Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

[INDalltheway]

I've been waiting to see some reviews for the American release, but I haven't seen much at all. I was wondering if anyone was planning on picking up this game, or if anyone has heard anything about this game. IGN UK gave the game a great score, but I am not going to go off that to make the purchase.

[MJ4H]

Waiting for the Wii version which has the potential to revolutionize the whole genre of sports gaming. To me, the other versions are just more of the same. I hope I'm not let down by this game.

[Oilers9911]

Is this what used to be the Winning Eleven series? Those games were head and shoulders above the FIFA series gameplay wise.

[MJ4H]

Yes. Winning Eleven and Pro Evolution are the same series.

FIFA and PES are much more comparable in gameplay these days, but I still like PES better.

[Groundhog]

I had the first (IIRC) PES on the 360, and last year's FIFA on the PS3. Definately preferred FIFA. It should be said that I'm not a big soccer guy however, but FIFA was definately more fun for me to play.

[korme]

Not being a soccer guy either, my friends seem to love FIFA

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

Waiting for the Wii version which has the potential to revolutionize the whole genre of sports gaming. To me, the other versions are just more of the same. I hope I'm not let down by this game.

It looks really good, I'll be getting this next week.

[Calis]

Well I was a hardcore Winning Eleven/PES guy for several years, and I thought last year was a big disappointment and what I've seen from this year it looks like it is even worse.

FIFA on the other hand started looking better last year and this year has put out a very solid game.

Never thought this would happen. They really need to do something with the series, it's incredibly stagnant right now.

[Eaglesfan27]

I've read about a half dozen reviews of the 360 version of this game, and they all seem to be that the series hasn't taken any significant steps forward and that it is stagnant or taking steps backwards towards a more arcade game. I picked up FIFA a few months ago, as I was in the mood for some console soccer and didn't feel like waiting 4 months, and I've been pleasantly surprised by this year's FIFA game. With these bad reviews, I'm passing on PES/Winning Eleven for now.

[MJ4H]

You guys should look at the Wii version for the sinificant step forward. I'm totally serious.

[ColtCrazy]

I played Pro Evolution 4 all summer when I was working in England. It was a blast to play, and you wanted to scream for goals like you were at an actual match. FIFA was always more of an arcade game, but I agree with what someone else said...it has gotten a lot more realistic. I've been playing the 07 version on my old xbox and it is night and day from former versions.

As for MattJones4Heisman's suggestion, I've decided to get a Wii, and I'll have to take a serious look at PES for it.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I've read about a half dozen reviews of the 360 version of this game, and they all seem to be that the series hasn't taken any significant steps forward and that it is stagnant or taking steps backwards towards a more arcade game. I picked up FIFA a few months ago, as I was in the mood for some console soccer and didn't feel like waiting 4 months, and I've been pleasantly surprised by this year's FIFA game. With these bad reviews, I'm passing on PES/Winning Eleven for now.

ditto. I was pleasantly surprised by FIFA 08. I find that if I don't pay attention to what I'm doing I can actually fail to score and end up being scored on multiple times, even by teams that are "worse."

[Marc Vaughan]

I loved the earlier versions of PES but found the last one (or possibly two as I might have missed one by now) just didn't click with me ...

In essence it didn't feel like football any more, that was the joy of the earlier games for me, when you put a move together it felt like you'd created a real football move and it 'flowed' and just felt right ...

(oh and you could defend against attacks - but damn was it hard )

[AlexB]

'Career' play is also screwed in 2008 on the PS2 - the Master League has a salary bug that destroys this mode: in the default option file many players end up on a salary of 1, and if you modify the data and add teams, there is a random element that means the salary can range literally anwhere between 1-5000 (the maximum). Bearing in mind the Messis, Ronaldosm, etc are on much less than the max salary in the game...

[Icy]

As everybody is saying, i have both versions in the Ps3 and i'm i wouldn't have ever thought i was going to say this, but this year FIFA08 is better than PES08. Probably the only game franchise where EA has really improved a lot from past year (maybe because it's the only franchise where thay had a better product to work against?).

