Wrapping it all up
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2008 News on Thu 23 Aug 2007
Well after much anticipation, Leipzig has arrived and with it feelings of general disappointment. The team at Konami have been developing a next-gen version of Pro Evolution Soccer for almost 2 years now, and yesterday they showed us what appeared to be nothing more than a polished up PES6. Yes, we KNOW it is only ‘75%’ complete (how do you define how complete a game is anyway?) but with the game released in 2 months there surely can be no time left to make any major changes.
Gameplay wise, our man in Leipzig said he almost felt as though he was playing XBox 360 PES6. There are not enough new animations and judging from the movies we’ve seen, the in-game graphics are not next-gen. You want to see next-gen? Take a look at this FIFA 08 gameplay video. Yes, that’s right, I’m endorsing FIFA on a Pro Evo fan site. It’s all well and good PES 2008 having what appear to be fantastic cut scenes in the new game (especially goal celebrations) but what is most important is how the game looks and feels when you play it. Now, I’m sure some of you will disagree… but FIFA 08 looks the business. The lighting, the textures, the atmosphere… it all makes it feel a lot more real than PES 2008. And you know something else, it’s not just the graphics. If you ask me FIFA has been catching up to PES for the past 5 years with the gameplay side of things. After the abysmal FIFA 2001 the guys at EA have been working hard and in FIFA 08 I think it’s going to finally pay off.
Konami need to realise that they can’t rely on the old foundation that made their game so popular (the gameplay). Here’s something interesting. Take a look at this screenshot… it’s of Pro Evolution Soccer 3 released on PS2 in 2003.
Now let’s take a look at PES 2008… released on the PS3 in October 2008 (four years later).
Does this really represent next-gen quality graphics? Sure, I love the new presentation, and the animations of course have ‘evolved’… but it DOES NOT represent 4 years worth of ‘evolving’ - no way.
I thought surely this year they’d get it right for the new generation of consoles. Remember the HUGE leap from ISSPE2 on the PSone to PES on the PS2? It was amazing! I truly expected the same leap this time around, but it just hasn’t happened.
It’s always the little things that Konami managed to screw up over the years. If they had included stuff that the fans have been asking for for years there wouldn’t be so much backlash. Where is real master league currency? Where are the 2 player master leagues? Where are the scenario modes? There is just so much missing that wouldn’t take long to include. The currency issue is the main thing that annoys me. No body wants to be spending 14000 points on a player, you want to be spending £14 million pounds, or euros… hell, I’d settle for dollars if it meant having real currency!
While Konami struggles with the basics, EA are already streaking ahead as they announce a 10-man online mode. You’ll now be able to complete a full career online and join teams to play against others as a unit. The best Konami can manage is a lag fueled game with a maximum of 4 players.
Konami MUST respond to the critism by coming out next year with an absolute knock-out of a game, otherwise I am sure I won’t be the only one who gives up on the series altogether.
wow yours is even more negative than the one at winningelevenblog! ;) …. OK, it’s not the jump we’ve all been expecting (from the look of things) but I guess that’s part of the problem. The fact that we’ve highly expected massive changes has made the game fall short.
I agree that FIFA looks better in the video you posted but the gameplay is kinda rediculous with the silly OTT skill moves. Who stops and does kickups in the middle of a game?
Anyway, I’m going to say the usual. The game isn’t out yet, we haven’t played it, we are going by someone whose filmed a screen and crippled the quality through youtube web videos. Don’t get me wrong I agree with what you’re saying… After 2 years it should be better than it appears right now.
I still have a little faith.
Kev! I didn’t think I was going to have to mention the ‘tricks’ in that FIFA video… I thought people would see that they were only using them to show off what you can do. You won’t actually use them really. It’s like in Pro Evo, how often do you actually use the Zidane spin or the stepovers effectively?
