PES on Nintendo’s Wii has always proven to be a safe-haven for frustrated fans not quite won over by the franchises outings on Microsoft’s and Sony’s more powerful platforms. PES2010 apart, where the Wii version of the game suffered from the same poor goalkeepers that seemed to blight every ”new” version of the game that year (PS2 apart), it has always satisfied it’s small but committed user base and hasn’t been short of innovation or introducing new assets on top of the PS2 based engine that goes beyond merely implementing motion controls.

This year Konami have maintained their consistent performance record on the Nintendo system though it is minus some of the innovation apparent in previous offerings. When you consider a number of factors – the size of the team working on the Wii game, the limitations of the technology and most of all the stability of its predecessor PES2011 – sweeping changes are perhaps not the requirement they are for other versions and mere fine tuning of what was already in place is the best policy. Nintendo’s multi-million selling console is not what it once was in terms of desirability or software support thus the safe option makes perfect sense for PES2012 on Wii for developer, publisher and consumers; especially when you consider the game retails for less than £20 in most places from release date. That said, it would have been nice to see some new additions in terms of options and game modes but these have been subject to very little or no work at all bar kits and updated rosters, with a downloadable squad update available upon the games release that fills in the blanks left by the game as shipped. Yes, the visuals have been cleaned up that little bit more as they have been with every release but otherwise not a great deal has changed and this includes the ‘’own goal’’ of having Edit Data housed in the same single file as all other game data and with this being a title that can be played online, it means the save file is locked to the console as per Nintendo’s insistence, ergo no community Option File sharing support. Truly bewildering.

So everything is pretty much as is from PES2011 and while that could initially appear quite off putting, it is worth taking into account the wealth of content on offer. PES on Wii in the last couple of years has proven to be a very complete package that makes use of the licenses/team roster available to Konami as best possible (the Champions League and Copa Libertadores return) as well as offering up a pleasing variety of offline game modes which include Master League and the Wii exclusive Champions Road (A mode crying out to be realised in some form across all platforms and even taken online) and Mii My Team modes. Lest we forget, that with this being a Wii game then motion control (Playmaker Style as it is referred to) also features along with the tried and trusted (and chosen method of control for this review) Classic Controller style of play, which results in there being two very distinct ways to play which both come with their own strengths and weaknesses; something the big boys version of the game on PS3/360/PC is without and while motion control is not the most desirable of features to many hardcore gamers, it works very well indeed in PES and offers arguably greater tactical freedom to the player. What the game lacks in tech on Nintendo’s aging platform it makes up for in flexibility and options. A vastly underrated asset.

It’s all about the gameplay then if the game is not going to amaze on the technical front but that is not to say that the overall fluidity of the game doesn’t still impress in its own right. Stability is the key word here and where PES (and FIFA to be fair) on other platforms can throw up some animation/engine quirks, what we find in the Wii version is a semi-HD polished PS2 engine that is largely rock solid and knows its limitations. Of course, the game does not have AI smarts of PES2012 or the physics driven animation and collision systems found in FIFA on more powerful hardware but it is sure footed and confident in its performance. Somewhat amazingly, in spite of the limitations apparent due to the engine and the hardware, PES2012 on Wii has the best implementation of 360 dribbling to be found in any football game out there. Where PES on PS3 might be more subtle and on a knife edge regards dribbling, here it has that sense of inertia to movement and quick direction changes that feel a little too understated on other platforms. Where FIFA might have more animation and sense of freedom in movement, here it possesses layers of individuality that EA’s game wish it could achieve when a player is in possession. It really is quite a triumph all things considered and makes playing the game all the more pleasurable not to mention crammed full of character.

Konami have succeeded in giving the series a great final run out on the Wii, should this prove to be the case. On the surface it all screams PES2011 for those first tentative passages of play before the little key adjustments and fine tuning administered by the development team become apparent. First off, the game is far more tight and congested compared to last year’s somewhat overly expansive stylings. What this does is give the illusion of a faster game initially, as players pressure the ball carrier more purposefully but you soon find your feet and realise that patience and composure remain key and that a great variance in speed and pattern of play is as present as it has always been in classic mould PES. Passing, while not adopting a manual placement and power model, still has a great sense of freedom and satisfaction with player attributes always impacting on quality of execution and while the AI might not have the smarts of it’s big brother, it has improved from what has come before which balances things nicely when faced with the greater degree of pressure apparent and makes the passing game all the more natural as a result.

In a recent WENB podcast we discussed a desire to see PES get some of it’s ‘’extremes’’ back in place for future editions and it manifests itself in abundance in this Wii version in most disciplines. Even in the now considered simplistic defensive control do these extremes manifest. In PES and FIFA on current-gen hardware both developers seem to be in a transitional phase in trying to re-imagine the art of defence with both producing mixed results. A few games in with this latest Wii offering would have you believe that there is no reason for either developer to do so and that balance and most of all, player individuality, in defence is where the answer truly lies. This not to say defending in PES2012 on Wii is perfection but it is better realised thanks to said balance and player individuality on show – you feel as though you have greater control, have more of a say and that the world’s best defenders are as solid and reliable as they should be. Food for thought.

Shooting is where things are a little less refined however, and the extremes that surface are less welcome. As far as physics, individuality, preferred foot and yes, even placement goes, things are pretty much as they should be within the confines of the match engine and scoring a goal is as satisfying as it ever has been in a classic PES offering. The problem lies in the almost ‘’light switch logic’’ that pressure upon the player shaping to shoot has on execution and accuracy. Too often efforts balloon skywards just because an opposition player is merely in close proximity, never mind physically engaging the player setting up the strike. This is something which should exist in a football videogame as it does happen in the sport in real life but not in the on/off fashion that is apparent here. What makes it more frustrating is how balanced everything else in the match experience is and how statistical influence and player attributes course through everything else in the game. It’s difficult to say whether this is a design choice or a quirk of the live player energy system or limited collision physics realised but whatever the reasoning it does remove some of the sensation of class and composure that should be apparent in some players when they are under pressure and looking to stick it in the back of the net. Not a game-breaker, miles from it in actual fact, just a bit too sensitive for its own good and is out of place with the consistency found elsewhere.

Finally on the gameplay front we have the keepers which in recent PES history have been the focus of much concern and served on some occasions to make or break the game; very frustrating for PES players everywhere, not that they need reminding. Well, they are frustrating here as well but for the right reasons! They are superb for the most part and add further to the gameplay experience overall. One handed super-human goal saving tips past goal to safety, contextually correct movements and positioning, double and even triple saves to deny from close range are all present and correct; none of the awkwardness of the current-gen versions admittedly improved post patch keepers to be found here, or at least not as regularly. It makes you wonder if the teams responsible for each version share their knowledge and findings and if in fact the recipe for well realised keepers are only an office partition away for the lead platform development team! Yes, the keepers are frustrating for that reason too but that is for another discussion.

So, all things considered PES2012 on Wii is surely the best PES available this year and maybe even the best footy game of the year, period. If only it was that straight forward. The 2012 edition of the franchise on Nintendo’s aging system is indeed a joy to play and bests the 2009 offering on the same platform pretty conclusively(that is a huge compliment) and thus is perhaps one of the best ‘’classic’’ PES’ produced, make no mistake. The simple fact is that for all the peccadilloes that exist in current-gen PES2012 and EA’s FIFA12, they are bringing new ideas and advancements to the genre which make it hard to shake off that gnawing feeling that in spite of PES2012 on Wii playing a great game of football in its own right, it serves more as a document of how good things used to be and for all that it entertains and engrosses, PES2012 has a ‘’blast from the past’’ feel about it. It comes highly recommended to those who may only have the Wii console as you will be getting the best football game available for the hardware and does so too if you have exhausted yourself trying to get on with PES or FIFA on current-gen hardware. At the price it is currently available for everybody should probably dust down the Wii and give it a go, just don’t expect miracles but a timely reminder that yes, classic PES was and still can be that good and there is a reason we all still care.

