll put it this way, you've got £50 and you can only afford one, what would you get?

  • gizmo #4 5 years ago

    JESUS CHRIST!!!

    The differences are unbelievable. I do not understand this, unless its to pimp all the 'extras' on marketplace.

  • gizmo #5 5 years ago

    Looks like FIFA may be the way to go for the first time ever for me.

  • krudster #6 5 years ago

    FIFA review coming first thing tomorrow....

  • slave23d #7 5 years ago

    whats the bet they are waiting on developing the Ps3 version and decided the screw the 360 owners (for now) as they didnt think it was worth it till they were doing a muiltiformat true next gen version?

  • Yossarian #8 5 years ago

    "Having raked in the profits from selling literally tens of millions of copies of the various PES games over the years, it's absolutely mystifying why Konami still brings its most important game to market with such a degree of unapologetic poverty. PES6 stinks of a cynical, half-arsed attempt to mug the 360's hungry user-base into buying a next-gen version of their favourite football game. Not only is it far from 'next-gen' it's not even properly finished."

    Yes. Yes EXACTLY.

    more convinced I was right to not buy this than ever. seventy euro saved.
    Edited by 2 at 26/10/06 @ 14:30

  • Singularity #9 5 years ago

    Wow, it sounds horrible.

  • l_p_4_7 #10 5 years ago

    8/10?! Sounds more like a 6!

    It looks like for the first time Konami and EA have swapped around:
    One company treads water and recycles last years version and the other attempts to bring something new to the table.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 14:38

  • krudster #11 5 years ago

    I wouldn't go that far, but the cracks are there for all to see.

  • sturridge #12 5 years ago

    This 360 version smells of the development team behind the nintendo versions of pro evo, mind those? They were awful and I mean awful. Still, this game (in its PS2 form) will suffice and I will buy it anyway, theres nothing like beating your sister (who plays real football very well ) 3- nil, it really show her who mum and dad love bestest!

    Yeah!

    Sturridge

  • Azazel #13 5 years ago

    two exclusive stadiums

    ooooh, sign me up...

  • Rambaldi #14 5 years ago

    Aw crap! Just bought this but haven't opened the packaging. WHAT TO DO!

    /bites nails all wide eyed n shit

  • SlackMaster #15 5 years ago

    I'm amazed that they'll charge a premium for an inferior version on the 360 ... Good graphics we expect but what about all the features they've missed out.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #16 5 years ago

    oh, shit.

    I was all ready to go out and buy this on 360 tomorrow morning.

    Now, after playing the demo for a couple of weeks, I'm wondering if I should just buy Fifa instead.

  • Xerx3s #17 5 years ago

    The next gen is about more choice and less options.

  • rosler28 #18 5 years ago

    It's so difficult to score, I want to give it a 5 for the nasty cheap production values of the 360 version.

    But then you play a game and realise that PES6 just plays a brilliant game of football. Examples I've had over the last day:

    Henry turns away from the defender on the half way line (using the one touch turn) moves onto goal, opens his body up and slots it into the corner.

    On another occasion again using Henry I pick up the ball by the box, the defender takes me away from goal but I have a split second and lash it across goal into the top corner of the net.

    Both times football perfection, which deserve a 9. Just glad I'm not a reviewer.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #19 5 years ago

    I want crypt-keeper Sven!

  • fizzer25 #20 5 years ago

    well i will still buy it over fifa even if the version is as bad as they say it is it cant be worse than fifa i hate fifa and have played pro evo from the start and probs will for a long time maybe this is how they keep the sales ticking over as i still play pes 5 even thpough it is the most frustrating game ever it cant be worse than the refs blowing all the time if they have taken them out as they say then i will be happy!!!

  • fizzer25 #21 5 years ago

    yeah its a bit sucky that ps2 owners get more than us 360 owners but i dont care about stupid things like more stadiums - who gives a f*** they dont make the game play any different and i aint that bothered about visuals gameplay people!!!!

    anyway im still getting it will asda 24 hour stores sell this after 12 tonight? i wanna go and get it cos i have put a hol in at work to spend all day playing it!!!

  • gaselite #22 5 years ago

    Dissappointing shit for sure, it's pretty poor how slack/complacent Konami have become, especially when you consider that this is the sort of thing that the extremely fickle gaming community online likes to bash EA exclusively for.

    Nevertheless, it's PES6, on 360. I'll still be getting it on launch day, I've been playing the PSP PES5 and desperately need to get back to a console. The fact that they've cut numerous corners is pretty fucking paltry though, and I hope some shit is fixed in an update which we don't have to bloody well pay for, because as mentioned, the inability to save replays on the 360 is ludicrous and frankly, inexcusable.

    As for the game itself and the mechanics, that is a shame, I thought the attack was being refined to make it a bit more fun and such, but instead it seems like the defence has been refined. Not that there's anything wrong with that but scoring in PES5 was so much fun, to lose that would be very unfortunate, especially considering that PES5 was hampered by many issues which seem to have been fixed here.

    Is just incredibly dissappointing and non-sensical that they've been so slack with the 360 version, I'm sure it'll all be fixed next time around but this shouldn't have been the case in the first place,and co development of last gen and next gen titles is something that has really been shitting me so far with the 360, because it's more prolific than any generational shift before it. Developers badly need to get with the times and look toward the future rather than dwelling on the past, no matter how lucrative it may be. PES6 on PS2 should have been the crippled version if any, not the 360 version, encouraging people to move on and such. Poor form Konami.

  • OnlyMe #23 5 years ago

    Heh, so the Xbox 360 has features cut out that I never used, but better graphics and widescreen mode and running in 1080i.

    Nope, doesn't convince me to buy the PS2 version instead. Besides, there's a chance we'll get the rest of the game later - although for a little more cash.

    Also, he Xbox 360 manual says you can save the replays? Did they print the same manual, and forgot to remove the features from the manual? Maybe they're planning on adding it in a patch, but wanted to release the game simultaneously with the other versions.

  • gizmo #24 5 years ago

    "I'll buy it anyway"

    And so the rot continues.

  • AcidSnake #25 5 years ago

    Isn't this going into EA territory now?
    With downloads available to buy to make the 360 version have the same features as the ps2 one?

    'Moo', says cashcow.

  • Scientist #26 5 years ago

    "well i will still buy it over fifa even if the version is as bad as they say it is it cant be worse than fifa i hate fifa and have played pro evo from the start and probs will for a long time maybe this is how they keep the sales ticking over as i still play pes 5 even thpough it is the most frustrating game ever it cant be worse than the refs blowing all the time if they have taken them out as they say then i will be happy!!! "

    Down with punctuation!

  • Foxclose #27 5 years ago

    LOL! The PS2 version is streets ahead of the X360 version! Including online! ;) :D
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 14:50

  • fizzer25 #28 5 years ago

    scientist its a forum not a fu**in writing contest ya sad basta**

  • kincaide #29 5 years ago

    I've played FIFA07 on the PS2 since it came out. And no doubt it is the better overall package when I compare the two. FIFA07 is fully licensed, the controls can be mapped the same as PES, Online play with USB headset, Interactive Leagues (which I really enjoy BTW), to list but a few.