I never use skillzz either way, fair point. It’s just that it seems to be the selling point…
will peter ,, i agree wit my man kev ,,
and for your question about zidan spin and stepovers ,, i use them alot and effectively ,, in pes we don’t have tricks like fifa tricks “wich force the oppenent to recieve the trick and let u leave or go away from him like fifa street :)” in pes the gameplay depends on how u can play and ur mentality :) let’s wait for the 2 games 2 be releasd then u can compare ur fifa wit pes !!
I have some faith. But I’m going to make two points which I don’t think have been made before:
*Seabass and his team have NOT come to terms with the game in WIDESCREEN. It will affect the pace of the game, and they have that much more space to play with. It’s like Arsenal moving from Highbury to the Emirates; its an adjustment. With more space, they could have developed the game regarding one-on-one duels between defender and attacker, but they havent. They have done nothing with either the camera angles or presentation, or more importantly- passing, to enhance the game for this new mode.
*Unless you change the control method, i.e joypad, how much can the actual game change? Without revamping analogue control, essentially it will always be the same engine. When was the last time PES came up with an innovation as good as the “through ball” or “masterleague”. They seem to have run dry on the innovations.
I say all this, but the basic PES engine (which even PES6 had on the 360) is still brilliant played between mates, that won’t change.
of course fifa looks better but pes will always be better to control. hopefully konami will license more clubs and countrys
You can’t say that. It won’t ‘always’ be better if Konami continue to re-hash the same game every year while EA continue to improve year upon year.
I am in now way saying FIFA will be better, I am merely pointing out that Konami need to wake up to the competition (gameplay wise) before it is too late.
I have to say that FIFA 08 looks way better at the moment but hopefully PES 7 will have some surprises in store for us. The screenshots look really great on the links but seeing the FIFA 08 shots just make it look so retro now. I do think that Konami can learn a lot from the style of EA and if they can do that by PES 8 if they continue, it will be incredible. The PS3 and XBOX 360 are next-gen consoles and these shots just look so basic as if rubbishing the all consoles. FIFA 08 really could zoom ahead of PES now. The PES 7 screenshots look like PES 6 maybe even 5. PES would sell more if they can license the whole game and include more stadiums and this is when FIFA takes the number 1 spot.
For the last 3 years Konami have been praised for their superior gameplay, but knocked for the depth and presentation in their game. It seems as though they have left the graphics (relying on the good publicity in that department) and, from the screenshots released so far they have (hopefully) improved the depth of the master league. Worthy sacrifise?
I must admit I am also a little concerned about the look of the game. Having seen a lot of next gen games, this doesn’t really seem up there with them. I appreciate that game play is the key, but with the power of the next gen consoles, surely we can expect great gameplay and a beautiful looking game? They still can’t seem to get the grass looking great in my opinion. Here’s hoping that the unfinished 25% of the game is an amazing 25%!
Just watched some gameplay videos of both pro and fifa on youtube. Have always been a huge pro fan, but got to say Im really disapointed this time around.. Fifa has some great graphics, that looks pretty realistic. Love the pro evo gameplay, but I think we deserve better graphics on the next gen concoles.. Fifa does it, why cant Konami???
Guys your all mad its gonna be absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!!