Should this be PES’ final appearance on the Wii system, then Konami have kept the best until last. Now we look ahead to what Konami may look to do with PES on Nintendo’s Wii U platform, a system that if reports are to be believed boasts power that is at least on par with Microsoft’s and Sony’s current systems yet comes with a rather unique user interface. Over to you Seabass.

*Online modes untested at time of writing.

I’m joined by Suffwan, Alan and Asim for this one, where we let you know our closing thoughts on PES 2012 before it’s released in the UK (finally). Dissecting various elements in the game, we finish up by scoring the game individually.

Tune in, and find out what we had to say.

Enjoy!

Download here.

If PES2011 was very much an ‘’ideas’’ game in which just about anything was worth consideration and dropped into the gameplay mixing pot with mixed and sometimes downright confusing results (scratches head at thought of penalty system), then PES2012 is a product born of some much needed streamlining and refinement of said ideas. However, more added stability to the foundations of the previous offering and a cheeky wee boost of technical assets are all well and good but will equate to no more than an incremental update and sometimes that can prove to be enough but fans of the series have demanded more. The WEP team have thus had to innovate to set their labour of love apart from what has come before and yet still retain the series proud and much loved roots. No pressure then, Seabass – san.

The game has to be won out on the pitch and it is here where the WEP team have opted for the pragmatic approach when it comes to innovation and improvements, but that is not to say that what has been prioritised for PES2012 out on the lush digital turf aren’t significant game – changers in their own right. Quite the opposite is true in actual fact as instead of looking to wow it’s audience with glitzy, showy, sizzle that is always going to be desirable for any game in any genre, PES2012 preaches core gameplay and football fundamentals with Active AI being the driving force behind it all.

Actual Intelligence?

When first announced even the most optimistic of series fans couldn’t help but think back to TeamVision and what it…actually, what did it do again? Anyway, fear not as Active AI would appear to be the real deal and offers a pretty stern test of ones ability – even on Professional skill level in these early days – so get ready to swallow your pride. Active AI is not completely perfect in its implementation but there is a rather handy set of tools at the player’s disposal that can (with practice) help address this which will be touched on later.

Over-lapping full backs, midfielders making themselves available of an easy pass, forwards making subtle movements in order to invite that killer through ball – all these off-the-ball basics that define the team game are all present for your consideration when in possession. It isn’t just realised in a basic, geometric fashion either as players will look to make diagonal runs/movements and even check them should they venture offside. This will sound awfully contradictory but such is the quality of the Active AI that it isn’t something that leaps out the screen at you at all times. Maybe that could be down to those 30 plus years of playing and watching the sport that has this player happy to accept that this is how football simply is and should be, but then it does eventually hit you that this level of intelligent movement has never been seen before in a football videogame, at least not in the way PES2012 performs.

Of course, this is PES we are talking about and player – as well as team – individuality is key, so it is very satisfying to see it manifest in this new AI system. A player like Xavi or Pirlo not only feel more commanding under your control due to the what is happening around them and their god-given eye for a pass, but that they also display real life characteristics in how they position themselves during build up and even defensive play. The defensive game has also reaped the benefits by showing an all round better awareness with team mates doing a nice job in positional play, cutting off passing angles, making interceptions and containing, though they can go to sleep on crosses and requires you to concede that the ball in to the box is going to happen on occasion and you are best to try and mark up or utilise manual ‘keeps to improve their positioning; fiddly but it can work .

It may very well be something of a hard sell but the AI advancements in PES2012 are really quite something though if there is one little concern regards the AI it would be that when the CPU plays as one of the better teams they can be a little too direct and don’t fully utilise the passing options around them. One for those obsessive tactical guru’s in the community to no doubt crack using a tactics and formations screen similar in layout to last year, only with the possibility with up to four on-the-fly formation/tactics set-ups now available to the player (Tip :  Commit to D-Pad or stick control alone in order to free up an easier method to change tactics during the match). The tactical sandbox is still very much in place and still rewards those who explore what it can offer, so worry not.

Manual Override!

As stated previously the AI isn’t perfect and sometimes you don’t quite get that movement you are looking for from your team mates, forwards in particular. This is where the somewhat controversial addition of team mate controls adds another user controlled layer to off-the-ball movement. Fans shouldn’t have worried about it compromising the stability of the game in all honesty, not because it doesn’t work (it does and can be very useful) but it is bloody demanding and will for many feel somewhat unintuitive. Good! Pointing and clicking on the right stick to select a player to make a run (and in the case of manual control, moving the secondary player) is a test of dexterity but looking at it in a positive light, at least it will curb any spamming of the mechanic and ensures the game doesn’t regress into simply trying to bludgeon through an opposition defence. Well, one would guess that is theory and time will only tell if this proves to be the case. Not an essential addition as was suggested by some but run prompts are now present in a PES title, and this off-the-ball control also extends to set-pieces with them proving rather handy for throw-ins and corners, if not so much free-kicks unless you want to play short or into feet.

Player individuality is possibly the best it has ever been in any football game, bar perhaps defenders you don’t expect to be that good with the ball at their feet looking and feeling a little too comfortable in control, though it is perhaps a necessary compromise to maintain fluidity. Players such as former cover star Messi and current cover stars Ronaldo and Neymar are represented spectacularly and are a joy to control but technical players such as Iniesta, Silva and Modric amongst others are arguably the real stars. Dribbling mechanics are straight forward on the face of it but – in conjunction with stats influence – hide huge depth. Technical players truly shine in PES2012 as do quick, direct dribblers. It’s all about mastering the new burst mechanic with the right player, shifting and shielding the ball and using quick stop and go. The sidestep dribble can still feel a little too locked-in, with exits lacking some response. Tricks? All present and correct from last year but such is the influence of stats over the very deep ‘basic’ dribbling controls a must learn they are not.

It is pretty daunting facing up to all the games excellently realised individuals, especially given the demands of the new defensive controls, which come with a very steep learning curve that can have you thinking the system might be broken initially. After hours upon hours of play it does finally click and becomes deeply engaging; dispossessing the likes of Messi by holding him up via contain, trying to get him on his weaker foot and timing your tackle perfectly is immensely satisfying. To say that you need to be patient both in a match and in developing your skill in the fine art of defending over time is a huge understatement. With the otherwise excellent Training Challenge mode returning this year, the art of defending could and should be better explained in a controlled environment so as to allow players to develop a greater understanding more quickly. Slide tackles are more effective than last year (they had to be as you will be using them a great deal!) and refs make the right calls more often than not and do look to play advantage, with only the lack of an on screen indicator showing that this is the case perhaps causing confusion.

Pass Master?

All this intelligence in movement matters not without a good passing game being in place and it is here where PES2012 stumbles just a tad. Make no mistake, the passing game wonderfully crisp (ball physics have improved greatly) with that player individuality remaining a key factor regards vision and quality of execution but the ambiguous nature of the multiple levels of assistance selectable causes some annoyance. The simple fact is every setting can feel quite similar which for this player resulted in switching between assistance levels and never really settling until a number of sizable number of hours game time. The ‘’one size fits all’’ passing set-up of last year’s title needn’t have been tampered with in all honesty and if this level of control customisation in the passing game remains in future releases, it needs to be more pronounced and probably better explained.

