PES 2010 - Top 5 Wish List

I’m sure you will all agree with me when I pronounce that the last two versions of Pro Evolution Soccer have failed to live up to expectations. EA Sports stepped up the game with FIFA 08 and 09 and arguably stole the mantle of the leading football game on the market right from under Konami’s grasp.

I produced a similar wish list for Football Manager 2010 and incase Mr Takatsuka is struggling for some inspiration for PES 2010, here’s a list of improvements I’d like to see in the forthcoming PES.

1. Improve online mode

Would it be harsh to say PES 2009’s online mode was utterly shambolic? To be honest I don’t believe it would be. I personally own a PS3 version of the game and what with the build up of lag, an inability to play with two players over the internet and also the laborious process of actually getting to a match room, there was certainly much to be desired. It got to the extent that I just gave up with playing online but if Konami can iron out a few of the said issues I would be happy to return to the lobby, as it were.

2. More licenses

It was great to have the new Champions League mode incorporated into PES 2009 but what happened to the licenses? We still had to play with the likes of London FC which is incredibly annoying especially as, dare I say it, FIFA has that inexhaustible array of fully licensed teams to tempt our allegiance. Hopefully atleast the crème de la crème of European football will again be licensed this time around but while EA holds the rights to these various licenses, expect to be playing at the Bristol Mary Stadium as North London take on Vall Violeta (that’s Arsenal vs Villarreal to you and I).

3. Make defending corners…defendable!

I don’t know about you but I am almost always left to rue conceding a corner as the resulting delivery either inevitably ends up in the back of the net or atleast ends up with the opposition having an attempt at goal. No matter what I do I can’t seem to stem the tide and nine times out of ten I come out defeated in any aerial duel. That’s not because I am woeful at defending either and I hope I will have support on this one. Although that point aside, if I do manage to atleast half clear my lines, the ball will always end up at the feet of an opponent who is free to drive towards my 18-yard-box and get a shot in. Surely this needs addressing Konami!

4. Better goalkeepers

In my opinion the goalkeepers in PES 2009 are shocking! They parry near enough every shot on goal and the rebound usually falls to an attacker who is left with a simple finish. Most of the efforts on goal are pretty tame too and it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got Buffon or Casillas between the sticks, they will inevitably look for the camera save.

5. Better Commentary

Now I’ve got no problem with Mark Lawrenson and Jon Champion, ofcourse they will struggle to rival FIFA’s duo of Andy Gray and Martin Tyler, but if I hear ‘this will end in disappointment for one party, an inner party for the other’ at the kick-off one more time I swear I’m going to snap the disk! The repetitive nature of the commentary really is terrible and hopefully Konami will be aware of this and adapt their scripts accordingly.

PES 2009 Master League Guide

Are you finding it tough to get to grips with the limited playing abilities of the likes of Espimas, Valeny, Ivarov and Castolo? Left wondering when, where and how your next Master League victory is going to happen? Well fear not as this guide is designed to help you overcome your Master League nightmares, instructing you on the steps that can be taken to propel you up the Division 2 table and achieve promotion to the promised land.

Who knows, with a few slight tweaks to your Master League game plan, you could soon be dreaming of trips to the Bernabeu and San Siro, tackling Europe’s best in the European Championship! But alas, let’s take things one step at a time eh!

Playing the transfer market

If you want to develop your side into promotion contenders rather than just mid-table makeweights then it is going to be vitally important that you make the right moves in the transfer market. I always find it difficult to accumulate enough cash during the first season to make an assault on the market but if you are fortunate enough to be able to acquire a player in the first transfer window then I would strongly advise it.

My first suggestion would be to sign either a striker or attacking midfielder as goals bring you wins which in turn earns you money to spend on potential new signings! It’s always a good bet to search for players according to their openness to negotiation as this way you will filter out any targets that are simply uninterested in a move. Another good ploy is to search for players by future potential as buying a youngster with the ability to develop over a few years will certainly stand you in good stead for the future.

Ok so you’ve picked out the player you want and now it’s time to nail the negotiation process. I tend to test the resolve of the selling club in question by offering a lower amount to start with, gradually increasing the transfer fee as the weeks develop. Obviously you have to be careful not to exceed the negotiation period but this way you won’t be getting your pants pulled down over a ludicrous price. I would also add that you should be wary of your overall budget as working outside of your financial means could result in a game over if you don’t accumulate enough victories and goals.

If you are struggling to raise enough points to spend on transfers then your best bet is to arrange an abundance of pre-season friendlies. At the end of the season play as many as you possibly can to ensure that you receive enough cash to spend on that potentially decisive new recruit.
Pace, pace and more pace!

