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Apologies if this had already been posted:
To paraphrase Alan Green, ‘Pro Evolution Soccer was the game that put Konami’s ship back on the road.’ Until this series debuted on PS2 back in 2001, Konami were always playing catch-up to EA’s FIFA series.
But despite still not having a licensed game, the Pro Evolution series stole the football crown and has dominated the charts ever since. Gamers wondered whether the Japanese coders in Tokyo could perfect what was considered perfection? Well they managed it with the enhanced Pro Evolution Soccer 2. So now we wonder again, can the best get even better?
Damn right it can. After a couple of days with Pro Evolution Soccer 3 we can honestly say this is the greatest football game to grace any console. Surprisingly, there are a lot of changes under what seems a familiar hood. Unlike Pro Evolution Soccer 2, this third edition has been completely revamped; in fact nearly 80% of the game is new.
To achieve this Konami has dispensed with Renderware — a system of pre-made graphics tools that offer quick development times, but limited visual results — in order to build the game’s look from scratch.
This has resulted in eight times the number of animations and more detailed stadiums, which has allowed for such things as variable weather conditions as matches are played. Games might now start dry before rain comes down in the second half.
Of course, being Pro Evo, this isn’t just cosmetic; you will need to change your style of play to accommodate the changing weather in order to avoid injuries.
The results of this labour is a game that is faster, better looking and as sweetly animated as you could hope for. The matches run at a quicker pace than previous games in the series, Konami has specifically engineered play around swift one-touch passing; build up play is more crucial than ever before. More than any other console football game, this is dynamic end-to-end stuff… but from side-to-side.
More so, the stadiums are now bigger and more detailed than ever before. The supporters in the stands now wear different clothes depending on the whether. More importantly, the better you play the busier the terraces and vice versa; play a poor season and the stands will empty.
Also, rather than the three or four animation routines of Pro Evo 2, Players will now take the ball in a variety of different ways depending on their skill level, speed and position to other players.
In one move, Edmondson received a long pass from Roberto Carlos with the outside of his heel, then in a flash of inspired style, flicked the ball over a straggling defender’s head.
In no time at all after booting up Pro Evo 3, old fans will be breathing down the heels of the opposition. Spectacular goals will now be a little easier to come by than before, mainly due to the enhanced AI.
Whereas in Pro Evo 2 players would header balls from outside the box, they now attempt swinging volleys and strikes like their real life counterparts. After a swift play as Brazil, we can safely say the series’ new hero is Ronaldinho, who appears to be able swing his jammy right foot at everything and hit the mark. The lucky Brazilian never fails to strike the target, even when he misses.
It’s not all about the foreign talent though. Us English fans, and the couple of Toffees out there, also have something to crow about with the inclusion of is Wayne Rooney. In fact, with the Master League now split into four leagues, the number of players has been quadrupled since Pro Evo 2.
All of which now come with their own revised ratings and attributes, star qualities and personalities. With so many players in the game you’d think the Master League would become a nightmare of menus.
And it would have been, if Konami hadn’t added a new player search section. Simply type in your requirements (position, value, nationality, etc.) and the game will search its database of Championship Manager rated players, for a relevant match.
Back on the pitch and many players now feature specialised animations. Just as Beckham’s free kick style was imitated in Pro Evo 2, we now get Thierry Henry’s gangling run perfectly recreated; run at the opposition and he explodes like the French train that he is. Such animated touches just scratch the surface of a sequel brimming with detail. Konami has even added facial animation to the game; now players will frown and smile depending on how the match is going. Also, injuries are more visible now, with players limping and hobbling about the pitch, some will even be carried off to return bandaged.
This attention to graphics is all very well and good, but as ever with the Pro Evo series, such visual splendour is only the surface of a deeper game; a game that famously relies on intelligent players to succeed.
The AI in Pro Evo 3 has been reworked to act more realistically than ever before. These AI players will now make forward runs on their own without waiting for the right pass or run from you, the player.
They will backtrack, drag opposing players out of position and hold up the ball until support arrives; like the Sea of Galilee the defences will part as your teammates drag them wide. Most of these troopers would give Radio 5’s pundits a run for their money.
Off the pitch and the detail remains, with fully licensed players and clubs replacing the bizarrely named characters fans of the Pro Evo series have come to know. As yet Konami has refused to state the full list of who is in and who is out.
But after playing the game, we can reveal that the cream of the world’s top leagues — including, the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A — are in here. And with nearly four times the number of classic players and teams (including the likes of Cruyff and Best), an online option to download even more players and stadiums, Konami are certainly serious about retaining their title of ‘best console football game’.
Football games are so closely tied on PS2 at the moment, what with the rise of EA’s FIFA series back to something like it’s best, Konami knows it must deliver with this sequel.
The Japanese publisher has taken a look around at itself and decided you either win or loose in this game, there’s no in between. And on first play of Pro Evolution Soccer 3, Konami already has both hands firmly around the trophy.