I live in Perth Australia, i was in Sydney, and before that, all around the middle east, one thing that was similar for the past ten years of my life, is that we (Three Brothers) played Winning Eleven, and Later Pro Evo, and have been long term fans that fully supported the game … After Fifa 2007 was released, and we saw PES6 and have been playing it, and still playing it, i was amazed at how EA Games were catching up, i knew that if KONAMI will not work hard, they might lose allot of there hard-core fans … The fans that actially made them who they are because of how much they told all there friends about how MUCH PES or WE is better then FIFA, how its all about the gameplay … I Developed, and just like you Peter Willis, after last years poor effort (PES6), i was in the hope that PES7 or 2008 will be absolute next-generation, uses DX10 for PC, and has amazing graphics, aswell as new and improved gameplay (AND A BETTER F***ING Defence system, compared to last years) >>> From all the video’s i watched, FIFA Had a better and smarter AI then that of PES, yes PES has evolved, but FIFA has revolutionized, they truely changed from crappy gameplay style to an amazing one, that really grips the viewer. However, as others said, that stupid trick system they have is really annoying, thats were they destroyed the realizm of the game, this is not FIFA Street, players dont always do tricks in games, usually they play with TACTIC, and Tricks SHOULDN’T ALWAYS WORK, actially 30% of the time they should work, and the other 70% of the times players should lose the ball, but ofcourse players like C. Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho should have better control, and all these things, which dont appear to be included … Thats why i might end up playing PES2008, rather then Fifa08 … But i’m guessing by the next version of the games, FIFA will succeed, i dont even see KONAMI using there brain to make enjoyable soccer games anymore, they lost my trust, both my other players are still long term supporters of PES/WE, i have changed … Also thanks allot, that is a perfect PREVIEW … :D :D :D
One of the things Konami DOES do, is not forget PC users. PES on the PC is going to be the full next-gen game. FIFA 08 on the PC is still going to be the same as 07.
I won’t take anything away from FIFA. They have improved over the last couple years. Konami also has sat on their laurels for the past couple years. But considering I play on PC, this year’s choice will be PES 2008.
If EA puts out the next-gen game for the PC in 2008 however, I may have to give a good hard look at it.
Each yr I buy PES & FIFA and each yr I’ve taken FIFA back to the store for a full refund. My reasoning for doing so can be summed-up by EA releasing half-arsed offerings to the consumer, knowing full well that 06 & 07 versions were work in progress.
However, what has, & continues to make me laugh, is the inclusion of so many of PES’s gameplay features into the FIFA games. From the controller set-up to custom formations, to changing strategys on the fly & the list goes on.
Could FIFA 08 be the PES we have been shouting for for yrs? Is the gap b/w the two closing? Only time will tell, & if you’re like me & approach both games with open minds, its only through playing them that you can come to that decision.
Remember, what you may love in a game, others may hate.
I thought that FIFA looked rubbish… you can tell the gameplay sucks… its just simply not as close to real football as pro evo… and agian i think that will be proved…
those boys at Pro Evo are clued up and somehow produce the closest thinkt o football every time… I cant wait
I hope they konami include more realistic offerings player of month season highligts of yester year situations in classic matches like man utd v bayern in champions league final earn points etc play 1 nil down etc or england v cameroon in world cup 90 2 1 down play from there please scrap points 4 money in master league, im 34 na the love game to bits my kids love it,love the online on ps2 pes6 hope will improve in october.
i cant belive what im reading fifa better than pes?????
everybody look at the image again aint it the xbox version!!!
has anybody seen the ps3 version which look really great!!! but it not even finshed!!
really and truly pes is only ment for playstaion!!! xbox really messed everything up for pes?
yes it fustrating that pes aint fully licenced but that never botherd anybody b4 WOW fifa is licenced thats the only thing they have! pro will always be as close to real football as ever trust me wait until the ps3 version is finshed and u will see what im thalking about!!!!!!!!!
if no one likes pro then get fifa and u do realise the game has no worth of YOUR time then u will come running back to the BIG BOSS OF FOOTBALL
F**K FIFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok foaks u know wha da problem is if u look @ da fifa picture it looks really nice all da picture on pro evo looks nice as well but da problem is they should add new things 2 da game if u look @ ps2 da whole master league season is da same as ps3. it ment 2 be da next gen yeah they should have da real money da real league & their fist lower league. imagine u have 18 or 20 teams in 1 league & 8 team fightin 4 promotion it does not make sense they should have da real team & lower league & pes need a manager mode this are what makes fifa interesting even if the game play is nonsense but this things are important 2 make the game complete it will make sense. this game is meant 2 be da next gen so a expect better. it not 2 late pls add it 2 it ppppllllsss.