[INDalltheway]

IGN's review is finally up..

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/860/860236p1.html

[INDalltheway]

And the Wii review...

http://wii.ign.com/articles/860/860254p1.html

[MJ4H]

YES

Wii version summary: Finally, a sports game for Wii that makes the end experience smarter, not dumber. No arbitrary waggle just for the sake of waggle. Just really intelligent IR implementation for soccer bouts overrun with strategy and big plays. The learning curve is steep, but if you stick with it, you will be rewarded with one of the most innovative and altogether fun sports offerings in years.

I knew this would be good!!!

[MikeVic]

Dammit. I have to get this now.

[cthomer5000]

Pro Evolution is much better gameplay, much more for the hardcore soccer fan.

FIFA is a little wider in scope, has far more real leagues/real players, etc.

[Calis]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Pro Evolution is much better gameplay, much more for the hardcore soccer fan.

FIFA is a little wider in scope, has far more real leagues/real players, etc.

Have you played this years? (Don't mean that in a smartass way, genuinely curious)

Just curious because I've always thought that, but I don't think that's the case anymore. FIFA felt much more real to me than PES did this year. In fact it just seems like Konami was sick of EA getting all the sales so they started focusing on being more arcade, and FIFA was sick of getting blasted for not being real enough and went more like Konami at the same time.

I'm hoping next year they turn it around. I've been a huge fan of their games in the past but they don't appear to even be trying anymore.

[BigDPW]

Having been a WE/PES fan since back in the day when I had to import it to play a real game of soccer on my PS2 I was dissapointed with last years PES/WE effort. I bought FIFA 08 this year and I was pleased with it. While I certainly don't think FIFA is perfect this year it has come a long way and played a much mor enjoyable game of footie than WE did last year. I am holding back on purchasing WE/PES this year due to my dissapointment last year and hearing that this years effort is not a big jump forward (or back to the great game play on the Xbox and PS2)... It has been hard for me to hold out this year since Spurs are a licensed team this year and I have been hoping for that to happen for years. Unfortunately my experience last year is currently outweighing that bit of excitement.

[Butter]

You people are always trying to make me spend money. Especially you, MJ4H. Yes, you. And your Wii fan-ness. Talking about all the good games. Darn you! Darn you to heck!

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

You people are always trying to make me spend money. Especially you, MJ4H. Yes, you. And your Wii fan-ness. Talking about all the good games. Darn you! Darn you to heck!

Bah money sucks. Games rule.

[Big Fo]

The Wii version is awesome. MLB Power Pros just got knocked off it's "best sports game on the Wii" pedestal. Dragging your players with the pointer to make runs then aiming your through ball to send them into open space works very well and when you score a good team goal after five or ten passes it's quite rewarding. Even defense which I found to be rather tricky at first I've gotten better at, it's just hard getting used to not being able to move the defender with the control stick. The game is great but does take at least an hour or two to get the hang of. The manual has over twenty pages of illustrated diagrams to help show you some of the more advanced techniques though.

So yeah, if you want a good soccer game (so far it's at least good as the old PS2 games) and want to try out one of the best uses of the Wii controls in any genre, pick up PES 2008. It's $40 instead of $50 which is pretty cool as well, I would've had no qualms picking it up for the standard $50.

[rowech]

Just picked this up for the Wii mostly because of the salesmanship in here.

[moriarty]

Haven't tried the Wii version, but this is the first year I finally switched to FIFA for the XBox. I've vastly preferred WE over FIFA, and after renting fIFA 07 returned it in short order.

But FIFA 08, they slowed down the gameplay and introduced the need for actual passing / strategy (no longer can you dribble past 11 defenders). I've been enjoying it alot ... and even though I don't mess with the pro mode much (or whatever it's called where you play as an individual player) it's rather fun as a diversion.

I'm hoping WE or PES returns to form next year ... but I'm officially converted to FIFA for now. And I NEVER imagined I would say that.

[Big Fo]

I do want to check out the 360/PS3 version of FIFA 08 (and PES, just to see for myself what all the complaining is about) sometime, most people say it's surprisingly good. The PS2/Xbox games last gen weren't bad but I preferred WE/PES.