    But when you come down to the playing the actual game of football - PES6 on the PS2 (I don't have a gaming PC, or xbox360) plays the better game of football. It 'feels' better - you feel like you have more control, the players are more intuitive, the ball behaves better, the game flows better.

    The best direct comparison I can think of is defence. After three weeks of playing FIFA07, I still haven't mastered defence - it might be a problem with me of course, but online I have been constantly frustrated with the way my defence behaves, regardless of what defensive tactic I try (although "pressure" appears the least worst). In PES the defence appears to be a more cohesive unit, and mistakes are still made - but they are usual *my* fault, so I blame myself, not the game.

    Overall I think the gap between the two has closed dramatically. Both have a lot to offer. PES6 edges it for me, as it is about the game of football, but FIFA doesn't have to do much more to eclipse it. A couple of tweaks, and PES is in real trouble.

  • Yossarian #30 5 years ago

    "co development of last gen and next gen titles is something that has really been shitting me so far with the 360, because it's more prolific than any generational shift before it"

    +1,000

    I watch videos of Gears of War and go 'oh hey so that's what it looks like when a developer actually gets to devote time to making a 360 exclusive'. even the new Splinter Cell, which still looks pretty great, is just a very polished 720p version of the other platform versions, all of which use the Chaos Theory engine, which was built using UE2. aaargh. multiplatform development always sinks towards its lowest target platform, which in many cases is still the decrepit ol' PS2.

  • kincaide #31 5 years ago

    I'm with you Yossarian - Wii FTW!

  • DrDamn #32 5 years ago

    For those that seem to have missed it, both FIFA and ProEvo are available in a lot of shops now. Street dates broken all over. I got ProEvo at my local HMV for £37.95, even Game had it at £39.99. FIFA was still £49.99.

  • JediMasterMalik #33 5 years ago

    PS2 version FTW then?

  • thinktank #34 5 years ago

    It's like some one has just pissed on the mona lisa.

  • Putty-Man #35 5 years ago

    Krudster said
    "FIFA review coming first thing tomorrow.... "

    So the celophene will stay on PES6 tonight then...

  • jonsaan #36 5 years ago

    Just a thought. And I haven't played Pro Evo that much. But I used to play ISS religiously.

    The new versions always seemed impossble to score in at first. You had to relearn your skills, that's what made it great eventually. Stop whingeing and go and play your football game.

  • fizzer25 #37 5 years ago

    @ jonsaan yeah mate it was like that for at least the last 2 versions!!!

  • Zuiyo #38 5 years ago

    "scientist its a forum not a fu**in writing contest ya sad basta**"

    Scientist is a forum? I thought he was a human being. You just can't trust forums these days. Writing in forums and stuff, what/who do they think they are?

    Edit: Oh I see now! Scientist is NOT a writing contest. Thanks for the clarification, mate!
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 15:11

  • pinhead #39 5 years ago

    Played the fifa demo on marketplace and thought it was trash. Was hoping that PES would be the one to opt for. I will not be buying any football game this time around by the looks of it, if developers cannot be bothered to at least attempt to match the previous gen content then I cannot be bothered to part with the cash. And no I am not downloading extra content to bolster the game. I did'nt with GRAW and I won't do it with half finished software. Please take note M$.

    And don't think that you PS3 potential owners will escape this issue, you know that they are going to charge you. Mind you by the time PS3 is released in Europe we should have left previous gen behind.

    /* saves cash for R6 and GOW.
    /* contemplates return to PC gaming.

  • JediMasterMalik #40 5 years ago

    LOL

    Still people saying that you have to pay for PS3 online.

    When will you ever learn?

  • pinhead #41 5 years ago

    Not your basic membership like LIVE gold but charging will be in place for extra content, and online gaming charges up to the game publisher. Enjoy.

  • Lonestar #42 5 years ago

    So PES gets an 8 out of 10 bumper sticker. How nice.

    How a game that has "crippling flaws" can get an 8 is nuts. But then as the reveiwer points out "so many people seem willing to overlook [them] year upon year" As a reviewer, you're in the a position not to overlook them, yet you slap on an 8/10 score that Konami will happily pimp on the game case.


    Tha same crap rubber band AI, the scripted feeling of certain matches, after all this time Master league is still a shallow playing experience after how many iterations of the game!?

    Reading the reviews make it sound as though it's a 6.

    There was a website last year that was very critical of PES 5 and gave it a 7 (if I remeber correctly) and Konami promptly withdrew advertising.

    Still, what's in a score (or a franchise name)... ?

  • JediMasterMalik #43 5 years ago

    Publisher's have no reason to charge customers for online gaming, they never have done in the past, with the MMO exception, why would they start now? Exactly...

    ...And extra content charges are a given, Sony never said to anyone they would be free.

  • OnlyMe #44 5 years ago

    Wasn't it like this with the step up from PS1 to PS2 too? Gran Turismo 3, for example, was really degraded when it comes to content, compared to Gran Turismo 2. I think it's because of the time it takes to learn to develop on the system and that the development takes longer and has a larger team.

    But I guess we can hope that next years FIFA/PES won't be like this. After all, by then all of the next gens are out, and I have no doubt that developers are waiting for the PS3 to be released so that they can earn some big money on next-gen games. Thus making games more complete.

    Oh, and to the guy who said Gears of War looks like a next-gen title. Not to me. Unless you consider better graphics next-gen. What I thought when I saw the in-game action yesterday was "this looks like every other third person shooter but with better graphics". This game could've been done on a PS2, apart from the graphics. And the setting doesn't exactly scream originality, nor does it scream variety. If the game will look like this all through the 10-15 hours it takes to complete it, you're gonna be pretty sick of the setting when you reach the end.

    But I guess that game is all about online multiplayer.

  • PS3lol #45 5 years ago

    Football games got old after PES1, the series is VERY over rated, just skip this and Fifa07. You already played them ten years ago.

  • lambtron #46 5 years ago

    The online thing is unforgiveable really. Given how much easier it is to do an online game for xbox than PS2 there is no reason why they can have 4v4 online on PS2 but not on the xbox. I can only assume they couldn't be bothered with the hassle of managing Xbox live accounts for more than one person but that does smack of lazyness there are plenty of games that have done this in the past. Since its all done through the dashboard it should be even easier than it was with xbox.

  • pinhead #47 5 years ago

    "Sony's system will be handing off significantly more control to game publishers, who will be able to run their own game servers as they see fit. Although Sony will be creating a standard infrastructure for the service, with data centres in Asia, North America and Europe, the system will still run over the conventional Internet and publishers will be able to connect their own servers to it.

    This opens the possibility that game publishers could charge their own fees for playing games, which is indeed likely to be the case for titles such as massively multiplayer games"

    I hope I am wrong because quite frankly the M$ charging model is guff. But someone has got to pay to run those publishers servers, you know EA will try anything to rake in some more cash ;-)

  • Mildew #48 5 years ago

    I smell another Lumines debacle - wonder how many add on packs will get released for this? Stadium Pack? Meat Pie Pack?

  • Feanor #49 5 years ago

    The stuff in the review about fast players not being able to get away from defenders is the exact opposite of what I've read from multiple sources at PESFan.

    /confused

  • lambtron #50 5 years ago

    @JediMasterMalik

    I think we still have to wait and see if all games (excluding MMOs) on PS3 will be online for free. We know they've said they will be but in the example of the GT thing you're basically paying to play the game.