If the sub-title wasn’t a giveaway, the key to Master League success for me is attributed to a team that possesses considerable speed throughout. I would recommend that you have atleast one striker that has pace in abundance and equally important would be having two wide players who have the acceleration to test the often sluggish Division 2 full-backs.

When you are in advanced positions with a player who has decent stats for dribbling and speed/acceleration, don’t be frightened to test the opposition by running at them and weaving in and out. If you manage to beat the full-back with your winger this can afford you the luxury of cutting inside and having a shot or even laying the ball off to your striker’s who may be better placed in the box.

As important as it is to have pace to burn in attacking situations, a quick back four will ensure you rarely get undone by that frustratingly simple through ball into space and for me, speed and acceleration are equally, if not more, crucial attributes for a defender as tackling is. In addition a centre-back with good speed could prove vital in making up for the mistakes that the likes of Ruskin, Giersen, Stremer and the like will inevitably make.

Play the passing game

It doesn’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that a decent passing game will stand you in good stead for success in the Master League. Although keeping possession in the lower echelons of Division 2 really can be the difference between success and failure.

In this sense it is vital that you don’t just panic and hoof it forward whenever you have the ball in defence. Other than when you are under extreme pressure, try your best to calmly play the ball out and get your strongest attacking player’s on the ball whenever possible.

Get your formation right!

There is no sure fire formation that will guarantee success for your team but I always find that a solid 4-4-2 is the best way forward. In my experiences a team that plays 4-4-2 with three attack minded midfielders and one defensive midfielder playing the Mascherano/Essien role sets a solid foundation.

Obviously at times you will need to adapt your formation to preserve a lead or chase a victory. For instance, say you need to grab a couple of goals, a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 system would probably be the most sensible approach. Similarly if you need to park the proverbial bus in front of your goal to stem the flow of your opponents then a 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 formation will provide you with that extra defensive cover.

Squad rotation

While I’m not telling you to be as vigorous in your squad rotation policy as Rafa Benitez, possessing a decent size squad and utilising each member can prove an effective approach in the Master League.

Unlike real life, form doesn’t really count for anything on Pro Evolution Soccer whereas fatigue can be a detrimental stumbling block to your progress that needs to be addressed. I would suggest that before each and every match you should check the fatigue levels of your players on the formation screen and remove from your starting line-up any players that are struggling.

Similar to fatigue is the condition arrows that must be taken into account if you are to be triumphant in Master League mode. Try to play as many players who have red or yellow up arrows as possible as the arrows specify just how quick off the mark or sluggish a player will prove to be. Be aware that you are taking a risk by playing those that have blue or even worse, grey arrows as they will be significantly slower to react during the match.

On a final note, while a game is progressing make sure you keep an eye on the stamina bar below the player’s name and don’t hesitate to make a change if one or more of your players are struggling to keep up with the pace of the game.

The story behind Winning Eleven

Have you ever wondered what on earth Winning Eleven is and why Konami feel the need to produce a carbon copy of Pro Evolution Soccer? If you’re interested in finding out potential answers to these two burning questions and for those of you that don’t even know what I’m talking about when I refer to Winning Eleven then I urge you to read on.

Some may say that Pro Evolution Soccer exists in two forms and they wouldn’t be too far off the mark with that assumption. PES is, infact, pretty much a reincarnation of Winning Eleven albeit with a few slight adjustments. Back in the days of the PS2 version’s of Winning Eleven, those lucky enough to reside in Japan were treated to the earlier release of Winning Eleven while Europeans, like myself, were forced to wait in anticipation for Pro Evolution Soccer to eventually hit the shelves. Although these days the two titles tend to coincide with eachother in terms of release date and if anything, Winning Eleven is held back a tad longer than PES.

To put it in Lehman’s terms, Winning Eleven is basically Pro Evolution Soccer with a few minor alterations available exclusively to the Japanese/Asian market.

Winning Eleven could be spotted in Playstation disc drives as early as 1995 and has developed through the years (and through the platforms) to today’s Winning Eleven 2009 version. And you can pick up the latest Winning Eleven across a variety of next generation consoles including the Wii, PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 while Konami do still produce a PC version and also a Winning Eleven for the PS2 for those of you still living in the 90’s!

So what exactly are the fundamental differences between PES and Winning Eleven? Well other than slightly different release dates and the obvious language variations (although I do believe you can switch Winning Eleven to English) I’m not aware that there is a great deal to be honest. In the past it has been argued that Winning Eleven has been far more responsive and the gameplay more fluid than PES but whether this is still the case now is certainly a question for debate.

Before I close on this piece, let’s try and shed some further light on this rather shaded issue. For those of you that have had the pleasure of playing Winning Eleven 2009 and PES 2009 have you personally noticed any major differences between the two? On a final note, as football is a global game, I really can’t comprehend why we don’t just have one generic PES/Winning Eleven can you?

