Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Demo Available, Impressions Here

[Stumbleweed]

(To get the disclaimer out of the way..)

I'm not a soccer guy by any means, but I owned Winning Eleven 8 for the PS2 and really enjoyed myself in the FIFA 09 demo. That said, I didn't enjoy this one at all really. From the bizarre command list that read like an instruction manual that comes with cheap Chinese furniture to the way the players moved (like someone said, it seems like they only move in the 4 cardinal directions), I just didn't like it very much.

It seems like it might be the deeper game control-wise, but not knowing much about soccer, that didn't matter to me.. and really, I couldn't remember half the commands or what they do even if I knew soccer more. FIFA felt more natural to me as a noob soccer gamer, the animations looked much better, and the graphics were a step ahead as well.

Heh, was a rude surprise when I woke up early to get the NBA 2K9 demo and ended up with this one instead. I'll probably give it another chance when I'm not in a bad mood about getting hosed out of the 2K9 demo and see if I like it more. I just think the 'tap B x3' style of controls makes the game feel really dated ragardless of the additional control it seems to provide. Same thing as CollegeHoops using B for the IsoMotion and Live using two shooting buttons, it just screams "last-gen", especially when their direct competitor moved basically everything to the sticks and triggers.

[ramenite]

Overall I liked the demo, with some caveats.

There's really not a lot here that's going to persuade any FIFA players. If you didn't care for PES before, nothing is going to really change your mind with 2009. PES fans such as myself will see improved AI and gameplay. This is probably what 2008 should have been.

Probably the biggest drawback, as this is still just an "evolution" and not the "revolution" that FIFA has had. I just figured by now PES would get things like true 360 player movement, saner controls, and gaining more licensed teams instead of losing them. Licensed teams wouldn't even be so much an issue, if they didn't artificially limit the amount of created teams.

This game reminds me of a bit of what EA pulls with Madden. Take out a bunch of features from the last generation, then call them "new" features in the current generation. Like the "improved" edit mode is what was already in PES6.

This game will hold over most PES fans, after the disappointing 2008. But if 2010 doesn't bring a lot of improvements like the ones listed, PES may be the game of the past, and FIFA the game of the future.

[calcutta]

From playing on Professional:

PROS
Much slower pace is very welcome. Both the speed of the ball and player speed is much more realistic. In regards to the former, if you attempt a cross field switch its no longer a bullet, its actually has a fair amount of height and floatiness to it. Also re: crossfield switches, its alot easier to overpower them and send the ball out, so you have to really pay attention to your kicking power bar, unlike 08.

Absoltely love the free kicks and corner kicks as usual. I scored on my very first FK attempt with Gerrard and then hit the post with Ronaldo (and his trademark run up) on my second one! They were both within 22 yards, i've skied my subsequent attempts from about 30 or so yards out.

Again as usual, i love the option to pick whoever i want up for corners...i've already finished a goal mouth scramble with Puyol who was up for a corner and a header with Skrtel on a FK - once the CPU even scored using Carragher in OPEN PLAY (i was using a second controller to control the strategy of the away team, i had set Carragher to come up for corners, after one CK, he stayed up because i failed to clear it far enough, Degen sent a ball in and Carragher knocked it in at the near post!). Unfortunately, CPU teams don't bring up their CBs for corners by default again, so thats a bit of Mgt editing that i'll need to do in the final game.

Last year, it was easy to score or to at least hit the target with long range shots even when you're shooting bar is filled up all the way. This year, i've barely managed to make enough room to attempt shots from outside the box, and most shots have sailed well over the bar. Much better, more realistic, and hopefully much more rewarding if and when i do score.

Menu navigation is quick and easy as usual...


CONS
...but as usual, the menus are pretty ugly. The whole style of the game including music reminds me of Amped 3, which doesn't really suit a game like this (maybe FIFA Street lol).

My gripes concerning the AI in 08 have returned...the CPU players still ALWAYS shoot low and usually hard and 80% of the goals i've conceded have been low drives that nestle into the bottom corner. The GKs are still crap so they struggle to get across and usually don't even get a hand to it. Then they parry shots they should be catching, sometimes into their own nets. This is particularly worrying because the demo showcases some of the best keepers in the world like Buffon and Casillas, and those two are prone to these issues too.

On CKs, the CPU ALWAYS send it in at the 6-yard box. I've managed to clear all but one of these corners, and the one their player won in the air one was saved. The issue is there is no variety on CKs, i've never seen the CK taker place it anywhere else in the box and certainly no short CKs at this stage either...its like 08 all over again.

The CPU opposition also has a tendency not to shoot until they get inside the box, even when i've given space to shoot from range. Last year i'd seen a few long range efforts here and there, but nothing yet. Also on the two FKs i've conceded in scoring positions, the FK taker opted to pass it off to a player about 3m away rather than shoot or cross into a box where lots of players were left waiting.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too often, the CPU intervenes and takes control of my actions!! Last year the CPU seemed auto clear the ball when a player intercepted a low cross for example...well they still do that, but now they do much more w/o me telling them to, and they seem to do at random all over the pitch - auto slide tackles for no real reason in and around my box, auto rushed passes and clearances despite the fact the players have no one closing them down - i'm not pressing anything but these players are seemingly doing what they think is right in the given situation. The worst incident was in the opposing half when the CPU weakly cleared a corner which was falling straight onto my player's head, i purposely didn't press anything in order to control it and volley a shot on goal, but the CPU decides to take control and make player do super weak header that barely makes it into the box and is easily cleared over half way

The AI (on your team and their team) are still prone to stupid mistakes...in my last game yesterday two players on my team went to cut out the same pass, they ran into each other, both fell over and that left the opposing striker to get the loose ball and gave him a one-on-one chance he promptly finished

And the issues with the back four are still there for me - when the CPU attack down the wing, my LB for example is nowhere to be seen, having moved inside for no reason (my CBs are both still around, but its like my LCB and LB have swapped positions temporarily). If its not that, then its one of my CBs moving out of position for no reason leaving the opposing CF totally unmarked...its honestly like my RCB is marking my LCB...absolutely ridiculous. I haven't mucked around with man-marking yet maybe that would help (ie: get my LCB to man-mark their RF so he doesn't deviate as much).

[calcutta]

Oh and the PK system is the same old crap we've seen in every PES to date. I missed my first and only attempt thus far with Messi because...i guess the game though it was my time to miss. At least they've got Ronaldo's trademark (illegal?) run up.

[Vince]

Graphics are amazing...

[KG]

Graphics do look very nice but I can't get over the fact that it feels like i'm playing ping pong

[kerosene31]

Hard to tell in the short demo (soccer demos have to be longer), bit the AI seems significantly better. You can't just walk in on the CPU and get them confused like in 08. The AI is a huge factor for me picking a game. The AI has to be good, but not cheap to give me a good game. Still need more to tell for sure. I barely even got a shot off, so I really want to see more of the goalies.

They have to add 360 motion in next year though... I knew it wasn't in there before I played, but still it stands out as a huge omission. 3 versions in next gen and still missing?

Other than that, I actually like how the players feel and how they move. The animations are fast and clean and I actually feel like I'm controlling a great player and not stuck in slow animations.

Shooting feels improved as well. It was far too easy in 08.

Overall I liked it. Obviously we'd all like to see some significant improvements in the coming years. Still, I think this game will probably giving me the best offline gameplay.

[ramenite]

Quote: Originally Posted by kerosene31

Hard to tell in the short demo (soccer demos have to be longer), bit the AI seems significantly better.

There is a demo "tweak" that will let you change the amount of time on the demo to whatever you want.