    Still if it really is free then everyone wins. Well at least everyone with a PS3 ;).

  • nickthegun #51 5 years ago

    I dont know what everyone is complaining about. When Konami generously allow you to buy stadiums at 100gp a pop, you will all feel pretty stupid.

    Missing content indeed........

  • Feanor #52 5 years ago

    "not to mention the continuing lack of real teams after all these years. Having raked in the profits from selling literally tens of millions of copies of the various PES games over the years, it's absolutely mystifying why Konami still brings its most important game to market with such a degree of unapologetic poverty."


    The French League is fully licensed this year, and I don't know if Konami are been stingy about the German and English leagues. Maybe those two FAs just refuse to give the license to more than EA.

  • krudster #53 5 years ago

    It's not just the licensing...the whole front end of the game is terrible and always has been.

  • smugla #54 5 years ago

    pes = gameplay
    fifa = gay play

    360 pes6 plays like the premership/fa cup match its loads of fun electric crack its but the presentation is shocking no excuses for this 8-10 just lucky the gameplay outways the bad

    ps2 360 deep and i meen deep gameplay and all the extras thrown in id compare it to chapions leauge
    9-10

    fifa fifa are you having a laugh
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 16:02

  • oceanmotion #55 5 years ago

    Love the pic. Either crying "Why!" or "Thank you, great goal"

  • Feanor #56 5 years ago

    If you say so. I find the front end of PES 5 very clean to look at and easy to use and much, much better than the diabolical menus that were on PES 3.

  • fizzer25 #57 5 years ago

    been to asda and got the game buzzin, wait till i get home and have a proper work out with it i will be back with my opinions cos i can honestly say i am biased against fifa and wont give it a chance due to the crap games i have played in the past, i have had some pretty wicked moments on pes however!!!!

    to be continued!!!!

  • Moggo #58 5 years ago

    I enjoyed the review, only for the fact you guys seemed honest and were giving it to Konami where they deserved it.

    But then, you gave it an 8! Madness!

    Please explain that. How can you give a game an 8, one described as harbouring 'crippling flaws', the 'little effort Konami has put into delivering the 360 version', the 'appalling presentation, exasperating commentary and literally the worst soundtrack in any major game'.

    Why would Konami bother to start from scratch when you're giving it's half-arsed job on PES6 a score of 8, which basically says it's excellent? Huh?

  • TripSkyway #59 5 years ago

    Interesting reviews in a nice format. Thanks.

  • Eighthours #60 5 years ago

    Can't get into any online games. This ISP/router incompatibility bullshit is so 2003. Sort it out, Konami, for Christ's sake.

    It's a shame as the game itself plays very well indeed, even though it looks like a dog's dinner presentation-wise.

  • brainbird #61 5 years ago

    I can't understand how people managing to program such a great game can fail at the same time to create a enjoying front-end and polished look.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 16:10

  • Feanor #62 5 years ago

    Well, the thread in the forum has confirmed that the "problem" the reviewers had with not being able to sprint away from defenders with fast players is down to them not realizing that in PES 6 to dribble at full speed you need to either tap R1, or hold R1 and tap the D-pad in the direction of movement.

    Not good enough, frankly.

  • Martin_feltches_men #63 5 years ago

    From the moment i first played this i thought 6/10. Its grown on me a bit and ive forgiven it a few things...like you do...but not others. Why cant i change team names, I want to play as Portsmouth not Pompy; yet at the same time i can change the players names, yet those are all correctly input!! Moving to the gameplay, after all the hype and promise its LAZY, its so sluggish. Ignoring all the waste of time extras (who needs 50000 stadiums when you dont see them whilst you are playing anyway!!) I just want a next gen footie game that plays well and secondly looks good. The PS2 version with superior pad will be much better to play the 360 has to at least contend with this small factor. PES360 is a dissapointment allround, Now im looking forward to next year already!! Oh and ISS on the N64 was always better and if you disagree ill beat you like a ginger haired stepchild. Little Wave you messed up

  • Peew971 #64 5 years ago

    Being a 360 owner, I've always been suspicious of a decent PES6 for this format. Remember PES is "a Playstation game" so PES next-gen doesn't start until Sony says so ;)

  • neil_likes_bums #65 5 years ago

    Martin_feltches_men I HATE YOU AND YOUR COMMENT

  • lambtron #66 5 years ago

    lol

    I had forgotten about the horrific Japanese electro Jazz they always seem to use to soundtack these games.

    Crime against humanity.

  • Stickman #67 5 years ago

    Can you say 'downloadable content'?

    CHA-CHING!

  • Omiwan #68 5 years ago

    Firstly I would like to concur that ISS64 and ISS '98 have never been bettered.

    You're either ISS/PES or FIFA, make your mind up.

    I bought PES yesterday and whilst it does lack many features, it's still the best out there. I'd say the only thing that comes close is PES 5, at least you can get acheivment points. Who cares about Stadiums?

    I think Martin_feltches_men and neil_likes_bums should be together

  • Barry619 #69 5 years ago

    I'm currently playing the 360 version, and i can see why it's being slated... abit.

    Sure it doesn't have the little extra's of the PS2 version, but in the actual important areas, like gameplay, it is the same, and overall it does look abit better.

    It might not be the hughly different next-gen version some people where expecting, but it's still Pro Evo, and if you want that on your 360, this is still well worth it.

    It's still a million miles ahead of Fifa, as anyone who has played the 360 demo will know how bad that is already.

  • Sid-Nice #70 5 years ago

    And the winner of the next generation console is.................?

    The PS2: \0/ \o/ \o/ \0/

  • krudster #71 5 years ago

    A review thread wouldn't be complete without a typically snide, sneering, baiting remark at me from our good friend MMUK would it? Gotta love the consistency.

    For clarity, the point I'm making is that newcomers can't come to PES and play an experinced player and get any enjoyment out of it. The learning curve is just too steep. However, other football games (Sensible, certain versions of FIFA) make it more fun to pick up and play from the beginning and therefore often have a more instant appeal. That doesn't make them 'better' games, but not everyone wants to plough dozens of hours into a football game to stand a chance of being able to score a goal against their mate. Often, that's the harsh reality of a game of PES with a highly skilled friend. No beginner's luck here.

    That is all. Enjoy your future nit-picking endeavours.
    Edited by 2 at 26/10/06 @ 16:56

  • Mr_Brown #72 5 years ago

    Well so long as its about the same as the PS2 version with slightly better graphics, then I'l get the 360 version. I can't play the PS2 version in HD and that will make a difference graphically. I don't care much about online gameplay to be honest, PES is and always will be a offline multiplayer game first.

    Does anyone know how it compares to Winning Eleven 10? (360 version)

  • Martin_feltches_men #73 5 years ago

    Ah ISS how i still dream of thee. Back in the day it was all Iss Pro vs ISS 64/98. The nintendo was so much better than the then awful playstaion version. Still they existed hand in hand abeit on different consoles. Unfortunately sheer weight of numbers (i guess anyway), meant that the Pro version took over and ISS was dropped. Lets not forget that the first decent football game on the PS2 was ISS (developed by the same peeps that did the N64 version),before the first awful Pro Evo was released. A couple of games later by about pes 3 it was fianlly a good game. The point? Dont have one really just been thinking about it all with a tear in my eye....oh and that N64 pad - bliss! FIFA ?? go stick a straw up your bum and suck, its that bad

  • tiddles #74 5 years ago

    As a generally non-football-game playing gamer, I was thinking the other day how there's no football game equivalent of Virtua Tennis - incredibly simple to pick up, with great hidden depths and subtleties, combined with a graphically stunning, realistic look. If there was, I would probably buy it.

