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Pro Evolution Soccer 5 Review

Chris Leyton

10/10/2005

Seabass and his team are back with this season's essential footie game...

After this seasonâs FIFA fiasco, thank heaven that a decent recreation of Godâs game isnât too far behind; yes the Jose Mourinho of footie games is back in the shape of Pro Evolution Soccer 5. Whereas thereâs always the need for this seasonâs ânew trickâ with other football series, just the mere fact that itâs a new Pro Evo is often enough grounds to bring the office to a standstill in a flurry of matches and the inevitable re-matches.

Shingo âSeabassâ Takatsuka and his team are never one to rest on their success however, with a raft of improvements to the actual game and vast expansions to the various modes on offer. Large amounts of the game are based around the improvements made firstly in the Japanese-only release of Winning Eleven 8: Liveware Edition and subsequently Winning Eleven 9; as such youâll find the first-touch feature and close touch control; the rise in difficulty when it comes to dribbling compared to Pro Evolution Soccer 4 and equally shooting packs more of a punch then last yearâs European release.

Pro Evoâs sheer touch of genius stems from its subtlety; the game hides a wealth of flicks, feints, varying sprints under its thoroughly intuitive and immensely satisfying control system, resulting in a game that can be enjoyed by everybody yet one for the true masters to truly appreciate with its many hidden tricks and turns. Immediately Pro Evolution Soccer 5 features a large number of changes from its predecessor, most notably the tempo of the game has been toned down slightly resulting in a closer nod to the real thing whilst greater skill has been given to players when trying to get past opponents.

Perhaps the most noticeable change from the start is the ability to perform side-steps without a shoulder button, although this does have the effect of them appearing perhaps a little too occasionally it does appear to improve the chance of beating an opponent and feels more natural then before â“ some will like this, others wont. The game places further emphasis on trapping the ball with R1 + R2 knocking it into space, allowing players to flick on a pass to sprint down the flank or bring it under close control and entice the opposition into making a mistake. It seems that one touch passing and through-balls have been reduced in their accuracy as well, eradicating the chance to blindly pass your way through the team and up the pitch; this may frustrate some but itâs one aspect that improves the game immeasurably in the continued strive for realism.

During the first few matches it appears that Seabass and his team have worked a little too hard on the shooting aspect, with attempts flying high and wide as the power bar has a habit of rising far too quickly. Time and perseverance however will soon bring it all under control and the realisation that thereâs now even greater degrees of freedom when it comes to pulling off the perfect shot becomes apparent; more importantly the floaty, lightweight feeling of the ball and shooting within Pro Evolution Soccer 4 has changed completely.

On the stat front the introduction of a âMiddle Shotâ rating amongst the near-endless list of a playerâs attributes provides certain players the chance to score some real crackers. Scoring a goal from 30-40 yards out doesnât happen every day in the real world however itâs even less likely in Pro Evo; âMiddle Shotâ mixes that up a little with players such as Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Adriano and such being able to really belt one, although thankfully it doesnât feel cheap youâve still got to work the space and time your strike â“ youâll certainly need a spare Memory Card to save the replays whenever you get one however.

With the improvements made to the shooting side of Pro Evo goalkeepers have also undergone a significant tune-up, with the most noticeable difference coming from over-arm throws setting up the perfect opportunity for a quick counter-attack that would shame even the mighty Schmeichel. One-on-one situations have also benefited with the keeper realistically rushing the offender and parrying shots away for a corner; thankfully the cheap lob shots have also been reduced, itâs still possible it just takes considerably more skill and therefore more satisfaction gained when they do come off.

The series trademark ball physics and animations dribbles past everything in comparison and once again Pro Evolution Soccer 5 only manages to build upon last seasonâs predecessor. Careful, considered play will have you passing and controlling the ball with ease, however scuffles frequently occur and have the ball bouncing around erratically, flying off in any direction.

The first matches will also have the referee blowing up faster then Luis Medina Cantalejo when Beckhamâs in town, which can be really frustrating to begin with but like the shooting system just requires a slightly different way of playing. Wading in with the âPressâ button continuously will find your players clipping the heels of your opponents, tugging at shirts or even pushing the opposition off the ball; instead itâs better to bide your time, jostle with the player and get ball side before attempting the tackle or calling in a second man.

The advantage system has been tweaked and whilst not perfect has to be the best implementation in a football game to date. Refâs will often allow the play to carry on before bringing it back if the team fouled looses position, whilst one scenario saw us blinking in disbelief as the ref threw up the ball for a drop-ball restart. This represents an indication of just how close Pro Evo 5 is to the real thing, itâs almost enough to have you tying on the shin-pads and putting on the boots before booting up the PS2!

Many tweaks and tunes continue to enhance the realism of the game such as injuries being caused without a tackle, or an injury becoming apparent a lengthy time after the incriminating foul. A player lying injured on the pitch will display an exclamation mark on the screen, putting the ball out of play will see the opposition gain control but keep the ball in action and the boos and jeers will reign down from the stands. Again itâs the finer details that lie behind Pro Evolution Soccer 5 that reveal its true brilliance; what other football game can you instantly swap your wingers around to confuse the opposition or instantly push up the field when you find the opposition has had too much possession?

The excellent Master League returns in largely the same shape as Pro Evolution Soccer 4, although one noticeable difference comes from the ability to regulate playerâs conditions automatically before a match instead of taking to the training pitch every time. For Pro Evo addicts this remains as time consuming as ever, whilst the option to share data with the forthcoming PSP adaptation looks to be a neat touch. Arguably one of the most appreciated introductions comes in the shape of Memorial Matches, allowing players to save their stats onto a memory card and setting up the scope for some intense rivalry in the workplace or at home with your mates.

Naturally Pro Evolution Soccer 5 is also the first time that European PS2 owners can take the series online, although Xbox owners had the chance in last yearâs release. Thankfully Konami have hit it absolutely spot on this time around with less lag issues and the option to play 2v2, something that has been desperately needed since football games first made the step into online multiplayer.

As youâd expect Pro Evolution Soccer 5 is visually similar to its predecessor although the customary increase and tinkering with animations is immediately apparent. Although no FIFA when it comes to presentation and detail (check out those crowds) the gameâs superlative animation easily sets Pro Evo out from the crowd, sitting high at the top of the league â“ no other in the history of football games has come close when it comes to replicating the true look of the sport. One big change this year is the inclusion of fully licensed replications of Arsenal and Chelsea; now being a United fan this isnât what I really need to see, however thereâs no denying that it really makes you wish Pro Evo could have this level of accuracy for every team in the game â“ if youâre listening FIFA isnât about time you shopped the license around?

On the audio front Trevor Brooking and Peter Brackley once again take to the mikes and provide a hilarious supplement to the intense action that unfolds on the pitch. Frequently it seems as though theyâre watching another game as they come out with classics, whilst Brookingâs demand for absolutely perfection is simply insatiable. Exactly when a football game will have decent commentary is beyond us, but at least it provides the humorous aspect to the utterly addictive, hugely entertaining and life-devoting experience that is Pro Evo.