My Impressions

[assnall]

Before i give my impressions i want you to know that i am a 37 year old 3d Artist with over 20 years of gaming experience.I own pretty much every console released to date from the obscure like Pc engine and Neo Geo to todays consoles such as PS3 and Xbox 360 (Wii excluded,although Super Mario Galaxy looks appealing).I am no fanboy,i enjoy games-period.

Got my PS3 Pro Evo today(only opted for the PS3 version over Xbox 360 as i prefer the d pad for football) and got to admit i was getting a little worried with all the negative feedback about the game,imparticularly the slowdown.
So far i have played 3 games with North London and random settings for pitch,weather etc.
I have experienced very little slowdown if any.
I have a Toshiba 32" HD tv and running the game at 720.I set the camera view to wide.Only once or twice did i notice a touch of slowdown and this was when i had a corner cleared and everyone was either pushing up or trying to put the ball back in the penalty area.
Even then it did not detract from the gameplay.I am sure some people may be having slowdown problems but the extent of which some people are saying is ridiculous.
Konami have highlighted this problem and i am confident that they will rectify it soon.Dont forget the game only officially came out today.
Also there are ways of dealing with it yourself,as posted on this site you can install the game,turn on/off Ps3 features to help,i have not felt the need to do any changes yet.
With regards to complaints about really bad slowdown during replays again i have to disagree.Sure it is not 100% smooth but in no way does it look an eyesore nor does it make me want to skip them.Again i feel some people are blowing this out of proportion.
I have read many reviews/posts about this game and feel that the critism has been unfair and in some cases expectation levels have been a little to high.Dont forget that this is a 1st generation PS3 title and it is widely acknowledged that the PS3 has a different structure to developing games compared to that of the Xbox 360 and PC.
This should not deter you from buying this game if you are a fan of football.
The visuals whilst lacking Fifa's polish are very good,the players look for the most part like their counterparts.The stadium and crowds are decent and work well enough (after all the action is on the pitch).
The animation is awesome,moves are seamless and fluid.The commentary is decent,keeping up with the play mostly.Sound effects are again done well with players emitting grunts and groans when tackled,the ball sounds are handled well (especially enjoy the thud when hitting crossbar or post).
Load times are minimal and cutscenes are seamless.
But its the gameplay that is the real winner.It feels right,responsive and realistic.To be honest i gave up with PES after version 5 on the xbox as i felt the control was a touch fiddly and the ref blowing his whistle for the slightest challenge broke up the game to much imo.
I had FIFA 07 for the 360 (starved of a football game over the summer and bought it 2nd hand for £20)it looked and played ok but was only ever a stop gap until Pro Evo 2008 came out.Had some fun times with FIFA both on and offline with colleagues and friends but the gameplay and controls for me were not responsive nor realistic enough even compared to Pro Evo 5, the computer AI at times was laughable but i knew this.(In case your wondering why i did not buy Pro Evo 6 on Xbox 360,a friend had it and i played it a fair bit but felt it was not to far removed from Pro evo 5 on the xbox both in presentation and gameplay + online was really laggy).On Pro Evo 2008 you feel that your in total control of your player and your team mates AI has a good understanding of you and their opponents whereabouts.The opponents AI is also good from their positional play to the tactics they use in trying to win possesion.The referee for the most part allows play to flow and will only blow up when if clumsy in the tackle.That said i managed to con the ref into giving me a freekick outside the penalty area by diving when i was inbetween 2 defenders but where the ref was positioned he had no real way of seeing my cheating lol!
Sure Seabass has admitted that Pro Evo 2009 will be completely overhauled and should defining football game we all crave but for now i am happy enough with this offfering.
I am not telling you to buy this game but for a man who seldom posts anywhere i felt i had to offer my opinion and that after all is all it is,an opinion.For me i make up my own mind whether or not a game is any good by playing it myself,if it sucks i sell it.Simple.In terms of being influenced by reviews there is so much choice and opinion out there both in print and on the web that it can become a headache in making a decision (i had a simlar dilemma when buying my 1st HDTV).When it comes to news/reviews on the websites i value the thoughts of Gamestop and IGN.I find them informative and comprehensive,but for the most part as they say "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

So there are my impressions,admittedly i have only played the game for an hour or so, i tend to watch any intro's or rolling demos that games have and also spend a few moments on the training ground before jupming into a game proper.So far so good.I am sure i will find things that annoy but also things that will please.Looking forward to getting the team names/kits edited and will be having friends over at the weekend for serious football action on/offline.
Lets hope that it plays ok online as i tend to find of all game genres team sports(such as football) have issues,not to forget that Sony's online service is stll very much a wip.That said FIFA 07 on the xbox 360 for the most part played pretty well with minimal lag (dependant on the host obviously).
Gamer tag DollsEyes

 

[deanos63]

i agree with everything you said.

have you tried downloading something from the ps store whist playing the game? i found this had an effect on the slowdown issue.

try it and see what you think.

 

[lssj_broly]

I 100% agree with you mate. Glad there's someone out there who shares my opinion on the game.

 

[StrayBezza]

Agree.....

I agree also. This framerate thing has been MASSIVELY overblown. In essence PES 08 is awesome. I don't understand all these people posting issues.....not calling them liars but what is going on? I have the PS3 and 360 version and I have no issues with either......love this version.

PS3 ID - BezzaTron
360 Gamertag - StrayBezza

Feel free to add me for games!!!