what konami need 2 do is start listening 2 wha da fans want because they are makin the game 4 da fans not 4 da company 2 eat we pay our money wxpectin something different & we see same thing come we all get sick of same thing apart 4rm marriage this game means a lot 2 da fan can we get what we want yo peter willis me & ma home boys almost bet up some boys over pes is better than fifa & yes we right cause it da best football game so do something cause fifa aint ga no chance. we heard ya man left konami & went 2 fifa, wha his gon give fifa pro’s game play no it wount work cause pro fans are loyal & if konami want its fansssssssss 2 continue our loyalty they should include wha we want & do it professionally pls.
if we are all disapointed in pro evolution y dont every one call up and complain and then konami will realise what is happening here . Tell them your feeling and that it is not good enough and we might well be able to see an imrpoovement .
Hey people i used to play pes alot PES5 was my favourite out of all of them but after that i think they’ve gone down hill from there. If i here the next pro evo is good then ill get it but until then ill be playing a bit of everything really. apparently the new fifa is looking good from what ive heard with championship teams included so i might give that a try
i think the problem is konami are still making the game for every console and possibly not concentrating on the next gen versions enough but saying that im still gonna go and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves because i like the look of it hopefully next year they will really push the next gen versions so that we are all blown away
[…] of Leipzig. I guess it’s hard to judge a game before you play it, but I still stand by my points made the other day regards FIFA catching up. Many of you criticised me for saying PES 2008 looks rubbish, but that was […]
After watching as many videos I could find on YouTube, I changed my mind that Fifa looked the better game. I guess I was impressed by the graphics and atmosphere on the pitch; and player movement looked quite realistic to compared to next-gen Fifa 07, which was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen. However, I was unmoved by the amounts of tricks they added–the rainbow flick, who does it in a game? (of hundreds of games I watched, I’ve only seen it done once)–the hocus pocus, is also very rare AND HARD (almost impossible to do while dribbling)–but I won’t deny that it was interesting to see the addition of some realistic moves, and the ability to link up dribbles was a decent addition. But it’s oversimplified in my opinion. If Fifa have got any respect for the players on the field, they’d make these moves realistically harder. Of course I can’t tell just yet how easy they are because I haven’t played the game, but I think even Ronaldinho would find it hard AND UNNECESSARY to link step-overs with a 360 Spin, then a Flip-Flap, and finally a Rainbow flick to get by a defender. More often than not a well timed knock on, or change of direction does the trick. What makes players like Messi, Ronaldinho, Lampard, Ibrahimovic, Zidane, Henry, Eto’o, Berbatov, Drogba and co so impressive to watch is there ability to control the ball in tight space and under pressure. And by what Fifa have tried to showcase in Leizpig, I believe they’ve got it wrong yet again. Since Fifa are obviously heading in the wrong direction of adding features just for the sake of innovation, PES are still safe. Even though PES still looks like the same-old same-old, the many of us who played it for what really matters, the gameplay, can appreciate the same-old PES–but one which looks better than ever with the outstanding graphics and game animations. But it is sad that we lack licensing and a proper Career Mode.
look at this….every 1 is talking bout graphics.i dont give a toss about graphics its all about the gameplay and to me it sounds brilliant..fifa is shit you could shoot using the finesse shots from almost anywhere and score.that would never happen in pes..when pes 2008 comes you will see what a fool you are.
hey, im new to this site and noticed that everyone is rippin into the graphics, but if ya have noticed over the years fifa always seems to have the better graphics but always really poor gameplay, too me the new fifa looks virtually the same as the last one on 360 apart from a few added parts eg. the skills, stadiums, teams but apart from that graphics wise as in the players looks extremely similar to the last one and i can say the same about what the game play looks like, so alot of people are talkin about how pro evo has not really changed alot they have just added a few things to me it looks like fifa has done the same.