[EagleFan]

Thank you!!!

Loving this game on the Wii!!!

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Thank you!!!

Loving this game on the Wii!!!

Interesting... post some impressions as I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on this one.

[Huckleberry]

I'm not going to lie to myself. I will have this game by the weekend. No doubt.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

I'm not going to lie to myself. I will have this game by the weekend. No doubt.

I had a Best Buy giftcard burning a hole in my pocket today... yep, I bought it.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Thank you!!!

Loving this game on the Wii!!!

Originally Posted by rowech

Just picked this up for the Wii mostly because of the salesmanship in here.

Either of you gentlemen interested in an online match this evening? Or anyone with the Wii version really, I haven't gotten to play anyone other than the AI thus far...

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Either of you gentlemen interested in an online match this evening? Or anyone with the Wii version really, I haven't gotten to play anyone other than the AI thus far...

I haven't found enough time to play. I've played three times total. I wouldn't mind playing at some point though. Although I'm sure I'd get crushed. Not tonight...weekends probably work best.

[MizzouRah]

My Wii isn't connected online yet.. I assume they make wireless network adapters?

I am really glad I picked this one up so far for the Wii, it's quite fun how they made it so interative!

[Big Fo]

Yeah there's an official Wi-Fi adapter out there if you only have wired internet in your home. I'm not sure if there's a cheaper/better third-party solution you should investigate though.

I'm still loving the game, it's managed to keep me away from Super Smash Bros. which is no small feat. In terms of how the developers took advantage of the controller this game is even better than Wii Sports bowling and Metroid Prime 3. If a soccer/real-time-strategy hybrid works so well I want to see a company try football with aiming the passes like a light-gun game, with traditional controls for most of the other aspects.

[MizzouRah]

Yeah, I'm already several hours into the game.

[EagleFan]

Don't have the wireless adapter yet for he Wii but I'm game for a match once I do.

I guess I don't need to elaborate for MizzouRah now...

It's amazing how intuitive the controls feel once you get used to them, which doesn't seem to take too long. Using the nunchuk (sp?) for shooting and clearing seems to really make the game for me as your hands now work independently instead of both being bound to the same controller trying to figure out the wide range of button combinations.

Even though I'm not "directly" in control of the players to the extent of something like FIFA for the 360 the game just feels much more fluid. Real teams would be a nice addition though.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Yeah, I'm already several hours into the game.

So how are you liking it?

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

So how are you liking it?

I really thought it would be hard to learn the controls, so far I know the basics and can't wait to learn some advanced moves.

Really happy I bought it for the Wii instead of the 360, the control scheme alone is worth the choice for the Wii.

Will definitely get more playing time in this weekend, but so far I'm finally enjoying my first console soccer (ok football) game.

[MJ4H]

I will be getting this game sometime reasonably soon. When I do, it's on. All y'all goin down.

[Butter]

It's settled, I'm buying this this weekend.

Bastards!!!!!

[MizzouRah]

I can't wait to get home and start my Champions to road mode!!!

[MJ4H]

Picked this up after selling some games I no longer play. Played through the training and a quick match on the easiest difficulty, which I won 6-1. Yeah, defense is weird but I'm sure I'll figure it out. This is definitely the way I envisioned sports games on the Wii.

A+ so far.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

This is definitely the way I envisioned sports games on the Wii.

So you put on some soccer boots with the wii remotes strapped to the ankles ... or is it only me who had that fantasy

[Big Fo]

iirc that's being saved for the Wii's successor

[EagleFan]

I would love to see an MMA game for the Wii if they take advantage ofthe controls like PES does.

Just posting my random thoughts I guess.

[Butter]

I definitely like the way it starts you out nice and slow.

I won my opener 7-1, in the "Practice Cup" or whatever that thing is.

[MizzouRah]

I played on the 3rd setting from the left and barely won a 1-0 game. Loving it though!

[Galaril]

Does it have many international teams and can you play a international team and go to the world cup and more importantly does it have any Irish league or the MLS?