Every player should find their level eventually after some time and the manual modifier mechanic remains and should always be an on-the-fly option, though manual long balls feel far too forgiving compared to last year, where it required skill to pick out a pass at range. It is still somewhat baffling why manual crossing is not possible and that shooting cannot be subject to manual modifier control or even be subject to user selectable assistance like passing. Regards shooting, it is far more satisfying than either last year or the demos would have had us believe, though there is still an element of mystery to mastering the art, with placement logic still not 100% . These observations  evaporate almost completely when a Villa, Ibrahimovic or Rooney take aim, so something is calculating away in there that dictates placement. Curled strikes with R2 are back in place, chipped shots carry a little more class in look and execution (though appear lacking in some error), direct free-kicks are very PES5 in feel and all round there is a greater variety of ways in which players strike the ball, within the confines of the animation engine. Yep, creating and scoring a goal in PES remains as satisfying as ever, maybe even more so in spite of some qualms over set-up. Liquid football on tap, though it could do with a little ice to remove the slightly rough edge when it goes down.

Keepers? Post-patch they have improved vastly over what was present in the two demos that have had many in a panic pre-release. It should be said they are improved over what was present before – they are not suddenly those keepers we crave due in part to their animations and them still displaying some sloth like reactions to some efforts on goal, particularly efforts close to them. They do seem to catch more and their parrying is a little more convincing. Truth be told it seems they are victim of technical restrictions though they do perform some frankly stunning saves and double saves. Not too shabby in 1 v. 1’s either and the best keepers at least inspire some confidence. Improved but still needing to be more consistent and better realised; surely a focus for the future editions.

It is the keepers who perhaps highlight where the franchise desperately needs to progress and that is in the animations department. Listen, PES2012 is not an entirely poorly animated game and there has been clear improvements made in spite of it not being the primary focus for this year. The game is generally very fluid and does what it can do consistently for the most part but you can see the joins so to speak. With EA truly excelling in this department, fans of PES can’t help but be more than a little envious that such technical prowess hasn’t found its way over to our footy game of choice and for all the progress that is apparent within the confines of the existing tech, knowing that considerably better is possible with current generation hardware will always put this top of our wish lists…even if we won’t always admit it.

Visually, PES2012 sits somewhere between the 2010 and 2011 editions. Lighting in particular is fantastic throughout just about all stadia and time settings (you will always have a favourite) and there is a nice variety in turf shades, though this player still craves the deep lush green of the Konami Stadium in PES2010 to make its return. Player likenesses, models and kit detail seem to be that little sharper as well and pitch-side detail and ambient touches add a sense of gravitas to proceedings. Konami still now how to surprise us and little things like animated managers, camera men and ground staff are all neat, welcome additions to the matchday spectacle. More national anthems feature for the international sides and have a very broadcast authentic regards their presentation. Wide-cam still disappoints in holding detail despite improvement but the new pitch-side camera could well prove to the preference of a many a player and with good cause – the game looks terrific from this new viewpoint. The audio during matches is basically the same, for better or worse, with Champion and Beglin’s commentary track still sounding a little sparse even with the addition of a few extra lines. The sound of the ball hitting post/bar or the ad-boards is damn cool though and to be fair, for all that the audio is pretty lo-fi, the crowd sound as though they are watching the game and react to goals, misses and fouls with some enthusiasm. Importing chants and music is still an option so it is not as if you can’t personalise the audio experience to some degree.

That’s (Football) Life!

PES has always had a wealth of single player content and PES2012 is no different on this front with everything pretty much being the same old, same old…

Aye, right! Football Life is epically marvellous! It’s as if all goes on in our heads during a Master League or Become a Legend campaign is now right there on the screen and only a Japanese developer would dare go down such a route and somehow make the experience both utterly compelling and so damned charming. It plays out like a football soap-opera of sorts with unsettled players bitching and whining about such things as not being picked, feeling fatigued or just throwing their toys out the pram for not being played in their preferred position. The club chairman even gets involved as well, giving you ‘’missions’’ that come with rewards if you complete them successfully.

This added layer of interaction with your squad and staff via your own created manager avatar brings these modes to life. Many may have seen videos or screenshots of the new look to the games main single player modes and unless you have a heart of stone you will be smiling and you will get hooked. Playing a fixture and the game cutting to your manager after key incidents is never going to get old. With everything going on before your very eyes the concern is that it will get repetitive and it can do but such is the way things zip along briskly these things never overstay their welcome and in fact results in the actual matches feeling like even more of an event than they ever were before. A triumph, and something that should not be spoiled any further in a review and instead experienced by all. All that is missing are some QTE’s where you can kick a boot in the eye of an underperforming player at half-time or put your 1st team coach’s head through the tactics board in your office after a defeat. Half serious here.

All the regular modes return and things are pretty much as you were here. Such is the quality of the gameplay and tactical depth on offer however that these modes such as Champions League, Copa Libertadores (hugely underrated addition) and the various leagues/cups that are common place in a PES offering are worthy distractions. It would be good to see a little more added to these modes in future releases given what the developers have offered up in the Football Life modes. It is nice to see that another league has made it in as well – albeit not fully licensed – in the form of the Portuguese league. Edit Mode appears largely untouched although the Import/Export feature could prove to be a godsend for Option File creators everywhere and the fans who reap the benefits of these guys slavish attention to detail. It can’t be emphasised enough how much the community can offer this game and what a great Option File will do in order to make it feel that little more complete.

At the time of writing, neither the online components or new myPES application that integrates with facebook had been sufficiently tested to pass comment. As always it is a case of waiting and seeing how it develops with many a contrasting opinion regards performance more than likely. What should be said is this. It would be a great shame if this game doesn’t deliver online as everything is there for it to be a great online title and Master League Online has immediately become a fans favourite.

Conclusion

PES2012 is a game that not only channels the spirit of the series past, but does so with confident strides towards a bright looking future. Sure, there are some issues with the game which are the well documented technical short comings and a very small number of probably fixable/tweakable  quirks that ultimately fail to compromise the pure gameplay focused experience on offer. This year’s offering from Seabass and his team is without doubt their finest in this generation and it should not be forgotten that this was a game developed in a country that fell victim to one of the worst natural disasters in history and most certainly had an effect on not only development itself but more importantly the passionate team behind the project. The fact that in the face of such national tragedy they have managed to deliver the best PES in years is worthy of note for all true PES fans, however insignificant that may be in the grand scheme of things.

A return to roots while not being scared to take some chances has resulted in a return to true form.

9/10

Let’s get one thing out of the way first; PES2011 on PSP, while technically impressive, is not a game that is going to help shift more PSP hardware. This is less a fault of the game as such and more the ‘fault’ of the hardware of which it features on. The truth is that the Playstation Portable has never really took off in the west despite its technical capabilities. Also worthy of consideration is that in the few years since its release, mobile technology has come on leaps and bounds, with multi-functionality becoming the main focus and requirement. A quick read over the various rumours surrounding a Playstation phone possibly surfacing pay testament to this. As already mentioned however, the game we have been presented with on PSP in PES2011 is impressive in more than a few areas and as such credit has to be paid where it is due to Konami for what they have achieved.

A Micro Mammoth

What immediately strikes you once the game has booted up (which takes an age!) is the wealth of options and gameplay modes available to the player. More impressive is that nothing has been stripped down from its bigger brother on PS2 and that this includes the new license acquisition in the form of the Copa Libertadores which, along with the already established Champions League license, comes with its own unique presentation assets and soundtrack. Speaking of the soundtrack for a moment, as well as having the same licensed artists in place the PSP version also allows for custom soundtrack creation so in this department it borrows from the PS3 title, so with this little example we see the development team have looked to use some of the PSP’s advantages over the PS2 hardware – a simple port this game is not which even if it were would still be an impressive feat in it’s own right.

