Healthy Living Books Video Games
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Video Games : Pro Evolution Soccer (Wii) .
Rating: 
- Avoid at all cost......
Please take heed as I was completely misled by the reviews; this game is absolutely the most disgusting marketing con of all time!.I refuse to waste my time explaining why, just avoid at all cost....and yes I did give it a chance, and yes I have all the other versions and yes, Konami should be ashamed of themselves for letting such a product loose unto an unsuspecting public. Do they think we're stupid?. The last word goes to the manager of the game shop I returned to (and got a full refund) "....it's a terrible game and a shocking attempt at re-inventing a game that just doesn't even resemble a footie game in any way....."
Rating:
- Excellent fun to play, but hopefully '2009' will be the definitive version...
First off, I must say that this game, as the reviewers before have stated, is a very good step up from the more 'traditional' controls. I've had the benefit of playing ProEvo 2008 Wii solidly for about 5-6 months and so hope my review is helpful.
There are the beginnings of a very good game here and I genuinely feel that the whole thing is just a few tweaks away from being something special. To keep this relatively short, I'll list a few comments on my opinion from the overall experience.
* When you are in possession, this game outstrips all others in terms of gameplay quite comfortably. The passing (which can be lofted or passed along the pitch depending on the number of button presses) is very good and the ability to drag players to make runs/position defenders is excellent. The game actually rewards a passing, 'Arsenal 2007' (they are a bit rubbish this year) type of gameplan, rather than hit-and-hope tactic of punting up the pitch. With a little practice, you can be making accurate through-balls and dangerous crosses in no time.
* Intercepting passes and executing defensive headers can be effective once the tactic is learned. For example, I was very frustrated with this aspect until I relaised that you could cut off a through ball by pressing 'Z' and then attempting to execute a pass with the player nearest the loose ball. The end result? Your player will always go to the ball and pass the ball to clear the danger (some reviewers obviously did not learn this skill when critising the defensive aspects of the game). Having said that, it does take a while to work out how to tackle effectively. It is over-complicated and until you master it (which is a dubious combination of marking players, holding down 'Z' and then clicking on the opposing player in possession with the 'A' button) and Konami really need to simplify it. I have only really mastered defending after having spent 3 months learning this tactic. Once learnt, it is fine but it could have saved me so much frustration in the long run if pressure could have been applied by simply pressing one button, rather than a combination. I note that the 2009 version is going to adopt this more 'simplistic' approach, which is superb news.
* Shooting and direct free-kicks are not well executed, being totally random. Konami cannot expect people to just put up with this aspect, as it can become tiresome. Once you accept the fact that a fling of the nunchuck results in anything from a powerful drive to a crawler, you learn to live with it, but I'd much rather have a power bar or at least be able to direct my shot on goal somehow with the nunchuck. Please sort this out, Konami.
* The Champions Road, which I was originally appalled at, does become somewhat addictive after a while. There is definitely a challenge to be had here, despite the lack of a 'Master League' type competition. Just as in a league campaign, I found myself genuinely caring about my team set-up and began to enjoy trying to get through the early leagues with players of limited ability. Once you get a Robinho or a Diego, your team's passing and style of play really does improve. That being said, I simply missed the Master League and the ability to add to your squad by choosing the players you wish to purchase. While the Champions Road does end up being fun, it is a 'make-do' kind of fun and the Master League must make a return for the 2009 version.
* Graphics are ok but not much different from the old Xbox or PS2 efforts. It does the job, but did we really expect much from the Wii?
* Sound is good and does the job. The commentary team however is just horrible. Mark Lawrenson is cliched beyond belief in real life, so having an electronic version of him in your ear is kind of like chinese water torture. Bring back Brooking. The game music has been written mostly for the title and is quite retro in terms of computer gaming. I quite liked it, as I felt it added a nostalgia to the game.
Overall:
A very good idea has been executed reasonably well. I have scored the game quite highly as there is so much potential here and it is genuinely fun to play, being a excellent and refreshing take on football video games. It is not really for the Pro-evo purist, as many will be shocked by the lack of game competitions and options, but you feel that if Konami can iron out the flaws on the overall design, the 2009 version could potentially be the greatest football video game since SWOS, which, in my opinion, is still to be bettered, some 14 years after its release. Don't let us down Konami.
8/10
Rating:
- Not for "football video games" fans
The Wii is the only console I own, and I've been pretty happy with the machine so far. I was very excited when I heard PES was coming to the Wii, and the "revolutionary" control system really got my hopes high.