  • SomaticSense #75 5 years ago

    This is going to be the first PES game I have ever not bought. Reason being is I already have PES5 on PS2 which sounds like it plays a lot better (one of my biggest gripes in footy games is when real-life pacey players ala Henry get caught up by fucking Laurent Blanc and the problem sounds worse than ever), and the 360 version (which was the one I would've bought) is an utter piss-take which people should plain refuse to buy on principle alone.

    Hell, take away the Master League and you would be left with the fucking PSP version that you can only play at home for £50 with better graphics and less features. FUCK OFF KONAMI!

  • Omiwan #76 5 years ago

    There was Virtua Football, which my mate mercilessly beat me 17-0 at.

  • Krusty #77 5 years ago

    Damn.
    I've been sitting here all day with the 360 version in packaging on my desk itching to play, and I nip on here to see if the reviews up.

    Oh dear Konami, what have you done to it?
    Half-arsed in deed by the sounds of it.

    Hope you're gonna patch the hell out of it over Live to get it up to scratch...

    Not impressed,
    Krusty

  • Omiwan #78 5 years ago

    I just went to the Konami Forum on their web site to spew hatred, and lo and behold, it's down for an upgrade, coincidence???

  • TheGrandChappo #79 5 years ago

    If you like Pro Evo5 then you like this (360) simple as that. Got it yesterday and am very happy with it. Only ever played in a couple of stadiums in PES5 & never edited so guess im ok. Oh and the corner & throw-ins are definately improved, that was the first thing i looked for, ball physics and play are much better! Don't be swayed into buying FIFA if u like past version of PES, after playing both i though FIFA was a great improvement but PES6 is still the winner IMO :o) Happy footballing!!

  • krudster #80 5 years ago

    Tiddles, couldn't agree more. I wish developers would realise that there's a market for a realisitic looking footy game with simple controls and hidden depths. Why they feel the need to use every button on the pad to convey the range of moves is beyond me. Kick Off and Sensible did just fine with one button for heaven's sake!

  • TheGrandChappo #81 5 years ago

    "Damn.
    I've been sitting here all day with the 360 version in packaging on my desk itching to play, and I nip on here to see if the reviews up.

    Oh dear Konami, what have you done to it?
    Half-arsed in deed by the sounds of it"

    Krusty - don't worry mate - if you liked PES5, i know the lack of options is shit in PES6 360, you'll like this, enjoy playing tonight, the game play is top as usual :o)

  • nickthegun #82 5 years ago

    As a generally non-football-game playing gamer, I was thinking the other day how there's no football game equivalent of Virtua Tennis - incredibly simple to pick up, with great hidden depths and subtleties, combined with a graphically stunning, realistic look. If there was, I would probably buy it.

    I thought I was the only one, to be honest. I still think, for me, the pinnacle of the ISS games were on the SNES......they were a right old laugh.

  • jmctavish #83 5 years ago

    "Tiddles, couldn't agree more. I wish developers would realise that there's a market for a realisitic looking footy game with simple controls and hidden depths. Why they feel the need to use every button on the pad to convey the range of moves is beyond me. Kick Off and Sensible did just fine with one button for heaven's sake!"

    ISS on the Playstation was like that. It's probably my favourite Konami football game. For me, they got gradually worse after ISS2.

  • Clive_Dunn #84 5 years ago

    Hmmm, I would put serious money on FIFA getting an 8 as well tomorrow morning.

    If FIFA online is done properly ( and Madden online sucks donkey balls with lag so I'm not hopeful ) then I'm going FIFA this year. I really can't be bothered with bad network code again - it's so 1999.

  • krudster #85 5 years ago

    It's semantics, really. Plenty of games have flaws which you learn to live with and accept, and sometimes it frustrates me that "crippling" flaws like the heinous presentation, lack of licensing and some of the more questionable design decisions (like making it a lottery whether shots or headers are on target) are overlooked. I still, honestly, think PES would be a better game if it was a mite more accessible from the start. I know not everyone agrees, but hey.

    Also, MMUK, I'm strictly speaking, applying the "newcomers can't enjoy it against the experienced players argument" to football games. Of course it doesn't apply to other genres. I don't mind being pulled up on contentious points, but sometimes the way you phrase your comments both here and in the forum makes you sound like you have some weird personal grudge. Have we met in real life? Did I steal your girlfriend once :)

    Edited by 2 at 26/10/06 @ 17:38

  • weaselrat #86 5 years ago

    It's true, I have this and although FIFA is better graphics wise, this still plays soooooooo smooth and still has those magic moments that fifa just can't touch. It's still worth buying I guarantee you won't go back. It has lots of good toches and more pro's than cons. Still does fifa with a big baseball bat.
    I sent fifa back today once I played a few games on this!!!!!!
    I'm sure they will sort the lag out and you won't enjoy a better footie game with your mates. I put 4 to the test and they all agreed!
    STILL NUMBER 1 BUT PLEASE KONAMI IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION AND GRAPHICS. ANIMATION STILL TOP OVERALL
    Edited by 2 at 26/10/06 @ 17:39

  • Arwin #87 5 years ago

    They should have given the two versions different scores, I think. Obviously the 360 deserves a point less than the PS2 version. Shame on Konami!

  • greenfeld69 #88 5 years ago

    I can never find a bloody game on Live, it's a joke! Maybe my connection is crap or something!?

  • Steroyd #89 5 years ago

    This opens the possibility that game publishers could charge their own fees for playing games, which is indeed likely to be the case for titles such as massively multiplayer games"

    Publishers could have charged game by game fees on the PS2... but they didn't.

    Skimmed the review seems Konami did a piss poor job as a next gen Pro Evo but sufficient enough to pass as a Current gen title ala PS2, I wonder if Konami is going to ask for a full whack price or that comparable of PS2 prices, because the Xbox 360 all year has been dragged down by the still running amock PS2.

    Sony keeping the PS2 alive is killing the Xbox 360. \O/

  • smelly #90 5 years ago

    So not as good as sensible soccer then?

  • CrunchinJelly #91 5 years ago

    The game is fantastic, but as a 360 game, the graphics are disgusting.

    It's like they've just got the PS2 version and whacked it into 1280x720.

  • 8bitMofo #92 5 years ago

    pretty much what I expected to hear.

  • greenfeld69 #93 5 years ago

    God, this game is annoying the hell out of me. It crashes sometimes when trying to connect (intermittently when you get 'failed to connect).

    Very disappointed.

  • Steroyd #94 5 years ago

    definately can't wait for the fifa review now. :)

  • CasperCCC #95 5 years ago

    ...because I agree that the game has now reached the stage where it is completely impenetrable to new players.

