Pro Evolution Soccer 2013
Konami announced at E3 some more details on its annual update to the mighty but somewhat fallen Pro Evolution Soccer series. Desperate to claw back the title of ‘best football game’ from the ever evolving and award winning FIFA series; for many PES is the football simulation of choice. Times have changed though and the PES series has remained the stalemate and lost many of its followers due to the rise of FIFA.
PES has never had the fully licenced teams, stadiums, leagues, in depth stats and the complete footballing package that FIFA had (seeing how FIFA owned the licence), but the PES series was always more entertaining, scoring great goals and creating fluid and beautiful football was always more enjoyable. Editing your players and team, although frustrating was fun, and the gameplay alone put PES ahead of the back then clunky, uncontrollable and irritating but highly polished game of FIFA.
EA Sports knew that they had to up their game and boy did they do that, the game started to seriously change from about 2008 and FIFA had ironed out lots of the problems that had kept football fans loyal to the PES series. Not only did FIFA have the licence and the overall gloss, but it was starting to catch up with PES’s fluid and fun gameplay and by 2010 the title had firmly changed hands and FIFA was recognised as the new King of soccer simulations. PES still has the massive die-hard fan-base who believes that their choice of game is the real King of football.
So what match winning changes have Konami made to the iconic PES series this year hoping to return to the top?
The acquisition of a new cover star Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, footballs equivalent to Marmite has replaced long time PES cover star Lionel Messi who is now on the cover of the other football game that I will try not to mention. Graphically PES has never looked better, the player likeness, if a little cartoony at times in the older versions was always fairly spot on, PES 2013 is no different and the players really do look stunning.
There are 3 main gameplay tweaks in PES 2013 which include the headline addition (Full Control) or PES FC, which gives the player greater dexterity and free movement adding a variety of close control moves to receive, trap, shield and control the ball at your feet like never before. There is also more choice over the style of shot and pass you want to make.
(Player ID) is the second gameplay addition which ensures the world’s greatest players behave like their real-world counterparts featuring their signature attributes, skills and tricks. The best players from around the globe, including cover star Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazilian sensation Neymar and the legendary Kaka have been copied down to the slightest level, including their most famous celebrations making the unique star players really stand out in the game.
The third main change to PES2013 is (Proactive AI) ensures the whole game ebbs and flows like a real match. The new AI routines ensure a more balanced match, with illogicality’s of previous PES titles eradicated. Players off the ball will now make far more intelligent runs in attack creating space, while defences will hold a stronger line and actually defend more solid. The team defending will also react quicker to a loss of possession and try to press and win the ball back. Gameplay wise it sounds like Konami are really trying to sharpen things up with some much needed gameplay enhancements.
PES 2013 will now feature (Performance Training) The training sessions have always been a popular part of the PES series and have always played a big part in easing players into the game and learning the more skilful moves away from a match surrounding. A series of walk through guides will teach the player the more intricate skills of PES including quick passing, manual shooting, off the ball running and advanced shooting techniques such as lobbing the goalkeeper.
A few other changes in PES 2013 to (Football Life) which was first showcased in PES 2012, consists of the popular Master League and Become a Legend Mode that will feature a variety of new changes and additions in PES 2013. (Master League Online) will introduce a new ranking system called Rival Ranking which will match players at a similar level. The community side of the game will be split into 240 cities across the globe, and will show when local players are online. Leagues can be created, and messages and challenges sent. The series MyPES synchronization with Facebook also returns, and will go into more detail. Full statistics from match reports etc., will be detailed as well as players scoring and win records that can then be posted on your friends Facebook walls for bragging rights.
PES2013 is shaping up very nicely indeed but will it have enough changes and improvements to take the crown back from FIFA. Keep an eye on Gamedot for more on PES 2103 in the coming months to find out who will be the Champion.
PES 2013 will no doubt be released on all formats and only a 2012 release date is known. If past release dates teach us anything, it is that it’ll be launched late October.