New to the fold regards game modes and one which may not be familiar to next-gen PES owners in particular is the World Player mode. In this mode you are asked to select one specific real life professional and play through a full campaign with them. Okay, so this is no more than BAL minus player creation and development but for those who are looking to just get on with a fixed player/cursor experience it is a welcome addition and dare it be said that quite possibly this is an area in which a handheld version of the game could be better suited to delivering. The reason I suggest this is that for all the credit you have to give to this handheld version of the game impressing on a technical level regards content, feature set and just how much it looks to stand shoulder to shoulder with the ‘big’ console versions of the same title, it still can never quite offer up the same quality and consistency out on the field or in the basic operation of the package as a whole.

A Mammoth Wait

To start off, the most obvious and intrusive niggle is the loading times. Boy does this game….*Loading Please Wait*….take an age to….*Loading Please Wait*…. get going. Each and every selection as you jog through the menus apparently needs to load in. From turning the PSP on and the game auto booting to kicking off a very quickly set up exhibition match, with no tactical tweakery pursued, pushed the ten minute mark. The wait for the game to load the main menu and the load time between formation settings and kick-off proved rather excruciating in particular. It all seems to fly in the face of what handheld gaming should be about and to illustrate this using an example from my working day, I was unable to load up and complete a full match in my 15-20min break times and only just managed to complete a full match in my daily commute before having to spend further time loading back to the menu screen and save my progress should I have wished to. There is the option to install data to memory should you have the space which does improve the loading times a tad but not to a desired level. It all adds more weight to the theory that perhaps a different approach should be taken to bringing PES to a handheld console.

It should also be noted before moving on that the game lacks any PS3 compatibility which is a missed opportunity especially when you consider the cross platform functionality Gran Turismo on PSP has with Gran Turismo 5, so it can be done somehow. Maybe taking your full Master League campaign on the move isn’t the answer but perhaps something else that could be linked to your overall progress could and should be cooked up. Yes, PS2 cross compatibility remains but it simply isn’t the unique selling point it was once potentially was.

Taking to the Field

Taking to the field it should be said that PES2011 on PSP, for better or for worse, does try to offer as complete a PES experience as possible. The strengths and weaknesses from last year and beyond still remain to a large degree in this most recent of instalments. Keepers, the bane/Achilles heel of the franchise in recent years that have thankfully witnessed some major if not quite vast improvement in other editions, do not seem to be subject to a similar level of focus and attention here which is disappointing. To say there has been no improvement would be harsh but the improvement that is present is not was hoped. By extension, the same can be said of gameplay in general though for slightly different reasons because as much as improvements may well have been made – there is subtle but noticeable improvements in zip, ebb and flow to proceedings for example – to go along with some rather pleasing ball physics and satisfying (as always) shooting, the game is somewhat hamstrung by the limitations in place.

These are not born of the hardware’s technical proficiency but in its basic design and resultant control options/interface available to the player for a title such as this. Where the game modes, and even the visuals in some part, are not subject to some trimming down, the familiar PES control scheme most certainly is. As a consequence the game can feel clumsy in places as well as a little threadbare regards depth in control, certainly for those of us well educated in PES’ nuances in control. Of course, if you somehow are a player whose only knowledge of PES is on PSP these shortcomings may not be noticeable. However for a game that is so obviously trying to capture the qualities of the classic offerings, a player such as myself – as I am sure others – will notice all that is not present in control rather galling.

Check the Technique

Where PES2011 on PSP is a qualified success is in the visuals and yes, even sound. The graphics in the handheld version have always looked clean, crisp if a little functional to boot (think a PS 1.5 scenario) and in many respects this latest offering is more of the same albeit just that little bit more crisp, clean and smoother in movement than it’s predecessors. Where the game does take a boost visually is in variety as in the space of one year PES on PSP has went from offering a couple of generic stadiums to a full 26 in number which include some real life arenas such as the San Siro and Wembley, all contributing nicely to the authenticity to the on field proceedings. A little late in the day it could be argued but more than welcome nonetheless. As far as match audio goes, another sizeable leap has been taken as we now have a full commentary track offered by the series’ new team of Champion and Beglin and it also sounded like more chants and general audio ambience feature as well. As much as one can fault the logic of trying to completely capture all the assets of the classic game in handheld form, you have to say the development team have done a great job in some departments.

PES2011 on PSP was always going to be a curiosity, a diversion more than anything else. If you are a PSP owner and simply have to have a ‘footy’ game for on the move then you should find more than enough here to tide you over. It is just a pity that the depth of content on offer perhaps doesn’t lend itself particular well to handheld gaming. Technically impressive make no mistake but perhaps a re-think is in order so as the title can truly flourish on the handheld format whether it be on the current PSP or a new system that may surface in the hopefully not too distant future.

Extra long, two part review, watch it below!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pardon the football analogy but I think this best describes WEP/PES productions journey into the next-gen gaming thus far. When Sony and Microsoft announced their new hardware back in early 2005 and with the pinnacle of football gaming in PES5 arriving later that year, you couldn’t help but start to dream of how good this glorious franchise would become with the new technology driving it all. It never happened and in fact such was the franchises apparent inability to adjust you could argue that with every new addition to the series it was doing one thing very well – sullying the good name and reputation that had been built in the near ten years previous.

It was time for a re-think tactically and in PES2011 that is what we have above all else. It is a brave move by the WEP team and one which comes with huge risks given the ambitious nature of the changes apparent. Who couldn’t say that they weren’t even a little concerned by that first press release back in May of this year. It read like the game we were wishing for but in many respects there was a niggling worry that it might result in a restructuring of the PES DNA that could leave it completely unrecognisable and do more harm than good.

Turns out we needn’t have worried at all as PES2011 is very, very much a PES game that retains (more recaptures) that PES feeling.

Right from the first load up of the game where the main screen in which the games cover star is proudly displayed (something that hasn’t been present since PES6) and with the games multitude of modes and options all easily accessible with the sleek, streamlined menu system that runs across the bottom, there is a warm sense of familiarity to everything except it has been brought kicking and screaming into the next-gen era. Gone are the garish colour schemes and uninspiring, clumsy layouts and in comes something far easier on the eye, yet more importantly, easy to navigate through and get going.

It is here also where you can appreciate just how much is on offer with Konami’s latest. Champions League mode returns as a mode which can be played stand alone while still remaining in Master League and is joined by the new acquisition that is the Copa Libertadores which, due to licensing restrictions, doesn’t make it’s way into the Master league component. One omission as far as competitions goes is the UEFA Europa League as a stand alone mode, though it still plays its part also in Master League, which now also features an online offshoot. It feels like a missed opportunity and perhaps it would have been nice to at least have it in place as a competition to drop down into from the Champions League mode just so as to allow it to feature a bit more prominently as it would, I should add, the newly acquired UEFA Super Cup license.

Become a Legend returns with some more depth and refinement and all the existing cup and league competitions along with community mode, make their expected returns to the fold. Playing away in the background through these various menus is a more eclectic mix of licensed tracks than found in last years game and it all adds to giving the game as a whole some added gravitas. When entering into the Champions League or Copa Libertadores we have said competitions various takes on their respective themes playing out – a very nice touch which adds some authenticity and extra sense of occasion, as do the superbly realised TV broadcast layouts for each.

“What use does all this variety and authenticity have if the game itself doesn’t deliver?” I hear you ask and it is a perfectly valid question in which the answer will ultimately decide any games fate. Well, I am happy to say that all this does finally matter…and then some!

Let’s get back to the action for the start of the second half.