    This is my problem. I want to buy a football game, and I really, really want to buy Pro Evo, because I know it's the game that all the cool kids are playing, and EA are, like, Corporate Whores and Destroying The Very Fabric of Existence. But I tend to find Pro Evo really unsatisfying. I just don't have the hours to put in to get the most of it. And that's as someone who puts a fair bit of time into games. I have a feeling that the time I'd have to spend to get the most out of it and to get to an even vaguely competitive standard is closer to months than weeks. And that's a lot of time spent playing something that I'm not hugely enjoying.

    It seems to me to be a bit like learning Spanish, just so I can read Don Quixote in its original language. I'm sure it's a bloody great book, but the amount of time I'd have to spend just to be in a position where I could start to understand what's going on is so long as to make it a waste of time.

    Seems like most of the Pro Evo fans here have been playing the series so long that you are (to stretch my metaphor to breaking point) already Spanish speakers. Sure, it takes some work to adjust to reading a 400 year-old dialect, but it's not a deal breaker.

    So my dilemma - Pro Evo or FIFA? Spend months learning Spanish, probably to give up a few weeks because it's too difficult, or just forget about reading Don Quixote in the original language and go for the more accessible translation, even if it misses out most of the subtleties...

    Sorry. Have just realised I'm talking crap. But will someone please tell me what to do?

  • Feanor #96 5 years ago

    "(like making it a lottery whether shots or headers are on target)"

    The chance of this actually being true = 3%.

  • kiroquai #97 5 years ago

    CasperCCC:

    It's not just Pro Evo 'newbs' the series is beginning to exclude. Heck, I bought and played Pro Evo 1 and 2 to death. Spent ages with them. I then got a 60-hour working week and obviously couldn't spend nearly the same (if any at all) time playing the games. I never bought numbers 3 and 4, but I bought 5 and found it frustratingly niggly. No longer could I score on anything above 3 star level. No longer could I even build decent amounts of possession. I bought the Piggyback guide and had a flick through. I came to realise that, given my working schedule, I would never have enough time to become competent at Pro Evo, let alone good.

    I love football though. I want to play football games. I enjoy making Dirk Kuyt the greatest striker in the Premiership. I find sending a 30-yard Gerrard curler past Petr Cech fantastically stress-busting. Many people are the same. We want a game we can pick up and find challenging, but not to the point where we have to pinpoint a sequence of button pushes and directions to even get close to scoring.

    The presentation of Pro Evo 6 is what gets me the most, really. Here's a game that's been in development for what must be a year now, yet they have kept the same commentary, the same basic and awkward presentation and the same 'music' from the previous edition. They still refuse to even try to get some proper licenses, and now on the 360 they have taken away our option of even editing things so we can have at least half a sense of authenticity. They can hardly claim poverty as the review says, so you have to assume that it's just outright laziness on the development team's part. The fact that they can sit back and rely on their rather rabid, die-hard fanbase to fill their pockets whatever they decide to put on the shelves. As someone said earlier, the 'I'll buy it anyway' brigade are continuing the slide downwards.

    EA have questionable ethics perhaps, but on this basis I wouldn't put Konami too many steps ahead. Having to pay Xbox Live points to aquire stadiums? Okay, but how about putting more than just two in the actual main game, i.e. the thing we've just paid £40 - £50 for in the first place. How about actually rewarding our custom with a proper menu system? A better, more involved Master League? A few licenses so we can have the illusion of reality? An online gaming system which actually works properly? Etc, etc etc. I certainly don't hold Konami in any higher regard than I do EA these days, particularly with the latter seemingly actually attempting to do new things and present their game properly.

    One thing - I am slightly disappointed that the 360 version seems to have been able to duck behind the 8 given - on majority - for the PS2 version. The more sites that actually come out and review Pro Evo 6 for the lazy, half-finished job it seems the better. Developers shouldn't be given places to hide for releasing things like the 360 version of Pro Evo 6. EA weren't allowed that place to hide last year when their 360 sports range came out and were devoid of 50%+ of their features. I don't see why Konami should fare any better.

  • DCrider360 #98 5 years ago

    i reckon KONAMI have held back their "next-gen" pro evo for the ps3!!!!!

    BUGGERS!!!!!!!!!

  • dredd97 #99 5 years ago

    Dcrider360

    it was always a given that was the case...sony love konami because their games sell playstations...

    just like microsoft love capcom because their games are selling 360's...

  • The-Bodybuilder #100 5 years ago

    This was gonna be THE game to sell the 360 to all my friends (only 3 have'em so far, and I want actual REAL friends on LIVE).
    Alas, I'm going to have to skip this. I just haven't got the time to invest in this year's worth (too much uni work).
    This was the game to show to people "This is what the next gen can do. This is real football". Instead I see a butchered ps2 game (an even worse butchering than they did for pro evo 4 on the xbox), for £10 more? SUCK OUT.

    No football games for me. Gonna have to stick to FIFA:RTTWC and fight night for my sporting fix. :-(
    /plans to buy SC:DA tomorrow.

  • trudgian #101 5 years ago

    I got my copy of PES6 for the 360 today and I have to say it is an immense dissapointment. It feels like a four year old game and lacks the smooth feel of FIFA07.

    The only reason I chose it over FIFA was that I loved PES4 and 5 and was confident that #6 on the 360 would be a big step forward for the series. Sadly not, the game is pretty much identical to 4 and 5 and the poor animation and shoddy presentation are a lot more visible in HD.

    The gameplay itself feels tired and old when I compare it to FIFA07 on 360, It plays very slowly and short passing in particular becomes irritating as 90% seem to be underhit with the recieving player standing still rather than coming to meet the ball.

    PES6 is very much a last/current gen game, it looks old feels old and features none of the exciting new things that make FIFA07 stand out on the 360. Hopefuly PES7 will be a real next gen game, but until then, for me, FIFA is very much the king on 360.

  • Martin_feltches_men #102 5 years ago

    Its all about enjoying the gaming experience...We are all here becuase we loove football - soccer pah! Thus as much as we are all dissapointed it would seem with pes6, there must be an older revision that we love in order to be able to curse the things that we dont like; or indeed lament the things that we dreamed of but didnt make it to the new game. That makes me think..what version does everyone love best? Just because its new doesnt mean its better... evolution is sometimes devolution. i have a mate that we call De-even-lution Dave becuase he only like pro evo 2 and then 4. As previously said i still really like ISS! Whats everyones opinions?
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 22:45

  • Ace_McCloud #103 5 years ago

    Konami are such pricks. For me they're just a step behind Sony in the arrogance stakes. In fact strike that, they're a step in front, on their knees sucking Sony's cock.

    I can't believe they NEVER give the fans that graphical overhaul that we all wanna see. This year they have no excuse; instead of sorting out the graphics and impressing us all on 360, they've done the opposite and made microsoft look like mugs. This fucking Japanese allegiance bollocks that Jap developers seems to have pisses me off. I'm going over there next year, and when I do I'm gonna bust some heads! You mark my words! MARK MY WORDS!

  • dsmx #104 5 years ago

    Personaly I'm waiting for a football game where the AI wins with skill rather than cheating by making their players untacklable, forcing your players out of position and so they can't hit the broadside of a barn when shooting.

    This isn't it sadly.