Written By: Ian Dean
To paraphrase Alan Green, ‘Pro Evolution Soccer was the game that put Konami’s ship back on the road.’ Until this series debuted on PS2 back in 2001, Konami were always playing catch-up to EA’s FIFA series.
But despite still not having a licensed game, the Pro Evolution series stole the football crown and has dominated the charts ever since. Gamers wondered whether the Japanese coders in Tokyo could perfect what was considered perfection? Well they managed it with the enhanced Pro Evolution Soccer 2. So now we wonder again, can the best get even better?
Damn right it can. After a couple of days with Pro Evolution Soccer 3 we can honestly say this is the greatest football game to grace any console. Surprisingly, there are a lot of changes under what seems a familiar hood. Unlike Pro Evolution Soccer 2, this third edition has been completely revamped; in fact nearly 80% of the game is new.
To achieve this Konami has dispensed with Renderware — a system of pre-made graphics tools that offer quick development times, but limited visual results — in order to build the game’s look from scratch.
This has resulted in eight times the number of animations and more detailed stadiums, which has allowed for such things as variable weather conditions as matches are played. Games might now start dry before rain comes down in the second half.
Of course, being Pro Evo, this isn’t just cosmetic; you will need to change your style of play to accommodate the changing weather in order to avoid injuries.
The results of this labour is a game that is faster, better looking and as sweetly animated as you could hope for. The matches run at a quicker pace than previous games in the series, Konami has specifically engineered play around swift one-touch passing; build up play is more crucial than ever before. More than any other console football game, this is dynamic end-to-end stuff… but from side-to-side.
More so, the stadiums are now bigger and more detailed than ever before. The supporters in the stands now wear different clothes depending on the whether. More importantly, the better you play the busier the terraces and vice versa; play a poor season and the stands will empty.
Also, rather than the three or four animation routines of Pro Evo 2, Players will now take the ball in a variety of different ways depending on their skill level, speed and position to other players.
In one move, Edmondson received a long pass from Roberto Carlos with the outside of his heel, then in a flash of inspired style, flicked the ball over a straggling defender’s head.
In no time at all after booting up Pro Evo 3, old fans will be breathing down the heels of the opposition. Spectacular goals will now be a little easier to come by than before, mainly due to the enhanced AI.
Whereas in Pro Evo 2 players would header balls from outside the box, they now attempt swinging volleys and strikes like their real life counterparts. After a swift play as Brazil, we can safely say the series’ new hero is Ronaldinho, who appears to be able swing his jammy right foot at everything and hit the mark. The lucky Brazilian never fails to strike the target, even when he misses.
It’s not all about the foreign talent though. Us English fans, and the couple of Toffees out there, also have something to crow about with the inclusion of is Wayne Rooney. In fact, with the Master League now split into four leagues, the number of players has been quadrupled since Pro Evo 2.
All of which now come with their own revised ratings and attributes, star qualities and personalities. With so many players in the game you’d think the Master League would become a nightmare of menus.
And it would have been, if Konami hadn’t added a new player search section. Simply type in your requirements (position, value, nationality, etc.) and the game will search its database of Championship Manager rated players, for a relevant match.
Back on the pitch and many players now feature specialised animations. Just as Beckham’s free kick style was imitated in Pro Evo 2, we now get Thierry Henry’s gangling run perfectly recreated; run at the opposition and he explodes like the French train that he is. Such animated touches just scratch the surface of a sequel brimming with detail. Konami has even added facial animation to the game; now players will frown and smile depending on how the match is going. Also, injuries are more visible now, with players limping and hobbling about the pitch, some will even be carried off to return bandaged.
This attention to graphics is all very well and good, but as ever with the Pro Evo series, such visual splendour is only the surface of a deeper game; a game that famously relies on intelligent players to succeed.
The AI in Pro Evo 3 has been reworked to act more realistically than ever before. These AI players will now make forward runs on their own without waiting for the right pass or run from you, the player.
They will backtrack, drag opposing players out of position and hold up the ball until support arrives; like the Sea of Galilee the defences will part as your teammates drag them wide. Most of these troopers would give Radio 5’s pundits a run for their money.
Off the pitch and the detail remains, with fully licensed players and clubs replacing the bizarrely named characters fans of the Pro Evo series have come to know. As yet Konami has refused to state the full list of who is in and who is out.
But after playing the game, we can reveal that the cream of the world’s top leagues — including, the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A — are in here. And with nearly four times the number of classic players and teams (including the likes of Cruyff and Best), an online option to download even more players and stadiums, Konami are certainly serious about retaining their title of ‘best console football game’.
Football games are so closely tied on PS2 at the moment, what with the rise of EA’s FIFA series back to something like it’s best, Konami knows it must deliver with this sequel.
The Japanese publisher has taken a look around at itself and decided you either win or loose in this game, there’s no in between. And on first play of Pro Evolution Soccer 3, Konami already has both hands firmly around the trophy.
Written By: Ian Dean