I was very disappointed with the way it turned out. Of course there is a learning curve to it, but even when you grasp it it turns out flat. Video game football is not about "realism". Kick Off, Sensible Soccer and the initial Fifa games were not brilliant because they where accurate representations of the beautiful game, but because they brought the excitement and football feelings to computers.
PES for the Wii is a dull game, disguised as "clever". The Nunchunk shaking is just appalling and the whole moving around of players and direction orienting gets distracting and makes the game so cerebral that it loses all the fun. Not being able to control your defense individually is very frustrating.
I admit some people really dig the game and its control system, but if you're after for the Pro Evolution Soccer that used to keep you and your friends throwing Playstation controls around the living room in anger, this is not it.
Still waiting for a decent football game for the wii, until then I'll just play PES on my PC.
Rating: - Great game - innovative controls
I have had this game a couple of months and I am still playing it so it must be pretty decent. The ability to move players about independently makes it feel more realistic, and for a Wii football game the graphics are good. In fact I would say its the best football game I've ever played on a Nintendo console.
Other reviews have moaned about the Champions Road, but I think it is a quite involving game mode (if a bit slow at times having to attach attributes to players).
Some flaws though (which haven't spolied it for me but may do for others!):
-Menus: the menus are annoying to navigate and trying to substitute players in and out of your team is more difficult then it needs to be.
-Shooting: why have they decided that swingingthe nunchuck is the best way to simulate shooting? A button press would be better.
-Freekicks: no control over these.
-Tackling: seems fairly random at times.
Definitely 4 stars then - but needs some work before the next installment.
Rating:
- Pretty good
I won't rattle on about the controls because if you're reading this you've probably read another more in-depth review of Pro Wii-vo, but this is a real step forward for footballing sims. This is a really refreshing take on the beautiful game but Holy Macaroni - it requires SERIOUS concentration! Credit to the designers but this all-new realisation of off-the-ball movement and controlling more than one player at a time is enough to turn your brain into pate. It's so well implemented though that I can't help but forgive them.
Now, if only Konami would do something about the dismal sub-PS2 visuals, and animation that's so robotic it makes C3P0 look like a cheetah by comparison. Then we'd have a true champion and a real Wii killer-app.
- Avoid at all cost......Please take heed as I was completely misled by the reviews; this game is absolutely the most disgusting marketing con of all time!.I refuse to waste my time explaining why, just avoid at all cost....and yes I did give it a chance, and yes I have all the other versions and yes, Konami should be ashamed of themselves for letting such a product loose unto an unsuspecting public. Do they think we're stupid?. The last word goes to the manager of the game shop I returned to (and got a full refund) "....it's a terrible game and a shocking attempt at re-inventing a game that just doesn't even resemble a footie game in any way....."
Rating:
- Excellent fun to play, but hopefully '2009' will be the definitive version... First off, I must say that this game, as the reviewers before have stated, is a very good step up from the more 'traditional' controls. I've had the benefit of playing ProEvo 2008 Wii solidly for about 5-6 months and so hope my review is helpful.
There are the beginnings of a very good game here and I genuinely feel that the whole thing is just a few tweaks away from being something special. To keep this relatively short, I'll list a few comments on my opinion from the overall experience.
* When you are in possession, this game outstrips all others in terms of gameplay quite comfortably. The passing (which can be lofted or passed along the pitch depending on the number of button presses) is very good and the ability to drag players to make runs/position defenders is excellent. The game actually rewards a passing, 'Arsenal 2007' (they are a bit rubbish this year) type of gameplan, rather than hit-and-hope tactic of punting up the pitch. With a little practice, you can be making accurate through-balls and dangerous crosses in no time.
* Intercepting passes and executing defensive headers can be effective once the tactic is learned. For example, I was very frustrated with this aspect until I relaised that you could cut off a through ball by pressing 'Z' and then attempting to execute a pass with the player nearest the loose ball. The end result? Your player will always go to the ball and pass the ball to clear the danger (some reviewers obviously did not learn this skill when critising the defensive aspects of the game). Having said that, it does take a while to work out how to tackle effectively. It is over-complicated and until you master it (which is a dubious combination of marking players, holding down 'Z' and then clicking on the opposing player in possession with the 'A' button) and Konami really need to simplify it. I have only really mastered defending after having spent 3 months learning this tactic. Once learnt, it is fine but it could have saved me so much frustration in the long run if pressure could have been applied by simply pressing one button, rather than a combination. I note that the 2009 version is going to adopt this more 'simplistic' approach, which is superb news.