thx for readin
how could anyone not notice the new shirt-pulling feature? Pes is obviously taking another slow step toward realism. Seriously, how many of you play PES in first person camera? I know i play with wide view, and in that, I could care less about how detailed the grass are.
gameplay wise, I heard they’ll make freekick a lot easier, which I am really happy about because I hate PES freekicks as they are almost impossible for many of us.
if the need to improve anything on graphics, just make the skin a little more detailed and change the 2 dimensional fans, then the game would be perfect.
just bin looking at the different photos of pro ova the years football dosnt change only wot you see on and off the pitch yes i see theres no difference with pro 3 and the new 1 only the player graphics look preety amazing all i notice is the players are growing up if you get wot i meen fiffa will never catch up with the stupid gimmicks they put in the players llok all the same size and do everything that all the other players do as in abilitys not like in pro gawd sum ppl.the cut scenes on and off the pitch are wot makes the game yea change them stupid pionts inda master league haha but but i qoute will konami ever get the rights to the full licenecs for the premiership i think not EA hold the rights even they put in things they have not got licences for but get away with it oh the players do not look like human on fifa more like monsters out of a horror film that game should be given a 18rating pro is for men fifa for kids be a real man stick with the best and stop moaning everybody as a off year or two. if you looking at a polished game shiny graphics and menus no game play or no realistic replays look at fifa and the sweet spots for scoring the same old goal over and over and over and over again. had fifa06 you kicked off run to the half semi circle and lobb the goal keeper ever time..
bin reading sun post on the reply page jimmi hendrix like your response haha. and Stephane sinava all them fancy tricks in fifa get your point to. come how fifa fans grow up and play the mans game leave fifa to the kids.how many times do you see a player in real life do all the fancy foot work all the way through the match dont think so thats why pro is realistic. scored some enjoyable over head and sissor kicks in pro and upmost satisfing to.have played pro evo when it was on the psx as iispro it was still better than fifa and played it as winning eleven on N64 to dats when i changed over fifa mite have shiny graphics but for game play and player graphics haha no way wot a load of tiolet. did play world league soccer on the saga saturn graphics wernt that much cop but game play fantastic better than fifa GROW UP FIFA FANS AND STOP SAYING CANT SCORE ON PRO ITS TO HARD HAHA
how can you say fifa will be better on a pro evolution site…HOW??????????how dare you..ha i am only jokin…but i really do hope pes 2008 will be miles better than the lame fifa and ypou will have to apologise to all of us on how wrong you are…
FIFA does look better, but I will give both games a go before I decide which one I will play the next 12 months. I always seem to choose PES so lets se this year. Konami has added better Defence, quickly taken free-kicks (not like PES6), you can choose who goes in the box for free-kicks/corners and how many is in the wall and the ball psysics should be more realistict All these things make the gameplay flow better, so if this is the case I don’t really care about the graphics…
But again FIFA has improved alot, I saw the Pro-mode video of Ronaldinho on fifa2008news and the first impressions of the commentary is absolutly brilliant - copy/paste Konami!!!
FIFA is out one month earlier than PES so that should give me plenty of time to see whether or not the gameplay is any good (an improvement to PES6)..
Guys, I don’t actually say that I think FIFA will be better. The article is just here to highlight the fact EA is no longer as far behind Konami as they used to be. And unless Konami get their act together and give us a WOW game next year, in my view FIFA could be better (as they are developing and improving VERY quickly).
lol i am the only one of us lot that thinks that the grapichs in pes are aamasing b4 next gen with i am not going on to for a bit [money] i started playing pes 4 and then got 5 an 6 so if any of u have these games still all of them play 4 then 5 then 6 and them back to see all the improvments with i think u will find most when u play back as u will miss the slick ness of 6 and 5 on 4 when u go 6 to 5 u will notice that the gameplay is better the takels feel good on 6 but 5 used the same tackeling of 4 6 uses the same shoting s 5 but with things addad on to make it work better lol i would like to point out that i have fifa 5 and omg same year as 4 its omg crap u carnt edit your formation how u want them the hole gamesucks as such i do not play fifa ever but i still have the game as i would not get any thing for it if i sold it and people that complan about fre kicks omg beckham or that nakamura from celtic do not soce of allo of them now do they
just got the new trailer on xbox live and it looks NICE…apart from the little brazilian kids holding the flag..
