For the first time since PES has been on next gen consoles it's finally become playable again. I have always bought PES every year since the ISS series on PSone, but since PES 6 have found it unplayable. It's lacked in gameplay, which is obviously the most important thing and also what made it so good earlier in the series. I bought PES 2012 without really expecting much, and after a couple of games I realised that finally PES are starting to get back on track. For the first time in years I've been playing games and enjoying them, it's starting to remind me of the old PES, where it's all about the gameplay, and what I mean is that every game you play is different, every game is unique. You could have a stale boring 0-0 game in one match, then the next you could have a thrilling 4-2 end to end game for 90 mins. This is unlike all the rest of the Pro Evo games since PES 6 where every game feels stale, repeatative, and just horrible and boring to play. Yet people are complaining more than ever about PES 2012, I just don't get it.
Some of the most common complaints:
Shooting - You can't aim. Shot's go straight to the keeper. Shots feel weak.
Passing - Through balls don't work. Passes don't go to the player i pass to.
Goalkeepers - Goalkeepers suck.
Defending - You can't defend. The computer just runs straight through my defence. Defenders position themselves like retards.
My honest review on these issues:
Shooting - I admit, at times, shot's can feel a little awkward, you'll slightly tap the shoot button and a shot will sail over the bar from a few yards out, shot's can go straight at the keeper, and it doesnt always go where you want it to go. But you know what, I'm not the greatest PES player and even I have scored some great goals, whether it be a 25 yard screamer, a beautiful little dink over the keeper, or a perfectly timed cross and header into the corner. Every goal I score feels great and I get satisfaction from it, which I wouldnt get if everytime i shot went perfectly into the corner. I can have a game where nothing is going in, and missing absolute sitters, and games where every shot i hit is flying in or forcing the keeper to make world class saves, it relates to real life, and also shooting in the style of that particular player. The one negative tho, i believe the power bar is way too sensitive, and hope it soon goes back to how it used to be where you had more control of the power of your shot, like the earlier PES games.
Passing - I struggled with the passing at first, and still do, it doesn't always go where you want it, but why should it, why should you be able to play perfect passes all the time. It makes you apprieciate those players with the better passing abilities. And slow down, put a foot on the ball and time your passes, then it feels nice, the ball does go where you want it to. Through balls are difficult but not impossible, in fact if you take your time, look for the right opportunities, playing the perfect through ball is amazing on this PES, and gives great satisfaction when you pull it off. It works because of the improved AI this year, those players running through and finding the space.
Goalkeepers - I've seen so many people complaining about the keepers but I find it bullshit. I seriously don't see the problem with the goalkeeping this year. Obviously PES is well known for it's dodgy goalkeeping bugs etc. but this year I don't see it, and i actually think the keepers are amazing. I've seen alot of great saves, great double saves, and even the one great triple save, also seen saves where they'll just get a toe or finger tip to it, but not enough to keep the ball out of going into the back of the net. Goalkeeper complaints are the one thing that's pissing me off as I do not see anything negative about them.
Defending - So many people moaning about the defending. Really? Is defending that bad? or is defending great on PES 2012? I think it's great, I feel in total control when defending, i feel like the CPU defenders position themselves great, and for the first time in any football game ever, i actually have no complaints/problems with defending. I think it's been improved immensely. And for those moaning that they cant tackle the computer, the computer just running throught their defense etc. Well maybe just be more patient and time it a bit more when trying to steal the ball off them or going in for a tackle. If you really hate PES 2012 defeding i suggest you have a couple of games on FIFA 12 world class or legendary level, see what the defending is like on there, then come back onto PES 2012 and I guarentee your opionion of the defending will change and you will apprieciate it.
Overall PES 2012 is a very good game, it's improved greatly, it's fun to play. It's not perfect, and could be better in many minor ways. But the complaining about it is just becoming ridiculous. I give it an overall rating of 8.8/10 which is a giant improvement on the last few.
Some of the most common complaints:
Shooting - You can't aim. Shot's go straight to the keeper. Shots feel weak.
Passing - Through balls don't work. Passes don't go to the player i pass to.
Goalkeepers - Goalkeepers suck.
Defending - You can't defend. The computer just runs straight through my defence. Defenders position themselves like retards.
My honest review on these issues:
Shooting - I admit, at times, shot's can feel a little awkward, you'll slightly tap the shoot button and a shot will sail over the bar from a few yards out, shot's can go straight at the keeper, and it doesnt always go where you want it to go. But you know what, I'm not the greatest PES player and even I have scored some great goals, whether it be a 25 yard screamer, a beautiful little dink over the keeper, or a perfectly timed cross and header into the corner. Every goal I score feels great and I get satisfaction from it, which I wouldnt get if everytime i shot went perfectly into the corner. I can have a game where nothing is going in, and missing absolute sitters, and games where every shot i hit is flying in or forcing the keeper to make world class saves, it relates to real life, and also shooting in the style of that particular player. The one negative tho, i believe the power bar is way too sensitive, and hope it soon goes back to how it used to be where you had more control of the power of your shot, like the earlier PES games.
Passing - I struggled with the passing at first, and still do, it doesn't always go where you want it, but why should it, why should you be able to play perfect passes all the time. It makes you apprieciate those players with the better passing abilities. And slow down, put a foot on the ball and time your passes, then it feels nice, the ball does go where you want it to. Through balls are difficult but not impossible, in fact if you take your time, look for the right opportunities, playing the perfect through ball is amazing on this PES, and gives great satisfaction when you pull it off. It works because of the improved AI this year, those players running through and finding the space.
Goalkeepers - I've seen so many people complaining about the keepers but I find it bullshit. I seriously don't see the problem with the goalkeeping this year. Obviously PES is well known for it's dodgy goalkeeping bugs etc. but this year I don't see it, and i actually think the keepers are amazing. I've seen alot of great saves, great double saves, and even the one great triple save, also seen saves where they'll just get a toe or finger tip to it, but not enough to keep the ball out of going into the back of the net. Goalkeeper complaints are the one thing that's pissing me off as I do not see anything negative about them.
Defending - So many people moaning about the defending. Really? Is defending that bad? or is defending great on PES 2012? I think it's great, I feel in total control when defending, i feel like the CPU defenders position themselves great, and for the first time in any football game ever, i actually have no complaints/problems with defending. I think it's been improved immensely. And for those moaning that they cant tackle the computer, the computer just running throught their defense etc. Well maybe just be more patient and time it a bit more when trying to steal the ball off them or going in for a tackle. If you really hate PES 2012 defeding i suggest you have a couple of games on FIFA 12 world class or legendary level, see what the defending is like on there, then come back onto PES 2012 and I guarentee your opionion of the defending will change and you will apprieciate it.
Overall PES 2012 is a very good game, it's improved greatly, it's fun to play. It's not perfect, and could be better in many minor ways. But the complaining about it is just becoming ridiculous. I give it an overall rating of 8.8/10 which is a giant improvement on the last few.