  • Rash' #105 5 years ago

    I have one thing to say to those Microsoft execs: ha, ha, ha! Take you're exclusive and shove it! I've not been convinced by the 360 and Konomi have given me another reason not bother myself with it. Ha, ha! The 360 version sounds positively embarrassing! Sorry. Fanboyish I know. But I've had a long day and I want a bit of fun.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 22:41

  • PatrickEwing #106 5 years ago

    jesus, this sounds like a pile of poo, PES4 was brilliant, PES5 midfield pinball and this sounds even worse.

    think I may be getting the first Fifa since 2000.

    PS - @dsmx - I know exactly where you're coming from on that point.
    Edited by 1 at 26/10/06 @ 22:42

  • dsmx #107 5 years ago

    It's nice to know I'm not alone in my opinion on the AI in this game.

    Remember the 2007 version will be the real next gen version...

  • ScottyXTUK #108 5 years ago

    I'm in agreement with a few here. Although it IS PES, the game we all know and love, there is a distinct bad taste left in my mouth after playing this. The gameplay is great yes, there's no doubt about that but it's just the same old PEs that I've been playing for the last couple of years.

    In fact for all the "improvements" in this year's game what we lose in the 360 version is a disgrace. OK so they might not be major issues but the lack of a save facility on replays is unbelievable. Add to that the fact that you cannot edit team names and I feel a bit ripped off. Even worse, there's less teams and the graphics are nothing special, even no better than PES 5 on the PC last year. Yes graphics aren't everything but this game is on a next gen console and I expect more....much more.

    I should have bought this on PC, I bet you can edit stuff on that and save replays and it will look just the same. To spend 40 quid on this and feel so non plussed makes me feel a little angry. Why did no one who played the preview versions on the 360 not mention the stuff that's missing? I noticed them within 5 minutes of playing as they are so glaring, as did many people here. There's no excuse Konami, the 360 version is just plain shoddy and a big let down, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

    After all these years of playing football games, there still has never been a truly great game on any system that truly has all the features, licences, gameplay, graphics, depth and truly captures the feeling of the great game. Heck even games like Sensible Soccer and Kick Off on the Amiga were as close to perfection back then as you could get and they had a lot more depth than any current gen games.

    Ah well, I will still play it but it's not the step forward I was hoping for.
    Edited by 3 at 27/10/06 @ 01:51

  • Harmonica #109 5 years ago

    You should have written separate reviews. Frankly it was hardly likely Konami were going to pull a complete sea-change and do a blinder for MS. It's not surprising they've pissed out the 360 version.

    As usual the only version that really matters is the next PS2 version, and I would have prefered two pages talking about the changes from Pro Evo 5, which is all that any true Pro Evo obsessive cares about.

    Who has played the PS2 version and can touch on things like goalies, refs, cards, corners/throw-ins and general AI improvements (or lack of?)?

  • Furbs #110 5 years ago

    Just read the review and from what I've experienced so far, I couldnt agree more with both of them, especially Kristans. Excellent review allround. To an extent I also agree with ManicMiner - its somewhat hard to mark PES nowadays as people are so rabid in liking it they seem to be pretty happy with the status quo being maintained, mainly because its such a decent game there in the first place, the gameplay itself does only need minor tweaking.

    I can also see the point about it being inpenetrable for newcomers, but at the same time, it adds an element of realism in that if you are playing someone good, you can/have to do what a smaller club has to do against better opposition: concentrate on keeping tight, maybe play a more defensive formation. I've never really got into the PES games, I prefer the immediacy of FIFA, but generally if you watch alot of football, you can see where you're going to get caught out and so account for it simply by reading the game.

    I've picked up both 360 football games, and from a brief play, as I have done in previous years will enjoy both, but PES as always is no "pick up and play" game. I'm really interested in seeing the FIFA review now though as from what I've seen so far, it has just as much going for it, and as many flaws as PES. Based on Krudsters comments here I wouldnt be surprised to see him score it higher (not Tom though if they do another split review!). That'll put the cat among the pigeons. Could be an interesting day :)

  • Feanor #111 5 years ago

    "Who has played the PS2 version and can touch on things like goalies, refs, cards, corners/throw-ins and general AI improvements (or lack of?)?"

    Try the forums at http://www.pesfan.com for that kind of in-depth stuff. :) I totally agree that they should have had two separate reviews. The differences between the PS2 and 360 versions sound pretty significant and talking about them both at once isn't very helpful.

  • Talha #112 5 years ago

    "Having raked in the profits from selling literally tens of millions of copies of the various PES games over the years, it's absolutely mystifying why Konami still brings its most important game to market with such a degree of unapologetic poverty"

    Wow. I just have to admire this sentence - it is what Eurogamer is about. The rest of the review is superb, too. ALthough it still did not help me in the buy/not buy decision.

    That said, where's the FIFA review? it has been AGES.

  • Inflatable #113 5 years ago

    It's clear to me I won't be getting either FIFA07 or PES6 this year.. Both games for the Xbox 360 have way to little content and options compared to the current-gen versions.. I don't accept the excuse both developers make that it's so much more work to create a next-gen version that they have to leave so much content and options out, it's BS!!

    I'll just wait till next year when they probably release next-gen only versions that do have all the content and options again.. All of a sudden it's not so much work anymore then, geez how strange (/sarcasm)..

  • foglord #114 5 years ago

    unsurprising, to say the least.

    99% of the game's fanbase owns a PS2 and will buy the cheaper PS2 version. why bother waisting money and resources on the 360 version, when only a fraction will buy it?
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/06 @ 05:54

  • Zuiyo #115 5 years ago

    I'm partially with Foglord here. So +1, almost.

    If I was Konami, I would concentrate on the PlayStation 2, of course, and the 360 version would be almost an afterthought. The difference in sales forecast alone half justifies it. Some would say in this context that Konami has milked the cow - or looking at it from the other end, has responded to its contractual obligations. However, you don't need programming magicians to come up with new elements such as licenses or audio commentaries. In all, Konami should have polished the next generation version a little bit the level of what 360 users will get.

    I think in the future we will come to see Pro Evo 6 as a transition title, natively designed for the previous gen. Pro Evo 7 will probably be created almost from scratch for PS3 and 360. Things should end up being very differently.

  • lennon #116 5 years ago

    Played it all day yesterday on the 360 and I am a little bemused by the 360 version comments. Its better than Pro Evo 5 although getting an online game is difficult. I guess that may improve with more people online.

    How many people bother to change all the team names? (I think I did once in PES3 but never since) How many people go more than 5 minutes before turning the commentary off (Bonus of the 360 version is you can listen to your own music while playing)? Can you even see the staduims once the game starts? Is this any different from previous years?

    Are these all not just a little bit insignificant compared to the actual gameplay which still delivers in the same way. Yeah its frustrating as hell at times but nothing beats the satisfaction of beating your mate 1-0 with a shot that rebounds off the post and hits the keeper in the back of the head and goes in.

