Well it's here and it works! :happy (PC Version).
I've added the new balls, kits etc and here is my review based on my first impressions of the game:
Firstly, the bad points:
The stadium selection is pathetic. Only fifteen and barely a single English one among them! What happened to O.T, Stamford Bridge, Anfield etc? Hopefully they'll soon make stadium server for 2008 and that problem will be solved.
I'm not that impressed with the sound. The overall crowd sound is good, but the chants appear to be non-existent! Again, something that can be patched and there is already a sound patch available.
For some reason, Konami have seen fit to take a leaf out of Fifa's book and include unnecessary and unrealistic sound effects for slide tackles, grunts etc. You don't hear these during TV broadcasts (unless the action is close to a pitchside mike). If Konami had included these sounds when the action was near the sidelines, then it may have been a good touch.
Commentary, once again, is functional but nothing more. This is one area that Fifa is miles ahead in.
Why have they taken out the qualifying mode for the International Cup? That mode added so much to the game.
Ok, that's the bad stuff out of the way (that I've seen so far any way!) And quite a bit of that is nit-picking, but I am a bit of a perfectionist.
Now for the good points:
It seems to me that there's more difference between the difficulty levels, with Regular proving a decent challenge in itself.
Finally, we have next generation graphics on the PC version! The turf looks like turf and isn't some washed out green/grey colour. The game is fast, fluid, challenging, exciting, in fact everything that Fifa is not! The shooting has been massively improved, so far it seems to me that Konami have adopted Fifa's approach in some ways, such as holding the power down and pulling back the stick to keep the shot low and hard. I've always preferred this method of shooting. Basically, it's now possible to apply full power (or just tap the button) without the ball ending up in orbit!
Passing as usual is intuitive and flowing and there aren't a whole load of pointless skill moves to get in the way, the use of the shoulder buttons for step-overs and so on work just as well as they always have.
I don't think it's just a case of give the ball to Ronaldo and run it into the goal. You have to knock the ball around to create openings (like real life).
There was a fair bit of stuttering at first, but that was mostly solved by using the 'vsync' option in the settings. I haven't patched the game yet.
A couple of things that they have improved in the audio department is the sound of the ball. While it is still far too loud for shooting, when making passes, it's much quieter. For some reason though, there's now a sound when knocking the ball forwards, which is unnecessary. (As I said, I'm a perfectionist!) There's also a more audible reaction from the crowd when a near miss occurs. Speaking of the crowd, there's some nice attention to detail. When the home team is about to score, their fans stand up and celebrate when the ball goes in, whereas if the other team score, they hold their heads in their hands while the away fans go beserk and start waving their scarfs!
Finally, they've given us twenty slots per league in the Master League, so we can actually have full league seasons and it shouldn't be hard to mod in the Championship as well. I just wish there was a way to get rid of this 'game over' rubbish! That phrase does not belong in a football game. If you manage to get into a situation where you can't pay the player's wages or you get relegated, you should be sacked and given the choice of some Div 2 teams. I haven't played the M/L extensively as yet, has anyone seen any evidence that you can be put in charge of an International team?
I could probably say more, but I think that covers what needs to be said. Overall, it is a good solid football game that definitely improves on PES 6. It's only being held back by the lack of leagues/competitions. Hopefully these will come in the much vaunted 'major overhaul' for 2009!!
.
