ProActive AI isn't as proactive as the name would suggest, and this can lead to some frustration. Teams and players can be edited, if you have the time and/or the inclination. It can't be helped, and so there's no point complaining about it, but it does break the immersion from time to time. PES doesn't carry the official FIFA license, and as such, many of the teams carry fictitious names and are adorned with unofficial badges. Sadly it's here that the authenticity stops. The top players all have good likenesses, and Konami has equipped the very best of them with signature skills, adding to the authenticity. It's not an easy skill to master, and may be a step too far for casual players, but those who dedicate themselves to the game will be able utilise it as nifty way of playing out of a tight spot, or for unlocking dense and stubborn defences. Here it is possible to control two players simultaneously, using the second stick to direct passes between them.
It gives attackers more options, and defenders more to think about.Īnother new trick is the manual one-two. It also allows for fluctuations in pace, so play can be slowed and quickened at will. Close control becomes accessible, allowing the ball to be pushed passed opponents with ease. The new FullControl system also fits well. It's tough playing this way, but scoring a chip or cutting out the keeper for a tap-in whilst playing sans assistance is incredibly satisfying. Match tempo can be increased and decreased to suit desired tastes, and as both passing and shooting can be made manual, it allows for total control over play.
One of the best things about the PES series over the years has been the level of customisation available, and with the recent inclusion of fully manual shooting, this has been taken up a notch this year. Player AI has been gently improved, and this leads to a tighter defence and a more potent offence. In this respect PES 2013 is a resounding success. Whilst the different effects that go together to make the soundscape could've been blended a little more carefully into a coherent cacophony, the club/player-specific chants are a nice touch, and it just about holds together.īut how a football game looks and sounds isn't as important as how it plays and feels. The atmosphere in the stadiums is better, thankfully. A couple of the songs sounded remotely decent, but certainly not enough of a percentage to warrant listening to the playlist for long. The soundtrack wasn't to my tastes at all. It doesn't take long before they become nauseating, and inaccurate or belated punditry quickly leads to frustration. The commentary team of Jon Champion and Jim Beglin return, but within just a few matches their generic soundbites are being recycled at an alarming rate. Functional though they are, they never feel as accessible as they should.Īudio is a mixed bag. Decorated with a gentle motion blur, they add to the drama of each goal. Goal replays are particularly impressive. There's plenty of nice touches to behold, with well observed goal celebrations, fisticuffs between players, dangerous tackles flying in and nets rippling under the influence of goals. Player animations are well defined and look sharp.
This is a good looking game, make no mistake. It's is a definite step forwards for the series, and the best PES to date. Tweaks and adjustments to the gameplay engine yield mostly positive improvements, and visually there is a marked improvement over last year's game (impressive considering how late in the platform cycle we are). From a more introspective angle, the game is decent. So it is from two positions that we take in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013. Now FIFA holds all the cards, with recent refinements making it the undisputed champion of the sport, not only in terms of sales, but also with regards to critical acclaim. EA has always held the exclusive license, but PES fans could always comfort themselves with superior gameplay mechanics. This success suggests that EA are eating further and further into the PES fanbase, with increasing numbers of fans jumping ship. Last season FIFA 12 broke all records, becoming the best selling sports game of all time and shifting a shedload of copies in the process.