    Personally I think Konami should take a break for a year to seriously improve the game generally rather than fall into the EA trap of a game a year but I guess that is unlikely to happen.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/06 @ 09:19

  • lotteryman82 #117 5 years ago

    let take a different approach :

    why blame Konami they were paid to do it and did it because a MS wanted to steal some thunder out of the PS2 version and expand user base over sony coz many would find a reason to buy a new first time next gen pro only on 360.
    MS got obsessed with the idea forgetting that the game was developed for so many years on playstations and only a couple on xbox engines plus that there is no time to make a true next gen in a blink of an eye and wanted just to cash in the name...Konami had little time and did what she could in the given time MS wanted
    konami got paid to do it and had no reason not to do so.
    people know what PES is and know what to expect from Konami its not konami fault if there was shitloads of cash for the taking by MS even if they compromised the result its still a business and they are not stupid to deny "exclusivity funds"

    i m off to buy my ps2 version of the game and keep my comments of anger in case Konami does this twice which will be more or less inexcusable next time around.

  • xs1ghtuk #118 5 years ago

    How many people have actually played the game here? lol Demos.. pfft. Whoever has based their opinion on not buying the game because of a review which infact did still get 8/10, despite the slamming of the game, deserves a slap tbh. Had this game two days, started master league (henry is the best in the game imo) and enjoyed every bit of it. You can score amazing goals through pure passing football and the gameplay is still second to none. Fifa 07 for xbox 360 is nothing compared to this game. If a defender has caught up with you from miles away then you're just running in a straight line. Great game, 9/10!
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/06 @ 10:35

  • jimbob101 #119 5 years ago

    "Tom - You do know you now have to sprint by double tapping the way you're facing"

    It's like Double Dragon again! What's wrong with the analogue stick?


    Does it automatically set the goalkeeper as the taker of free kicks in his quater of the pitch? It seems such a small change that would make football games more realistic. It looks silly when a mildfielder takes freekicks in their own six yard box.

  • Eighthours #120 5 years ago

    FIFA review still due this morning, chaps?

  • sajtion #121 5 years ago

    why give it score 8. it sounds more like 6/10

  • lotteryman82 #122 5 years ago

    even sillier sometimes when you see a free kick being given 40+m away
    and still there are 3players forming a wall.... reducing you defence power once opposition hits the x button

  • Turrican #123 5 years ago

    Thats my PE6 purchase out the window. The new console is supposed to be next-gen not half-gen!

    Suspect Fifa 07 will get a similar score because its been equally cut down for 360, I would think it is more accessible to play though so Eurogamer will pitch them as equals. Hope the review comes before lunchtime so I can decide whether to pick it up in Tescos!

  • sonmi451 #124 5 years ago

    i've been contemplating buying a new PES for a while now, but i think i'll stick with PES 3 still.

  • bavelb #125 5 years ago

    I already found PES5 a borefest.

    PES 4 was fantastic, and then PES 5 happened and I got 0-0 in my first 10 matches. Seems this builds further on that.

    On top of that at least on my PS2 I could get option files to sort out the licensing crap, but on 360 you can't edit your teamnames anymore? Bright move... makes even Master League uninteresting.

  • Steroyd #126 5 years ago

    Best footy game hands down... on the PS2...

  • urban #127 5 years ago

    oh man that tickles my ribs ..8 stadiums.

  • KennySim #128 5 years ago

    Fuck off with your Liverpool references. Just FUCK OFF.

  • greenfeld69 #129 5 years ago

    Jesus, Kennysim, have you just walked through a storm?

  • xs1ghtuk #130 5 years ago

    can anyone seem to get a game online btw? I've tried ranked and quick game. But still nothing :/. I think the games ace btw, loved pes and always will.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/06 @ 16:42

  • ConsoleJunkie #131 5 years ago

    I've been playing PES/IIS for years, loved PES 1-4 but for some reason never got on with PES5. PES6 for my 360 came in the post today and I've been playing it tonight. After a few 1-0 matches it's all suddenly clicked. Just had a great match against the computer, playing as Arsenal I beat Man Utd 5-4 on the standard difficulty level.

    Scoring from crosses, corners, freeekicks and just outside the area seem much easier. It's gets frustrating sometimes when you're in the box and you sky the ball over the bar but that's because you have 4 defenders pressuring you on the ball which I guess is the same as real life.

    Ok, so the presentation could be better, there could be more stadiums (but not that you notice when you're actually playing), and it would be nice to change the team names but once you click with this game you won't look back.

    Winning the ball with a sliding tackle in your own half then one two-ing the ball through midfield and then going on a jinking run with Henry to score with a 30yrd screamer will put a smile on your face. It did on mine anyway. It's just a shame I couldn't save the goal!
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/06 @ 22:56

  • xs1ghtuk #132 5 years ago

    Anyone played online yet? :/ Still can't get a game. But i found out that playing vs regular AI is harder than top class :/. For e.g. I started master league with Arsenal on regular, won 8 drew 1. Then started another master league with chelsea and won my opening four games by more than one goal margins. Maybe Arsenal are just not as effective or it's easier to play better football against top class. But the games kicks ass! :D Just need to sort out online :/ Chelsea's my team anyway! :D

  • Pachinko #133 5 years ago

    Note that play-wise, the PES6 on the PS2/PC is very different from the PES6 for Xbox 360.

  • miiiguel #134 5 years ago

    " Note that play-wise, the PES6 on the PS2/PC is very different from the PES6 for Xbox 360."

    How man ? It has the same gameplay code, it only differs graphic-wise, and even in this field I'm almost sure they just increased it to HD.
    I guess your opinion enters the esoteric field...
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/06 @ 18:54

  • miiiguel #135 5 years ago

    I can't imagine how you guys keep using that piece of old plastic..., named PS2..., damn you're old...

  • Lex_Luthor #136 5 years ago

    "I can't imagine how you guys keep using that piece of old plastic..., named PS2...,"

    They plug it in and turn it on, that's how.

  • OhWiseOne #137 5 years ago

    Firstly, Kristan doesn't like the game, he's a bitter nastly pice of Shizer and as usual, he loves giving games a kick in just to be contentious.

    Secondly, he is totally and utterly wrong, I have played both versions, the 360 version is so much better than the PS2, it may have more features, but all I care about is gameplay- don't even notice the stadium, never play anything other than 1 on 1 especially online. And IF you can get a PS2 online (which I doubt he did), and then find a match you will be lucky...

    Thirdly, check his Gamertag out and check how much of the game he actually played - says it all really.

    Kristan, stop being such a idiot and actually play the games you review, you've been doing it long enough, surely you must know that by now.

    The headline is so misleading, you really are an old hack aren't you...crap journalism. Simple as that.

  • old_skool #138 5 years ago

    So its the PC version to buy since that'll have the content and options of the PS2 version and the graphics of the 360...PC for teh win ?? :-/

  • old_skool #139 5 years ago

    I think it's unfair to say PES is not for newcomers , heck the game does come with a tutorial on how to pass , how to keep possesion , how to shoot etc . And if you're really that rubbish , just put the difficulty on 1 star .

  • LoftusRoadRunner #140 5 years ago

    You know what I agree (see below) - though still think FIFA's also good. Spot on mate...spot on. What is it with everyone whingeing about two great footie games on the 360? Every forum I look at...

    Damn people unless I'm seriously wrong two of the best if not the best footie games on a computer were released yesterday.

    "Firstly, Kristan doesn't like the game, he's a bitter nastly pice of Shizer and as usual, he loves giving games a kick in just to be contentious.

