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ISS Pro Evolution Review
Noel Brady
00/12/0000
EA may have the cash but Konami have proved over and over again that it's not all about the money.
I suppose that in the world of soccer teams FIFA could be my own beloved Blackburn Rovers-- they've spent tens of millions but were still relegated-- while ISS could be seen as Wimbeldon-- a stubborn side with little money that always comes out on top. But with this being the third update can ISS still capture the magic of it's pedecessors?
To say that every aspect of Evolution is both breathtaking in terms of realism and simplicity is an understatement. Konami have constructed a control system that allows shimmies, precisely-plotted passes and 30 yard shots at the touch of a button. Yet one tragic flaw pulls all this glory down to earth with a bang. Ordinarily such a small niggle as this would be forgiven but since the rest of Evolution plays to superbly, this game sticks out like a small country.
Despite the stunning presentation, awesome animated touches, supreme shots and link play, Evolution is stilted by one element that has plagued the series' growth since it began way back in the good ol' days of the SNES. As with ISS Pro before it, there is a price to pay for Evolution's motion-captured glory. Players often stop in their tracks when possession is lost and the animation has to play catch up. This makes it impossible to regain the ball and, after repeated incidents, becomes incredibly frustrating.
This may sound like a hatsh criticism but it's one that ruins a masterpiece, the equivalent of using a permanent marker to draw a large black line through the painting on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Other than this fault, Evolution verges on absolute perfection. The game spans the international stage, gathering squads from around the globe, each boasting individual skills and weaknesses. The customary tournaments and exhibitions await, each preceded by the incredibly atnospheric use of crowd noise and cut scenes-- complete with flag waving, chanting, impressive panning sequences as the team's arrive and even the famous brass band from Holland playing away in the background while Bergkamp and co. do their best to win.
But Evolution just isn't about presentation-- take not FIFA 2000-- it's about skill, and in this department its the closest to the 1970 Brazil side you'll get on Playstation. Considering how many moves there are, Konami deserve a medal for keeping things this simple. The joypad's facia buttons are used to exercise the usual passes, shots and attempted through-balls, while the D-pad steers or adds weight to the ball. This, in itself, provides a building block for novice players. Beyond this, though, is the secondary use of the shoulder buttons. Used in conjuction with the main control method, these enable players to flight longer balls into space, croos the ball with pinpoint accuracy and pull moves straight out of a hat.
With many football titles, every man on the park appears to be a characterless clone. That's not the case with Evolution. Each player has numerous attributes, from speed and acceleration to tackling and passing abilities. Even the physical stature of each varies, with height and build having a considerable bearing on performance. In all, there are over a dozen skill-based facets to each individual, making it every bit the team sport. You may even spot some of your footie heroes while playing watch. Watch out for the twin-toothed terror of Brazil, Italy's white feather and bush-headed Valderrama of Colombia, to name but a few. Even David Seaman comes complete with 'tache.
The composition of your squad has a huge bearing on the way you approach each match. If you have two tall, burly, burgeoning centre forwards that lack pace, you'll do well to supply them with ample crosses from either flank. If, however, you have a nippy, skilful forward, the previous tactic would be futile. Instead, it's better to craft an opening before slipping in a killer through-ball. Matches in ISS Pro Evolution are dynamic events where your style of play must constantly adapt.
From moment to moment, its matches are variable. Although Evolution doesn't have the breakneck speed of FIFA 2000 or Actua 3, its comparatively sedate pace makes it more considered and absorbing. Sometimes you dominate a match, confining your opponents to their own half. On other occasions, a CPU side will run rings around you and your passing game will go to hell. Desperately hoofing the ball over the top of the midfield, you'll adopt direct tactics in the desperate hope of fashioning some sort of counter-attack. And, assuredly, nine times out of ten, the opposing team will just head the ball back down the field. Evolution just feels so right it's frightening.
It's an incredible system that only gets better with repeated play. Every aspect of control is duly handed to the player. Usually, a through ball will stand little chance of reaching its target, but by using the L1 button to hit a longer ball into space, defenders can be caught ball watching. And the satisfaction of latching onto a long pass is unbeatable especially when you knock it pass the keeper with all the ease of a robin flying. It also show's FIFA's utter lack of skill and precision.
Well produced and feature packed, ISS Pro Evolution is a more than worthy addition to the Playstation football sim market. Tactical depth and gameplay realism offer lots of depth when compared to FIFA and Co., without the confusing complexity of games like Actua Soccer 3. Evolution creates a new benchmark for football games and, whatever the opposition, it's always going to be a hard act to follow.