 

[fick]

My better half got PES for me on yesterday, and i must say it's not as bad as the rumours suggest.

assnall, you're right re the lag, it's certainly better than the initial stutter when using PS2 PES6 on a PS3...

 

[SonofRambo]

Your spot on with the gameplay.

I was initially disappointed when I first played it, it felt and looked like PES6 on the xbox360, stikers such as Eto, Henry being able to run past defenders with ease and defenders not being able to catch up, along with the faster pace of the game it just didnt feel right.

But playing it for the second night in a row, the gameplay is really really beginning to grow on me. The amount of new and numerious animinations make this like the real thing and its a huge step up from PES6. On the pace of the game - maybe ive gotten use to it but i notice the games pace is pretty much spot on particlularly in midfield and when your forced play a more tactical and passing game.

 

[familymahone]

Nice post friend. I was very concerned, like yourself, due to all the negative feedback about the new game. I am now, at least, happy to buy the game this afternoon as your review has put my mind at ease somewhat.

I'm not sure why everyone has a downer on the release every year but with this being the first on a new platform I suppose expectations were rediculously high. I'm sure we all agree that 2008 will the year of the PS3 and this release has come too early to fully maximise the capabilities of the console.

 

[shankly is god]

nice psot agree with it all, only slow down i get is the entrances tho

 

[marvito]

the slow down was less apparent when i just played it, but it still does it sometimes!

 

[zeemeister]

Something wierd I played pes2008 on my SD panasonic 54cm TV and it was a little 'stuttery'.

I then took my ps3 to my parents place and played on their Telefunken 74cm and didn't notice slowdown at all except when the screen got a little too busy. When I got back to my Panasonic the 1st game was hazy and looked very bad. I reloaded and it works better than at first, its really wierd.

 

[Dmitris]

Welcome.

Nice 1st post.

 

[mrrm1st]

The interesting thing on this thread is that people seemed to be aware of the problems with PES 2008 before they bought it, and then found they weren't as bad as expected.

I bought the game yesterday and had no idea about the slow down issue at all. I have an HDTV which I gather helps matters, and I have not noticed any slowdown at all in normal game play. The replays however are a different matter and in my opinion they are an absolute disgrace. They are slow, stuttering and jerky. I cannot understand why this should be given the power of the PS3. I have Formula 1 Championship Editition on which you can run a 90 second reply of 22 cars bombing round a 5km circuit from loads of camera angles and it does it flawlessly. Why can't PES manage a 10 second reply from one camera angle even vaguely competently?

There is a poll around on the forum about the conspiracy theory that Konami always put a flaw in the game to ensure that people buy next years version and I totally agree with this. On the PS2 there was the stupid version with handballs which ruined the game, then there was the edition when you were given a penalty if a defender breathed on you in the box.

Overall I think the gameplay of PES 2008 is quite good (although more arcadey than PES 6 in my view, and my defence seems to go walkabout worryingly often), but the replays are diabolical, and I for one normally enjoy watching PES replays. Given that (other than Teamvision which I have not really noticed yet, and better graphics) there is nothing really new in PES 2008 you would think that Konami would at least manage to get the basics right before releasing it.

I am a Tax Advisor by trade and if I gave my clients the incomplete, bugged level of advice that Konami seemed quite happy to churn out this year, then I would not be in business for long. Maybe I am being unduly harsh because I have come to expect so much from PES, but so far 2008 has left me cold.

 

[mistermod]

Let down by this title

I have come to expect so much from PES, but so far 2008 has left me cold.

It's left me colder than a plate of sushi

This game (franchise) has always been a bit of a love it, hate it affair, but I really can't see £45 worth of High def gaming in this title.

Yep it has it's moments but this game has now changed the way I will buy games forever. In future I will buy sports titles a year late. That way I won't continually fund these guys whom I feel are not earning my money each year, just expecting it.

A sad day in gaming release imho.

 

[familymahone]

It's left me colder than a plate of sushi

This game (franchise) has always been a bit of a love it, hate it affair, but I really can't see £45 worth of High def gaming in this title.

Yep it has it's moments but this game has now changed the way I will buy games forever. In future I will buy sports titles a year late. That way I won't continually fund these guys whom I feel are not earning my money each year, just expecting it.

A sad day in gaming release imho.

I think you might be exaggerating ever so slighty. The gameplay is as excellent as always so perhaps your expectations have to come down a little or else you will end up playing this game next year when we're on the 2009 version. :laugh:

 

[mistermod]

I think you might be exaggerating ever so slighty. The gameplay is as excellent as always so perhaps your expectations have to come down a little or else you will end up playing this game next year when we're on the 2009 version. :laugh:

Bugger I never thought of that. Oh well it's a two year lay off then !

I really really wish I was exagerating, this game truly hurts me and has made me re-evaluate where we are in gaming.

And to be fair to PES it isn't even this one game. Most of the High Def experience for me has been little short of poo! And gaming appears to have stagnated to a point I think I'm just about done with it.
Shame but that's the way it goes I spose!

 

[Dragonfly]

I'll just quickly say I love the game. The only thing that annoys me is the shit goal keeping. Unless your keeper is one of the world bests (Buffon, Cech, etc) the ball will bounce off him and someone will probably run in and tap in the ball.

I'll give a more detailed review later, but now, I just want to quickly see what I've missed on PESGaming - 16 pages of New Posts, mostly repetitive shite.