Visually, PES2011 is a bit of a treat…for the most part. Player likenesses are superb with some work having been done to remove the waxen look of players whilst not sacrificing detail when up close. Of course not every player in the game has been subject to such meticulous detailing so some inconsistency is bound to be present, though it is rather pleasing to see that a wider spectrum of squads have been given some TLC and it is possible to right the wrongs of some likenesses using the games expansive player edit mode. As for player models there has been marked improvement with various body types and physiques well represented though perhaps it could be ventured forward that there is still a lack of distinction amongst players that made the PS2 days of PES so memorable. There is a level of distinction apparent, don’t get me wrong here but a drop in detail in regards player appearance and kits is clearly apparent that goes beyond simply the players being further away in wide-cam, or should that be wide-cam with a twist.

Lighting is superb in general but while the game can look fantastic in some instances a lot depends on stadium choice and day/afternoon/night conditions. Playing a match at Wembley in the afternoon looks utterly gorgeous and is without doubt a real highlight visually but playing at night and even day/afternoon in some stadia things can look a little rough with some high contrast/brightness levels resulting in a further drop in level of detail regards players and kits from the playing angles. Briefly touching on the colour palette, it is something that I have very little in the way of complaints about, though on the subject of kits it has been noticed that some licensed clubs (Besiktas and PSG amongst others) appear to have generic kits which cannot be edited. So a DLC to rectify this issue would be more than welcome. Bar these exceptions, kit detail is as convincing as ever with Adidas kits even having the option of the tech fit variant if you wish to ramp up the attention to detail and authenticity further. One oddity is when viewing replays – that come with an effective if not entirely consistent motion bluer effect – is that the players boots lack studs and while not exactly falling into ‘game-breaker’ territory is another detail which could be doing with being addressed in future. PES is very much a ‘looker’ let there be no doubt but a point of focus for Konami is that of the increasing the level of detail visually from the games numerous gameplay angles. It might not appear to be that important an issue but when you do see how good the game can look in certain conditions you just want there to be a higher level of consistency on show which would further enhance what is already an excellent looking game and would be sure to add more to the ‘wow’ factor in future.

I opined this a while ago but there is something about PES2011’s gameplay design that resonates with me as being a project some years in the making. It’s as if some of the WEP team’s visions(I am sure this is only the start) for the franchise have finally been realised and have come to fruition in the next-gen with PES2011 but oh! my days, is it initially a very, jarring and sometimes downright brutal experience getting to know this new PES’ nuances in the gameplay department.

A quick word of advice before we continue. Forget everything you know about PES and along with it, might I suggest you forget all you think you know about PES2011 into the bargain. I will openly admit to thinking I knew it all having been playing the game in various forms for near on two months before finally settling down to the final version. I will even concede to me being of the belief that the game might be broken. This is not to say the game is dramatically different from the demo that has been available these past few weeks, but it is different, more progressed and with that I would recommend taking time to learn to play the game and re-programme yourself by starting at a lower skill level. This, I promise, will come with great reward.

‘Engineered for Freedom’ is the games tagline and engineered for freedom it most certainly is. It might not leap out of the screen and make itself obvious from the off but this is a game in which I don’t think it is too ridiculous to say that your imagination is your only limitation. The new passing system that debuts in PES2011 is the core in which this freedom of play is allowed to flourish and while at first it may appear that AI assistance is still very much in place, you soon realise that it isn’t holding your hand in quite the way you might think when it comes to pass power and placement. It is without question that a level of AI assistance is present as this is key to retaining player individuality, but what the passing model does allow for is more artistic expression to be had with both individual and team play. What this enables the user to achieve are passing moves which have never really been apparent in a PES title past; teasing your opponent in midfield with cute little exchanges as Barca, sending laser-like precision lofted balls to Pato using Pirlo with AC Milan, using Estudiantes’ Juan Sebastian Veron to act as the metronome in midfield, or using explosive short 1-2’s on the edge of the area using Kaka and Luis Fabiano with Brazil – all this and much more is possible and is incredibly rewarding when it all comes off. Another welcome addition to the passing game is the manual modifier control using L2/LT. Using this mechanic ‘on the fly ‘is excellent as a means of trying to produce the unexpected and have complete control over a pass without the slight AI assistance offered by the default model and is very satisfying when you successfully complete a long lobbed pass straight into a players stride to use one example in my experiences of using it. All the standard passes are able to be fully manually controlled with this method which opens up even more options to the player in control.

As deep and rewarding as the passing game is, dribbling is arguably more so. This is the one thing that could potentially alienate many a player and is also where you will learn some brutal home truths about how everything from PES’ past is rendered near useless. Quite simply it isn’t easy and at first appears very sluggish, stiff and unresponsive to the point of almost feeling broken which it I can assure you it isn’t. It has to be said though that while I can appreciate the uncompromising approach taken (the game being uncompromising is one of it’s strengths) to one of the fundamentals of the beautiful game, there is a steep learning curve involved in mastering it – a learning curve that will have you tearing your hair out on many an occasion – and it isn’t helped by some limitations in the transitions and number of the animations between movements. One particular move in which your player goes into a sidestep dribble has a habit of not only looking a little forced but it can also feel a tad ‘locked in’ if that makes sense. Reading many previews of the game that suggested the game is still on 8 axis is of course nonsense – 360 movement is most certainly in – but these opinions should not be totally discounted as there is obviously something that is encouraging such train of thought. Discussing this with a colleague at WENB we agreed that while the theory might very well be sound, it is probably something that requires more work so as the animation can act as an aid and visually sign post more clearly a change in direction or where a player might be going wrong. This is something that in this reviewers humble opinion and thus should be another point of focus for the WEP team in future. If such a difficult to master but ultimately rewarding system should remain in place – and it should – then really upping the animation count in these key areas will do well to keep a player coming back. It is something the competitor’s game does in spades and should not be discounted as merely cosmetic. That games animation acts as a means to hook the player in all by itself as this reviewer can offer good testimony on.

Irritations aside regards some technical quirks on the dribbling front, when it clicks together it is a joy and suddenly it will add a very potent weapon to your arsenal. Situations that once seemed impossible to start with now cry out “opportunity!” and along with it the ability to shift the ball about in midfield with confidence via quick jabs of the stick from a neutral position or rotations which will allow you to ‘look up’ and pick out your passes becomes second nature. Then of course you have the R2 ‘stop and play’ mechanic which adds another layer of control in dribbling. As for tricks they are surprisingly not quite as easy as first feared, at least not the more elaborate variants, though the rainbow flick still has an overly simple means of execution (currently being looked into by the development team) It wasn’t necessarily something that was at the top of many a hardcore PES players wish list but it pays great testament to the strength of the standard dribbling (once mastered of course) and the art of defence that the tricks and feints available are not simply ‘beat player’ prompts. The more basic feints are assigned to jabs and rotations of the right stick alone followed by exit moves on the left stick and will more than likely be the more frequently used by most and are more than sufficient at buying that vital extra yard of space.

What really shines through though are the individuals once your dribbling game has been fine tuned and in the case of using one of the games 15 ‘Speed Stars’ like a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo the damage you can cause on opponents is potentially match winning. Yip, individuality remains absolutely key in the PES experience, perhaps more than ever, though perhaps more than ever you really need to work on your game in order to truly reveal player potential. There have been murmurings of disquiet amongst some that players blessed with blistering speed can’t seem to outrun their markers but I would ask for some understanding that while these players may not outrun unwelcome attention with ease going flat out, they will outmaneuver opposition markers with ease and this is where their real speed lies. Think of it as a trade-off of sorts and taking a little license over reality in order to balance things effectively. Careful what you wish for in other words.