* Shooting and direct free-kicks are not well executed, being totally random. Konami cannot expect people to just put up with this aspect, as it can become tiresome. Once you accept the fact that a fling of the nunchuck results in anything from a powerful drive to a crawler, you learn to live with it, but I'd much rather have a power bar or at least be able to direct my shot on goal somehow with the nunchuck. Please sort this out, Konami.
* The Champions Road, which I was originally appalled at, does become somewhat addictive after a while. There is definitely a challenge to be had here, despite the lack of a 'Master League' type competition. Just as in a league campaign, I found myself genuinely caring about my team set-up and began to enjoy trying to get through the early leagues with players of limited ability. Once you get a Robinho or a Diego, your team's passing and style of play really does improve. That being said, I simply missed the Master League and the ability to add to your squad by choosing the players you wish to purchase. While the Champions Road does end up being fun, it is a 'make-do' kind of fun and the Master League must make a return for the 2009 version.
* Graphics are ok but not much different from the old Xbox or PS2 efforts. It does the job, but did we really expect much from the Wii?
* Sound is good and does the job. The commentary team however is just horrible. Mark Lawrenson is cliched beyond belief in real life, so having an electronic version of him in your ear is kind of like chinese water torture. Bring back Brooking. The game music has been written mostly for the title and is quite retro in terms of computer gaming. I quite liked it, as I felt it added a nostalgia to the game.
Overall:
A very good idea has been executed reasonably well. I have scored the game quite highly as there is so much potential here and it is genuinely fun to play, being a excellent and refreshing take on football video games. It is not really for the Pro-evo purist, as many will be shocked by the lack of game competitions and options, but you feel that if Konami can iron out the flaws on the overall design, the 2009 version could potentially be the greatest football video game since SWOS, which, in my opinion, is still to be bettered, some 14 years after its release. Don't let us down Konami.
8/10
Rating:
- Not for "football video games" fansThe Wii is the only console I own, and I've been pretty happy with the machine so far. I was very excited when I heard PES was coming to the Wii, and the "revolutionary" control system really got my hopes high.
I was very disappointed with the way it turned out. Of course there is a learning curve to it, but even when you grasp it it turns out flat. Video game football is not about "realism". Kick Off, Sensible Soccer and the initial Fifa games were not brilliant because they where accurate representations of the beautiful game, but because they brought the excitement and football feelings to computers.
PES for the Wii is a dull game, disguised as "clever". The Nunchunk shaking is just appalling and the whole moving around of players and direction orienting gets distracting and makes the game so cerebral that it loses all the fun. Not being able to control your defense individually is very frustrating.
I admit some people really dig the game and its control system, but if you're after for the Pro Evolution Soccer that used to keep you and your friends throwing Playstation controls around the living room in anger, this is not it.
Still waiting for a decent football game for the wii, until then I'll just play PES on my PC.
Rating:
- Great game - innovative controlsI have had this game a couple of months and I am still playing it so it must be pretty decent. The ability to move players about independently makes it feel more realistic, and for a Wii football game the graphics are good. In fact I would say its the best football game I've ever played on a Nintendo console.
Other reviews have moaned about the Champions Road, but I think it is a quite involving game mode (if a bit slow at times having to attach attributes to players).
Some flaws though (which haven't spolied it for me but may do for others!):
-Menus: the menus are annoying to navigate and trying to substitute players in and out of your team is more difficult then it needs to be.
-Shooting: why have they decided that swingingthe nunchuck is the best way to simulate shooting? A button press would be better.
-Freekicks: no control over these.
-Tackling: seems fairly random at times.
Definitely 4 stars then - but needs some work before the next installment.
Rating:
- Pretty goodI won't rattle on about the controls because if you're reading this you've probably read another more in-depth review of Pro Wii-vo, but this is a real step forward for footballing sims. This is a really refreshing take on the beautiful game but Holy Macaroni - it requires SERIOUS concentration! Credit to the designers but this all-new realisation of off-the-ball movement and controlling more than one player at a time is enough to turn your brain into pate. It's so well implemented though that I can't help but forgive them.
Now, if only Konami would do something about the dismal sub-PS2 visuals, and animation that's so robotic it makes C3P0 look like a cheetah by comparison. Then we'd have a true champion and a real Wii killer-app.
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