PES 2009 Tips and Tricks

If you’re almost the finished article when it comes to your playing abilities on PES 2009 or even if you’re simply terrible at the game and need some advice on little moves that may help you improve then this article is definitely for you.

While I can’t promise to make you a better PES player, these hints and tips should get you firmly on the road to success and with constant practice you’ll have them mastered in no time.

The Cut Back

Cut backs are generally frowned upon in multiplayer/online play but there’s no question it’s a useful attacking ploy to utilise and is often undefendable. The cut back can be particularly useful if you are a side that doesn’t possess the strongest of attacking line-ups or merely if you are struggling to find goals from open play.

Explaining the cut back couldn’t be an easier task. Basically when you are charging through anywhere near the opponent’s 18-yard-box, instead of opting to take the shot on yourself, try simply squaring the ball to a team mate using the pass button and you tend to find they are left with a tap in.

Obviously this tactic relies on getting support for the front line, so it may be worth incorporating a system that includes an attacking midfielder or two. Good luck and let’s hope you see the net rippling on regular occasions!

The Check

One of my personal favourite moves when it comes to PES 2009 is, as I like to call it, the check. In fairness I probably over use it but there’s no doubting its ability to tie the AI opposition defenders in knots.

While you’re dribbling with the ball (I tend to find it most effective when moving diagonally towards the opponents goal) release the directional button and press R2 instructing your player to stop the ball dead. Immediately after dribble the ball away from the defender, preferably in an alternate direction, and you should evade any sort of challenge with ease. Try it out and see what happens!

The Marseille Roulette

This isn’t really a trick that I use too often but it can be extremely useful if carried out in the right areas. Obviously you don’t want to be doing it in your own six-yard-box but in the opposition’s half it can be a lethal weapon.

When dribbling with the ball at your feet rotate the directional button a full 360 degrees and hey presto. Bear in mind, however, that only a select few players can perform the trick. Sorry Titus!

The Flip Flap or Elastico

We’ve all had a laugh at our mate’s expense when he tries Ronaldinho’s signature move at the local park only to end up on his backside, looking like a complete plonker in the process. Ok so that’s me trying to pass the buck as I’ve had my fair share of embarrassments too but while the flip flap really is a difficult move to master, with PES 2009 you will have it down to a tee.

All you need to do is push the directional button to the opposite side of the player’s stronger foot and then back the opposite way while dribbling. So if you’re in possession with Cristiano Ronaldo for instance, you’ll be pressing the left directional button then the right one almost simultaneously. Give it a go!

The Step Over

While you might not prove to be as trigger happy as a certain Portuguese winger, throwing a few step over’s during a pulsating attacking run can unsettle an opposition defender. While I’ve never really noticed the step over throwing a defender completely off course, the occasional use of the move is certainly pleasing on the eye!

When running with the ball tap R1 or L2 twice and watch your player perform as many mesmerising step overs as you so please!

The Dive

I find it quite humorous that a football game is condoning what is widely considered one of the more ugly sides of the sport. Then again this is only a game and getting away with a dive would probably fill you with much self satisfaction. To be honest I don’t try them very often as I would rather just smash the ball in the net and I can safely say that I’ve never pulled off a dive and got away with it.

If you do fancy testing the resolve of the man in the middle then press L1, R1 and R2 at the same time when you’ve got the ball. Be careful though, get it wrong and you can have no complaints about having to head off down the tunnel for an early bath!

Super Cancel

While all of the aforementioned tricks and tips tend to be performed in attacking situations, this next one could be the difference between you keeping a clean sheet and conceding a hatful of goals. Positioning and positional awareness is certainly considered an influential part of the makeup of a decent defender in real life and it’s no different in PES either.

By pressing R1 and R2 together when defending you can manually move your player wherever you want him to go instead of relying on the AI. This way you can cut out that dangerous through pass or even double up with the computer (by pressing the shoot button when defending) to thwart an attacking move.

Your days of frustration are over too as super cancel can also save you needlessly conceding throw-ins and corners as you can avoid making any contact with the ball when it’s aimlessly floating out of play just short of the touch line.

Shot Feint

It’s a pretty basic move there’s no question about it but the shot feint can prove decisive in tricking an opponent and working enough space to carve out a clear cut opportunity. If done at the right time, the shot feint will leave defenders in a tangle but beware it doesn’t always come off!

To execute the shot feint you just have to press the pass button as the shot power bar begins to fill. Having consulted the PES game manual, I’m reliably informed that the feint will differ according to the directional button input prior to pressing the pass button.

The Dummy

Not only does a dummy look and feel fantastic if you get it right but in an attacking position it can help relinquish a player in a better position and give them the freedom to go on and have a shot at goal.