Of course having the tools in which to destroy the opposition is all very well but is only part of the puzzle in realising the beautiful game. There has to be an effective counter measure to balance it up and this is where yet another new feature to the PES series makes a solid if not entirely trouble free debut in the form of a multi-layered defensive control system. Much pondered over when it was unveiled, and still maybe yet to convince some, the three tiered system now in place requires the user to approach the defensive side of the game with more thought and demands more from them regards control into the bargain. Simply holding the pressure button isn’t enough any more, though it will make your player close in and track. In order to put a foot in the user must now also push the stick towards the player in possession but at the risk of leaving themselves open to humiliation at the hands of a skilled and direct dribbler. This were it is sometimes best to concede ground by pressing the stick towards your own goal (whilst still holding X) which results in your player standing off while still actively trying to sheppard the ball carrier away from goal, and is also a good way of introducing a second player to press.

The system works efficiently but there are some issues with it. Visual indication to the player is not the best regarding the standing off mechanic in particular and movement by the defender when doing so can look a little glitchy. This again is where PES needs to step up in the animations department as filling in some of those blanks with smooth transitions and also more varied and deliberate looking standing off or jockeying movements would act as clear visual aid and also comes with the bonus of adding to the realism in terms of appearance. Player switching is also something that could do with further tweakery but the question has to be asked why the player switching settings from the PS2 titles of old isn’t present. Collisions can look less than convincing on occasion and lack a little visual ‘feedback’ which is a short coming.

This is probably the best time to comment on referees as they are very strict and as welcome as it is seeing tackles from behind or poorly timed challenges not go unpunished, the referees appear to make the wrong calls on numerous occasions. I say “appear to” because again the lack of variety in collision animations makes it look to be the case, that said, they are prone to calling what look like completely fair and well executed slide tackles – which really do look superb and carry some weight – back for a foul. Some inconsistency with the issuing of cards is also a concern as is the erratic use of the advantage rule, which also is minus some visual indication on-screen or via the commentary track but believe me it’s in there, just not very prominent. All in all you have to say it is a good first crack at bringing something new to the defensive side of the game and does offer the right balance as a counter to the attacking game. Before moving on it should be noted that defenders are superb at goal line clearances and have great awareness and response in situations us Scot’s call a ‘stramash’ in the goal mouth. Adds to the sense of drama and unpredictability but in a mostly good way.

The shooting in PES has always been one of the games more satisfying elements though it should be conceded that the last few years suffered from some control in placement and also appeared to lack variety. In PES2011 we are getting some of that variety and control in placement back into the fold and along with it we have vastly improved ball physics that see the ball dip and swerve perhaps more than it has ever done. The end result is something that will have you punching the air with delight or agonising over a wonder goal or strikes that go tantalisingly close respectively. Bullet headers be gone for the most part and the sound when the ball hits the woodwork is a thing to be applauded. There is a lack of clear instruction as to how to place shots in the command list or training ground and finesse shots can a little too regularly not look like finessed strikes at all and rocket off a players boot minus the curl you would want. Also, it would appear Konami are making up for the lack of acrobatic, volleyed efforts on goal from PES2010 so 35yd side bicycle kicks are where it is at apparently, which could be doing with being toned down but shooting animations in general are pleasingly varied with even the chipped shots types being blessed with some variety in execution.

One vital component to scoring a goal is player, crowd and commentary reaction and I am happy to say it all kicks in instantly as the ball crosses the line which just adds to feeling of satisfaction. On the commentary, it appears to be getting a bit of a lukewarm reception in some quarters but while Champion and Beglin are a little sparse with delivery overall and can become repetitive, they do call it well (especially Beglin – good riddance Lawro!) and in my experiences seem to come to life in the final third, so in this respect it works rather well. The final third is where the magic really happens and the duo – who have worked together in real life when commentating for ITV adding another layer of authenticity to proceedings, particularly Champions League matches – work off one another reasonably well. One little detail that might go unnoticed or unloved is how both men will often emote at the same time when something spectacular happens in front of goal. It is something that I don’t think I have heard in a commentary track for any sports game before and thus deserves some praise for adding to the on field drama. Yes, both deliveries can sound a little forced on occasion and repetition is an issue – the commentary isn’t going to win awards but improvement is apparent.

The stadium ambience has been vastly improved with announcers reading out the teams and any substitutions in a variety of languages. Player/manager calls are also clearly audible in a number of dialects and much to my amusement the crowd chants have improved with some I swear even having the odd…well…swear. One of the main issues with the crowd in the last couple of outings was a lack of away support or any reaction at all bar silence when the visitors scored and this has thankfully also been addressed.

Keepers?…..Vastly improved over previous releases and can possess the reactions of a mongoose, making double and even triple saves and at point blank range too. These are the guys who can make or break a footy videogame and it is more a relief than anything to see that they seem largely fit for purpose. There are still issues with them of course; some questionable reactions to soft, deflected efforts, having a tendency to rebound the ball back into a play (though thankfully their reaction and that of the defence helps) and lacking in variety in animations. What I still find to be apparent is that of the keepers diving range – they seem to reach a point in their dive and stop and fall back down to the turf when it looks like their momentum should carry them a greater distance. Unfortunately, while manual keeper effectiveness seems to be improved, the same wonky, unintuitive control system is in place from PES2010. L1 and triangle worked just fine and needs to come back. Making reference to the competitors game in this department is a must. The developers of the game in question have really excelled in capturing the unique characteristics of goalkeepers both in animation and overall reliability. WEP team take note.

If there is one department where the game is unrivalled however and that is in the AI both of your team mates and the COM. At first you will think that player movement off the ball is restricted and might wish that there is an input that will enable you to get a player to make a forward and while it could be a little better still, the movement off the ball is largely satisfying. Technically there is an initiate player run button by simply pressing R2 after making a pass and it should also be noted that when using the manual modifier control for passes and then pressing R2 you can play into space for a team mate and the passer will also make a forward run which generates further movement, as does the 1-2 controls. PES2011’s movement is largely controlled by the AI however and only once you dig deep into the fantastic tactics and formations screens do really begin to see what is possible.

The tactics timeline is a work of genius and can be set up so as your team will adjust their strategy automatically and react dependant on your team being level, losing or leading a match. The timeline allows for up to two strategies to be in play at any one time so in those final 15 minutes when you are trailing you can set it so as your going ‘all out attack’ with your ‘CB overlapping’ as well. These same strategies can be assigned to the face buttons as is the norm, so potentially you could have up to six strategies activated if you wanted. During the match you also have the attack/defence emphasis gauge in place too so another tactical option is available on the fly. Then (yes, there is more!) we have the Team Style variables that have been set to a scale out of 20 and will make a huge impact on your teams playing style with overlapping, player support and pressing amongst others all available for further tweakery. Then (yip, even more!) we have Auto Trigger Settings which are a series of on/off options which will allow to instruct the AI to perform the offside trap, auto slide or make subs for you. Make no mistake – this game is deep with tactical options.

As for the challenge the AI presents I think ‘solid’ would be the best descriptor. Even on regular difficulty while looking to relearn and adjust to the games nuances and demands it presented a decent challenge to warm up with. Top Player is where most PES aficionados will ultimately find themselves taking on the AI and should provide the challenge you eventually want to be faced with. It also of course helps that there seems to be something in the code that increases difficulty when progressing in a competition or playing in an away tie. Could this be the ‘secret’ difficulty Seabass spoke of and his words were lost in translation? Finally and most impressively by some distance is the AI’s reactive and proactive inclinations. It is as if it makes use of all the tactical options available to the human player. Impossible to prove completely of course, but there can be no doubt that this is an AI that knows when it needs to change things. Goals change games as the saying goes and PES2011 looks to take those wise words and implement it into the AI behaviours. One slight concern and it has been well documented is the ‘greenzone’ issue in which the AI often refuses to press a player when deep on the wing when defending and only if a second player is present will it try to dispossess you. It is being looked at and it will be interesting to see how this and any other potential issues that may surface will be addressed.