    Secondly, he is totally and utterly wrong, I have played both versions, the 360 version is so much better than the PS2, it may have more features, but all I care about is gameplay- don't even notice the stadium, never play anything other than 1 on 1 especially online. And IF you can get a PS2 online (which I doubt he did), and then find a match you will be lucky...

    Thirdly, check his Gamertag out and check how much of the game he actually played - says it all really.

    Kristan, stop being such a idiot and actually play the games you review, you've been doing it long enough, surely you must know that by now.

    The headline is so misleading, you really are an old hack aren't you...crap journalism. Simple as that."

  • KONAMIareLAZY #141 5 years ago

    Dear Eurogamer,

    I fail to see how you can give a game that has actually DE-EVOLVED an 8.

    I'm not talking about the 360 version here, that version is a joke, I'm talking about the PS2 version which has always been the flagship for the series and the only one Konami cares about. (Because Playstation is Japanese owned see)

    Let's look at some facts:

    - PES6 drops an entire LEAGUE from the game, while FIFA07 acquires an exclusive licence with a new league (Mexican League) while still having the fully licensed league Konami was forced to drop. (German Bundesliga)

    - Konami release Other Teams C in lieu of the German League, and expect their fanbase to edit the game manually, while REMOVING the ability to create color logos (sponsors) in game.

    - Konami have made no changes to the Master League apart from a small tweak in Transfer Frequency, while the FIFA fan can simulate the real life draw of the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Cup, the PES fan cannot as with only 4 leagues, smaller teams like Celtic, Steua Bucharest, etc NEVER qualify because the big clubs who must share a league with them continually take their spots.

    - At one point, a PSP shot indicated that Konami were going to bring back an 8 team Division 3 to be re-instated into the Master League, but they obviously scraped that idea. With so many English fans and French fans - who cares about the Championship or Ligue 2 right?

    - Konami has the licence to Spains Segunda Division, Italy's Serie B, the Dutch second division, and Ligue 2, but they don't use them because they are too LAZY to code the game to include an adequate second division.

    Honestly, since PES4 what improvements have taken place over the last 3 years?

    - Tweaks in Gamplay
    - Acquisition of French licence.
    - Loss of German licence.

    How can a game with EVOLUTION in it's name, do LESS than the BARE MINIMUM and still recieve an 8 out of 10, while EA SPORTS has recoded their game yet again, and acquired another licence?

    I know you guys are avid Pro Evo fans like I am, but your 8 out of 10 says two things:

    Firstly to the world it says your ratings are inconsistent and bias, it means you'll use your discretion to give some games a 'pass' when they don't deserve it purely because they have a special place in your heart.

    But that doesn't concern me, what concerns me is the second point ...

    Secondly, Konami don't listen to their fans, they listen to sales and reviews.

    The sales are going to be good for the PES series again this year, despite the odd person here or there thinking that abstaining from purchase will hurt Konami - it won't.

    If Konami see reviewers give their lazy efforts an 8 out of 10 (A Distinction at University BTW) they see NOTHING wrong with their Modus Operandi, and what they are doing to their fan base with minimal improvements to some areas, losses at others, and a general static approach to the supposed 'Evolution' of the series.

    The onus is on YOU as reviewers to keep the games companies pushing forward. YOU influence opinion, YOU can be the difference between many people buying a game or abstaining from it.

    You can't say the game is half-finished or the company funnels away its many profits without giving back to its fans and still REWARD that company with such a stellar rating.

    Konami will hear what it wants to hear, the sales are pleasant to their ears and so are reviews such as yours.

    There's an old adage that for evil to triumph, good people must do nothing. Obviously it would be a tad melodramatic to imply Konami are evil, but the principle applies, if YOU want an EVOLUTION, you CANNOT sit back and do nothing but applaud this company for their MEDIOCRE efforts.

    YOU are our voice (the fans), and you also have a tremendous power and respect in the gaming world, USE IT, be critical about the game, the game deserves a 6/10 and no more for the little updates and general malaise of the series.

    If you want Pro Evo 7 to have a better Master League, more licences etc, you're going the wrong way about it.

    Sincerely,
    KaL.

  • gaposto #142 5 years ago

    The 360 version is a complete disgrace. Playing Iss and then proEvo since its release aeons ago and i feel cheated. Konami should recall the game and refund the gamers or exchange it with the complete version if it really exists. Fo the first time i may go and trade it with FIFA. So sorry but i may do it. At least EA seem to improve while Konami is deteriorating.

  • fizzer25 #143 5 years ago

    have to say im a little disappointed with the extras for ps2 but really doesn't matter too much as long as the gameplay is good and i have to say so far iam happy with the way it plays all of the annoying things from pes5 have disappearted especially the too strict ref!!

    gameplay is good not too easy on regular yet to try the hardest but yeah i won't be swapping to the dark side that is fifa any time soon!

    whats up with xbox live though i have tried to get matches and so far havent not too happy with this it should work from the box without having to get patches as it appears lots of people are having this problem!!!!!

  • SteveB #144 5 years ago

    I've put in a good 10 hours play now on the PS2 and I have to say it's a vast improvement over PES5 (which I really liked). Main pluses so far are :

    - players not on rails (very rarely have to use super cancel)
    - long passes actualy work
    - throughballs a lot better (not so much pace)
    - You can actually accelerate away from slow players
    - better at defending corners
    - referee's are excellent
    - strikers less inclined to move offside all the time
    - passes less likely to get intercepted
    - can counter attack quickly from opposition corners/freekicks like the old games

    Basically it flows so much better and I feel less restricted to what I can do, unlike in PES5 when the same passes went astray etc.

    For those of you having trouble with shooting, I think it depend on factors like how close a defender is, if you have your back to goal, the happiness rating of your player. I played Argentina as Brazil with all players on red arrows in a 20min game and beat them 9-1 on regular difficulty level, so it is possible to bang in a brace !!

  • Bluetooth #145 5 years ago

    It's obvious what's happened. Konami are pissed off with Microsoft's "we have both footy titles for a year EXCLUSIVE!!!!11" announcement. However, instead of playing their hand and deciding to wait for the PS3 before releasing all versions simultaneously, they purposely crippled the 360 version as a kind of kick in the face to MS, like a "Don't bullshit or we'll do this" warning. This way, they won't lose an entire format's sales, and the informed would just got for the PS2 version.

    That, and some national pride towards their home console that have supported them for the past decade and beyond. Unlucky Microsoft.
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/06 @ 00:22

  • miiiguel #146 5 years ago

    OhWiseOne: spot on, when I saw his GamerTag he didn't even had the "10 online games" Achievement. Damn, I thought "fanboysm" was a teenager thing...

    BlueTooth: Let's make a Live game, maybe you change your mind. Send your GamerTag.
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/06 @ 14:48

  • OhWiseOne #147 5 years ago

    8/10 these guys are idiots.

    Played it to death, fantastic, absolutely magnificent on the 360, looks like an 8-bit conversion on PS2. I see Official gave it an 8 too, then gave Football Manager a 9.

    What has the world come to?

  • OhWiseOne #148 5 years ago

    OhWiseOne: spot on, when I saw his GamerTag he didn't even had the "10 online games" Achievement. Damn, I thought "fanboysm" was a teenager thing...

    Not the first time he's reviewed a game without playing it. Shame on you Kristan.