To carry out a dummy, just before the ball reaches you press and hold R1 to step over the ball. Although make sure you have a player behind you when leaving the ball because if you get it wrong, as well as looking rather like a dummy yourself you can be susceptible to a quick fire break from the opposition.

The Drag Back

A fancy if not spectacular trick, the drag back can be the perfect way to humiliate a mate and prove your credentials as the ultimate freestyle king of PES 2009.

Performing a drag back is pretty difficult and explaining it is even harder but here goes. Hold the R2 button from a stationary position and press the directional button in the opposite direction of that of the player’s run and then immediately press the directional button in a 45 degree angle diagonally towards the player’s strongest foot. Sounds complicated right? Well while it may take a few attempts to pull it off, don’t fret as I’m sure you’ll have it mastered in no time!

PES 2009 Reviewed

I was expecting big things from PES 2009 from the very moment I loaded up its predecessor - and not because I was mesmerised by the 2008 version.

Oh no, unfortunately PES 2008 was a massive disappointment on so many levels for me and for the majority of PES supporters too, I’m sure. Shingo 'Seabass' Takatsuka and his team of techno geeks at Konami certainly had their work cut out to win back the rapport of PES fantastics, some already tempted by the aesthetic allure of Pro Evo’s evil twin brother, FIFA 09. PES 2008 didn’t require minor tweaks, it needed a major overhaul.

So has PES 2009 delivered and improved on something of a catastrophic 2008 attempt? Well in a way it has to the extent that PES 2009 offers an exciting and enjoyable football gaming experience but, to Konami’s detriment, some of the old flaws still remain.

Let’s get down to basics. One of the fundamental problems with PES 2008 was slowdown. You know, when the screen literally appears to...well slow down and ‘lag’ whenever the ball was anywhere near the 18-yard-box. OK so that’s a little harsh, it didn’t happen all the time but it was certainly a niggling problem, somewhat akin to Owen Hargreaves’ knees, that fortunately has been ironed out.

Infact the gameplay in PES 2009 is something of a marked improvement. No longer will shots end up ballooned into row Z at the slightest tap of the shoot button when you’re clean through with Fernando Torres. There’s even the ability to place shots, just to make sure on that crucial one on one situation. Players feel much more reactive and realistic with their movements and there’s no more running through the post as you strive to get on the end of a searching deep cross as players bump into objects and, indeed, eachother.

With regards to graphics PES 2009 has certainly come on leaps and bounds for me. OK so for the most part you still have to put up with makeshift kits and Not So Real Madrid in terms of team names but player appearances and the general look and feel of a matchday are much better, certainly if you’ve moved on from the now rather archaic PS2 version.

A fantastic addition to the game has been the introduction of the UEFA Champions League mode. Konami have fought to obtain the licenses for the majority of clubs competing in the 2008/09 Champions League and with the signature music and intro video to boot, guiding your team to European glory has never felt so good!

Another new mode to have made its introduction on PES 2009 is the ‘Become A Legend’ mode. Not too dissimilar to FIFA’s ‘Be A Pro’, unfortunately it doesn’t have the same impact as the aforementioned Champions League feature and having given it a go on a few occasions now, I still haven’t found myself getting into it whatsoever.

On the face of it, ‘Become A Legend’ mode seems like a brilliant idea. Being able to create yourself and then line-up alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi as you take control of your destiny on and off the pitch seems a tempting proposition. Then again what PES doesn’t tell you at the start is that you have to be willing to put in hours of laborious effort in training situations to claim your rightful spot in the first team and nudge out the likes of Drogba and Fabregas. With pretty woeful stats to start with, that task becomes all the more difficult and to be perfectly honest I found it a painstakingly gruelling ordeal that really isn’t worth the effort.

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While the ‘Become A Legend’ part of the game is pretty woeful, one of my fundamental gripes with PES 2009 is associated with the AI. Yes it’s more like artificial stupidity if truth be told as goalkeepers still parry shots that they should be holding in their sleep and the movements of your computer team mates are considerably static and motionless.

Throw in the extremely annoying repetitiveness of the in-game commentary, seriously laggy online play, coupled with the inability to go online with a mate and challenge the world, and you have a summary of the various aspects that some would say deems PES 2009 an overriding failure.

So what’s the verdict? Well if you’re looking for free-flowing, almost arcade like football then PES 2009 is the game for you. While Konami have to admit that their product is far from perfect, there are enough plus points to keep you entertained for days on end. I know I have been! So onto the school report card and while PES 2009 is clearly a vast improvement on last year, there is definitely room for improvement. Over to you Seabass and here's to hoping that PES 2010 hits all the right notes.