So there we have it – PES2011’s on the field performance given a thorough run out. Footballing perfection? No, there is still much work to be done and I can’t emphasise enough how the franchise needs further technical advancements in order to really wow the player. That said, it is a game that moves well in it’s own right and it would be simply wrong to deny that obvious progress has been made in this key area as the game ebbs and flows wonderfully well and is not short of quality and variety in the animations department. This is just the start of the journey for Seabass and co. (with a little help form the Blue Sky team) in looking to achieve excellence on a technical level. Brilliant but inconsistent in places visually, with sound also taking a rather large leap in quality, it is clear this is a game that has been laboured over by the WEP team in all departments and is more than mere incremental update.

Under the hood is where the game really shines however, with a deep and rewarding experience that really does require patience and lots of practice in order to experience every facet of what the game can and will offer to the player. License troubles still remain but an incredible level of customisation options available in the games edit mode ensure that option file makers the world over will be kept busy (just wait to see the WENB option file!) and we now have the introduction of a stadium editor as well – something I don’t think anyone could say they saw coming. Online is always going to remain a mystery and it is best not to say anything other than so far, so good in relation to performance thus far. With Master League Online now being a feature and should it come to pass that online stability is present for the masses, then we have a real game changer of epic proportions for many a hardened multiplayer gamer. With the core foundations very much in place in the gameplay department what we have right now in PES2011 is title that can be proud to bear the PES name but at the same time infers that the best is still to come.

Before closing, you may have noticed that this review is purely one based on gameplay and hasn’t touched on assets such as the Master League or Become a Legend in any great depth. There are two reasons for this. First, I feel it was necessary to go this in depth with gameplay as it was is on the field that PES has undergone it’s most significant changes and therefore should be any reviews main focus. Secondly? Well, for as much as football games don’t really have spoilers I do wish to avoid giving anything away. Discovery is part of the experience in any game.

So how has the second half panned out ? 3-0 down is quite a mountain to climb but the team have come back out and are displaying some of the free flowing football we know they can play. There is still a fair bit of time on the clock but it is

9/10

for the composure, skill and desire on show.

Welcome to PES2011.

Videogameszone.de are first off the mark and there review which scores the game a very creditable 86% can be found HERE.

JVN were not far behind and their 16/20 review can be read HERE

Both reviews of course come with some new screens and videos to take in.

A decent start for the game regards scores, with no doubt more to come thick and fast over the coming days and weeks.

**Update** – Gameswelt.de have also reviewed the game and have scored it 88%, so another very good review. This particular review also has video as well.

With that in mind we thought it worthy to post up that Famitsu have reviewed the game and have scored the PS3 version 34/40, with the PS2 and Wii versions scoring 30/40 and 34/40 respectively. Things looking good, with a solid showing for the game in it’s first review.

Expect more detailed content and comment from WENB once we get our hands on the game shortly!

A huge thanks to KAiWAi from the forums for this spot.

Today they conducted a head-to-head article pitting the two rivals against each other, reviewing them in the process. No surprises in who won the battle, although who’s winning the war is certainly a different story…

Click here to read the article.

As with all things PES at the moment, it’s complicated.

PES2009 : Wii edition in many respects was a package that offered two games in one. One based on using the Wii remote and nunchuck, the playmaker style of game as it is called, and the other based on old school ‘vanilla’ PES gameplay with the classic controller. In PES2010 Konami have kept this well received formula in place and looked to enhance the experience for the player via a few tweaks to the gameplay and this is where it gets complicated.

Okay, straight to the point. PES2010 on Wii is a great football game but it appears that the few short months between PES2009 and PES2010 have seen the developers put that little bit more love and care into one gameplay style, the Wii’s unique ‘playmaker’ mode of play. You can understand why this would be the case what with the aforementioned ‘playmaker’ method of control being the Wii versions unique selling point, at least in the minds of the developers and I dare say Nintendo themselves. This reviewer however certainly has the feeling that the developers choice of focus for this latest addition to the franchise has left the alternate – and arguably more hardcore – method of playing the game a little underdeveloped from the previous instalment and in some cases highlights some of the games flaws(more on these later) a little more obviously. Maybe it is a minority opinion here but I for one would have thought the games real unique selling point was offering up two very complete, and very different ways of playing the game.

So what is it that makes the game great with all this being said? Well, it is still a well executed PES game and as such the core PES football philosophy – which thankfully lends itself more to the PS2 game – is still very much in place warts and all. The game is clearly built on the PS2 engine but this sense of familiarity is welcome and will actually help veteran PES players who are newcomers to the game on Wii. The visuals, while not in danger of winning any awards for outstanding technical achievement do in fact hold up well due to the Wii’s ability to upscale to 480p, and in 16:9 at that. Animations too are borrowed heavily from the PS2 version if not completely ported over. A special mention has to go to the work done with the camera in wide view – or trad. cam 2 is it known in Wii territory – as unlike other versions of the game on other platforms it is not static and is in fact rather dynamic in how it gently pans in and out of the action depending on where the ball is. Don’t worry, it really is that subtle and is more of a help than a hindrance with it closing in on the action when play nears goal, or when the game spreads out in midfield. The penalty system also benefits from this camera work in that it gently shifts towards goal once the ball is struck adding to the sense of drama. Oh yeah, the penalty system itself is still the best across all platforms with a greater degree of control (you can even place chipped spot kicks) resulting in tense shoot outs. This has to be looked at for the next gen versions of the game.

Grayhound and team have further developed the playmaker style of control and it is nearing its full potential as a result. It now feels less unique (which is feint praise anyway) and is actually inching ever closer to a feeling of full control over every aspect of the game while maintaining the sense of freedom in play and strategic/tactical options the core mechanics had always offered with the ability to move multiple players since the games first appearance on Wii in 2008. Little things like allowing you to control a single player with the nunchucks control stick in attack and defence situations, plus the ability to alternate between dribble speeds when in possession of the ball and not relying solely on point or drag dribbling almost (but not quite as yet) give the players a sense of individuality missing from the playmaker style of play before. Passing is surprisingly crisp and very freeform in nature with your imagination (something that the game rewards in spades if you tune into its way of thinking) being the only barrier in creating lovely moves and stunning goals. The overall feeling is that the game played this way is now trying to encompass some of the benefits of playing the game with a pad and they have come so close to pulling it off. With motion sensor control coming to the next gen consoles in the next year Seabass and the team behind the 360 and PS3 versions of the game could take some inspiration from Grayhound and his team if it is something they are seriously looking at.

The stand out new feature of PES2010’s playmaker style is the new set-piece control mechanic which allows players to take a behind the kicker view that presents them an arrow going from ball forwards towards goal. Tilting the remote left or right results in the arrow bending so as to illustrate the balls projected curve, with upwards and downwards tilt dictating trajectory and dip. Another option is that of being able to ‘knuckle’ (excellent term!) your kick. Should your player have the ability to strike a dead ball in this way it is handily indicated by the on screen arrow glowing with a rainbow effect. Knuckling the ball essentially puts a wobble effect on the strike reminiscent of the kind of strikes Juninho Pernembucano and Cristiano Ronaldo are capable of in real life, which is a neat little touch and something that classic control and the next gen versions could do with implementing and is yet further proof that Grayhound has some great ideas for the franchise. Overall the new set piece control is excellent but perhaps a little too effective when it is a master set piece taker taking the kick, but I guess that is the point in many respects – to make set pieces feel that little more threatening.

