Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (PS3/360/PC)

[hudson]

E3 trailer



Looks decent. But looks like how it played last year. Will await the demo with a 1/4 of a semi-on...

[hudson]

Some promising impressions from an old flame of ours, Ezee Ryder aka Asim, over at WENB who is at E3 playing PES 2012.

WENB E3 PES2012 impressions

Sounds like Konami have once again listened to fans, focusing on the most criticised aspects of last year's game. Personally, I'm excited about your team's AI.

[nakamura]

I hate to be negative but I find Asim to be far more forgiving about PES than I would be so I will still have to wait to play it myself before I am convinced.

[hudson]

Waiting to play for yourself goes without saying. It was a good read and certainly as me curious to get my hands on it.

[Stoppy2000]

Yes ultimately pes is still 2 years behind fifa. Getting better though. At least the nets appear to be fixed. Now they need to redo the keeper animations.

[hudson]

I really don't think you're going to see FIFA-like fluid animation in PES this year and not until they rebuild the game in my opinion. Still, I am happy to accept that providing the gameplay feels good and the AI is sorted for this 2012 version. Yes, I'm pleased square net are in. Criminal to have had to wait this long.

[Stoppy2000]

I do still like master league. Hope fifa eventually gets their career mode right.

[hudson]

Also the Master League Online was great. Far more rewarding to play than Ultimate Team. Really have to work for your wedge to buy players. Make enough money in tournaments to buy a few decent players or save up for that marquee signing.

[hudson]

More glowing impressions, this time from OPM...

”Elsewhere, PES 2012 was Borderline astounding for me – not in terms of overall quality, but in the sense that last year’s game was so far behind FIFA 11 in terms of on-field gameplay, and that most definitely isn’t the case any more. This is a much slicker, more immediate experience, which harks back to the halcyon days of PES’s last PS2 years: zipping balls around in tight spaces, admiring the almost human AI of players off the ball (diagonal runs across and around defenders, something FIFA still hasn’t quite nailed, are a particular joy), and introducing an intriguing set piece concept where you can control a specific player on a corner, free kick or throw in, rather than the actual kicker himself. It doesn’t play perfectly – keepers still need a bit of work (and we’ve been saying that about PES for many years) – but no game at the show surprised me more in terms of how far it has turned around since a previous iteration.”

[hudson]

WENB have recently come away from a PES2012 playtest with some impressions...

Short Version:

New menu is endorsed by UEFA.com

New mode in menu screen revealed called Football Life

Team AI and individual AI is groundbreaking in the game

Deeper tactics and strategy options in-game due to them being mapped to d-pad

All teams behave uniquely, with a greater emphasis on team play individuality

Graphics improved in gameplay cam, although needs some more work to achieve preferred levels

Match atmosphere greatly enhanced thanks to presence of managers, camera-men and groundstaff

Fans now wearing kits

New camera angle added called pitch side, which hangs lower from the side line. A favourite on the day

New reworked ball physics

More care needs to be taken when passing and controlling, as ball behaves independently and realistically

Goal Keepers vastly improved. New animations and more reliable

Referees vastly improved. Play advantage, and book after a play has stopped

Gameplay more fluid than before, instant response times when dribbling and controlling the ball

Animations more varied in passing and shooting, although not on FIFA levels

Shooting still floaty, needs work

Throughballs not as powerful, easier to intercept with better control of players

New personal data feature lets user customize own controller set-up, including adding an avatar picture

Long version...

[JU!]

Sounds brill doesn't it. The player runs and indivividuality sound amazing.

[nakamura]

Hear it every year. Bring on the demo.

[25.05.2005]

Hear it every year.

Concurred.

[nonny]

Agreed though I will say the hands on impressions sound more positive this year. Given the track record though the demo will be nothing to judge and it all hangs on the final code.

[Jebus]

Still controllable by the d-pad.

Deary deary me.

LOVED PES2011, but they seriously need to drop that ****, and improve the animations.