This sort of stuff is said everytime the two games are nearly release. ‘FIFA will be better this year’, ‘EA have made FIFA into a quality game’. and you know what? its never happened.
This 10v10 mode, has anyone actually experienced the servers that EA run? they are very very poor i dought they will work most of the time.
James… I must have said this about 20 times now. In this article I am NOT saying FIFA 2008 will be better, I merely point out that it is catching up quickly and Konami need to begin evolving in more ways than the small updates they provide us with every year.
fifa is not quickly catching up with pes..its not even close just cos it has licenses and graphics the gameplay sucks ass..the small updates..this year they went all out to make the best football game around which it will be,so please tell us all how it is a small update..
Peter, your obviously a massive fan and have written a detailed and honest preview. Not the preview I wanted to hear though!!!!! I, like everyone else was waiting for this game to blow me away on the PS3. Despite your preview I’m not going to write it off just yet after all the proof is in the pudding and when have konami ever brought out a new edition that hasn’t been an improvement. We all feel the same every year that the game is a step forward but…….(The master league for example - why does its format feel so dated. If anyone can remember sensible world of soccer which was out over 10 years ago on the amiga they had and amazing league and transfer system) There are always aspects that we as veterans of the whole series know can be improved upon. However with the improved power of the next gens available I forsee in the next 2 years that Konami will have no reason why they can’t implement all the changes which will make this game the game that true fans want.
As to the shortening gulf between Fifa and PES this is a well troden path and I’m sure every footy sim fan has an opinion. My humble opinion is that as far as gameplay (the most important aspect) is concerned pes has had the upper hand for years by a long way. Over the last couple of years the gulf has been shrinking but this is only because Fifa is trying to emulate PES as closely as possible on gameplay. Yes Fifa has some nice touches such as lovely graphics, better commenatary, real club and player names and a decent sound track but so what this might impress some people. But if your a real football fan its about the way the game plays and not all the fancy menues and the rest of it. Fifa will never surpass pes because it needs pes to show it the way on the field. Admittedly Fifa has a few things it could teach pes but not about gameplay.
I just can’t wait to see what the game looks like on the PS3 after all there are still 6 weeks before it comes out and there is only so much you can assume about a game without playing it 1st hand.
p.s. Looking forward to whooping some frogs online as well!!!!!!!!!!
i was a big fan of Fifa since it was the only dominating football game till i played the pro evolution 2004 and just throw my fifa into the garbage … nth can be compared … maybe the graphics looks a little bit poor but who gives a sh*t to the graphics since u have this amazing gameplay .. its not like u press E and run toward the goal and no body can catch you or slow you down and when u press W sadly to call your last hope which is the goalkeeper he just blow your fingers with his slow motion move and even if u were lucky and he touched the ball it finds her way into the goal ……
the thing is Konami has build an amzing core to this game , they were just proving even with the (copy/paste) thing Fifa still trying to catch what was already done 4 years ago ..
but unfortunatly some of PES fans were amazed by a video crap to the Fifa on a broadcasting website .. anyway SINCE EA turned into an advertising company maybe should think of working to advertise the PES series instead of advertising for a garbage ..
I think PES is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just been on the EA web site and ad a browse at fifa08 wot the hell are AE doing yet again its biz biz biz biz biz biz biz biz biz biz all do wot i did last time put e little note infront of the copy of fifa08 on the self at tesco saying leave this game alone buy pro evo2008 and take a picture on my phone and go buy a new liverpool shirt and get pro evolution soccer 08 printed on the back.haha love the game the wife yet again becomes a pro evo widow lol