There are a few things that hold the game back in playmaker mode and give the feeling that you are missing something. First of all is the implementation of tricks which still feels rather unwieldy in there control mapping and in some cases are performed randomly by the code depending on the player in control. Elsewhere, shooting –although offering a degree of manual control – still lacks finesse and I mean that literally as there is no finesse modifier which disappoints. If you were to be really harsh you could say that the depth of control offered in both attack and defence (especially defence) can be overwhelming and somewhat complex in the heat of battle that it may alienate many players but thankfully the way the multi layered level of control is implemented it allows the player to play the game effectively with just the basics. The easy to pick up, difficult to master mantra still holds true then.
The main new addition to the gameplay that spans both control methods is that of ‘Play Energy’ which in essence is a momentary stamina gauge that accompanies the traditional stamina meter. The theory behind this is that it affects a player’s strength and mobility on the ball and in the tackle, with each and every twist, turn and sprint seeing it deplete rather quickly. Hold on to the ball and try to do too much with a player when in possession and it makes him easier to dispossess while also affecting his ability and accuracy in his execution of shots passes and alike. It works pretty well, as it does add a layer of strategy and sense of urgency to proceedings not to mention that it does act as a rather effective anti-spamming device in that huge mazy dribbles are kept in check. Perhaps a lack of on screen representation of how Play Energy is taking its toll on a player is missing with players often looking fine until contact is made when the gauge has depleted and them just falling down through the minimum of contact. It is also a little inconsistent in so much that players felled as a result of them draining there Play Energy can be rewarded with free kicks a little too often. The implementation of the Play Energy feature is welcome but still needs some fine tuning you feel. Make no mistake about it though, and I am talking to you Mr. Seabass, what Grayhound is trying to do here with the Play Energy system is something that can make a massively positive impact on the franchise in future. Balance I am sure will be a challenge, but even the option to turn it on or off initially if or when it is first introduced will help any teething.

The game alas, is not without flaws and it is a tad unfortunate that they seem to present themselves more clearly when playing the game using the classic controller, though they do also apply to the game as whole truth be told.

First up are the goalkeepers. They err a little too close to the next gen versions unreliable keeps if not quite as anger inducing which is probably down to the game being tighter in it’s defensive side of the game. Shot placement also helps them to some degree as they rarely have to deal with efforts going down there throat but this doesn’t completely hide there inconsistency between the sticks. The concern here ultimately is that the PS2 version of PES2010 aside – which still has possibly the finest keepers to be found in any football game out there – all other versions of PES2010 this year have the same problem, and it is a worry that this is a design choice on the part of the developer. They really could do with going back to the PS2 games keeper AI and seeing what makes it so balanced as in many respects the series week keepers are proving to be something of an Achilles Heel for the series.

Something that also irks is how the game flows and responds using the classic controller. It could be this players own experiences and constant play of the PS2 version of the game which retains a wonderful flow and variety in animation while offering up some physical elements to play into the bargain, but the Wii version certainly seems that little more rigid in movement and missing the on screen physicality of it’s older brother. Now, the game does largely flow well but there are little moments when transitions and response are not quite right and it can feel a little too restrictive as a result plus the strict adherence players have to positioning can grate especially when measured against the freedom of tactical play offered up by the playmaker mode. These are the things that were being eluded to earlier in this review when it was suggested the game played via classic controller set up does not feel as refined or complete as the game does when it is played with the playmaker set up. That intensity of play that can be found on the PS2 version of the game is also missing to some degree and even the Play Energy feature doesn’t quite cover it up(still a welcome feature however)though the playmaker method of control does disguise this well where the classic controller method does not. A missed opportunity then regards classic controller play this time out and something that Grayhound will hopefully look to address in future instalments.

The major gripe regards the game comes in the form of edit mode. Now don’t worry, the edit mode is as thorough as it was in the PES2009 Wii version of the game and the ability to right the wrongs of license woes is still there. The game even has a full selection of licensed boots on offer to go along with the generic designs taking the total up to twenty seven, something the great PS2 version is missing. However, and it pains to say it, the games save consists of one file and as a result of that file being home to not only edit and game save data but also online data it means the save file cannot be transferred to SD card. The upshot of all this is that the strong and loyal community the franchise has misses out on sharing there creations without soft modding of the hardware which is frowned upon by Nintendo and opens up a minefield if you don’t know what you are doing. PES needs this community input and it is a major disappointment that the Wii version is subject to such restrictions. Hopefully this will not go unnoticed in future Mr. Grayhound?
Finally, we move on to game modes and this is were the game shines (mostly) again. It should be noted immediately that the Wii version of the game comes equipped with the same number of teams the next gen version, so all those extra teams in the other leagues section are present. It is odd the Europa League itself has not made the transition over if the teams have it has to be said.

The usual cup competitions and leagues are all present as is expected and the Champions League makes it’s second appearance on the Wii version of the game. Champions Road makes it’s return too and is as ‘Ultimate Team’ shaming as it always has been. Free as well. The most ‘videogamey’ mode present in the package Champions Road may be, but it is for all the right reasons in that it draws you in and isn’t minus an impressive level of depth too and you can see were some of the next gens revamped Master League ideas are sourced. Player development and acquisition are mini games in themselves with player development being particularly expansive. Without doubt the Wii versions ace in the pack and a game mode that would be more than welcome in the next gen versions of the game.
Master League itself benefits from Konami’s decision this year to ensure the Champions League license is utilised better, if not quite to its full potential across all platforms and thus finds itself with the competition integrated into proceedings. A couple of blips though are the omission of a Division 2 to traverse in your quest for glory, and that the mode is minus some of the managerial depth of the next gen versions which is odd considering Champions Road has similar features present.

My Team, which is a Mii based mode new to the series this year allows you to play various game modes(apart from Champions Road and Master League) using Mii characters from your Mii channel and look to develop your team and make store purchases. Silvestre’s shorts? We got em’! By no means a deal breaker, the My Team feature looks merely to utilise the Wii’s…erm…Mii’s cross game functionality. It is hard to fault it’s inclusion but at the same time hard to triumph it.

As far as online performance goes the Wii version is predictably – and unfortunately – akin to playing Russian roulette with a controller though it has to be conceded not quite as deadly. Pressing that button to start a game really is a leap into the unknown with the possibility of player teleporting and all round erratic performance lying in wait. It could be hardware restriction or that most Wii users opt for wireless connectivity but it is disappointing none the less especially when the playmaker mode of play really can offer up such freedom in play and a multitude of play styles and it would have been fascinating to see how it would have translated into technically sound online play.

One online function the Wii version does get spot on is the DLC that updates squad rosters. Available on release day it has swelled some clubs squads (Merida at Arsenal for example) and has all transfers up to date from what could be seen. It does however reset any edited data you may have had in place before performing the update itself but with it being present as of release day shouldn’t cause the same potential problems as the next gen versions delayed squad update.

So there we have it. PES on the Wii continues to surprise and comes across as something of a labour of love of Grayhound and his team at PES/WEP. PES2010 might not be the finished article as hoped but it does expand on its previous outings on Nintendo’s system and in such short time too. The playmaker style of play that can only be found in this version of the game is evolving nicely with each release and is no longer merely a ‘unique’ method of playing a football videogame but instead is being refined in order to offer an experience hard to ignore. To go along with all this it does bring some fresh ideas to the franchise as a whole (and football games in general) that the next gen version could learn from and there is some comfort to be taken from the fact that someone with Greyhound’s vision and ambition is part of the PES development cycle, and long may this continue.

8/10 – And a very high 8/10 at that (we don’t get into decimals or half scores here at WENB) A slightly incremental feel to the games progression since PES2009, a lack of freshness and refinement to classic controller play, goalkeeper niggles, and edit mode woes stop PES2010 on Wii from being a classic. The short 7 month wait between PES2009 and PES2010 on Wii should not be discounted however and progress in this short time has certainly been made. If you have a Wii as a second console in your home your curiosity will be well rewarded and if you have a Wii exclusively you will be getting the best football game for the system by some distance. Well done Grayhound and team.