Konami has put a lot of work into this year’s PES 2012 and while the changes
aren’t immediately apparent, there are enough tweaks to make this edition
worth getting. This is particularly true if you want to see the refined
gameplay mechanics at work once again. The most immediate on-field changes
involve the AI, which is tougher and smarter than it was in previous
installments. Your opponents don’t stand there like they did in previous
installments, and now block, tackle and attack you much more aggressively.
Tactically, you’ll see that the team-mates are a bit smarter and set up
plays, attacks and other moves with much more accuracy. One of the biggest
changes we saw was the new ball physics, which allow you to pass and make
through-balls with much more accuracy. Shooting has also undergone
significant revision and the increased realism means more close-calls, which
can be frustrating. As in last year’s title, it takes some effort
to
move up the field and there’s much more aggressive AI that makes it harder
to avoid tackles and interceptions. This makes it more difficult to get
through your opponents and rewards faster passes that put you in less
danger. Pushing the ball through requires a bit more skill and forethought,
and you’ll have to strategize a bit more and think ahead. This emphasis on
strategy leads to a much more playable installment that has a lot more
longevity in it than you’d think it would. Players will find a lot of depth
in creating set-pieces, carving paths through an opponent’s defenses and
making great shots while keeping their opponents at bay. This makes the
matches much harder to win, but more satisfying when victory is achieved.
The structure of each match is realistic, and they
seem to build up to a climax effectively as in real life. While PES 2012’s
simulation aspects are good, the feel of each match is more arcade-style
than the FIFA games. Each match has a generally fast pace, where you have to
pass effectively to move up the field. Once you reach the end, its pacing
generally increases when you approach the goal section. Getting through the
defenders isn’t as easy, since they’re smarter than usual, they’ll block and
intercept your shots, tackle and use other tactics to defeat your attacks.
This requires you to anticipate their positions
and look for ways around them, passing and kicking the ball to your
team-mates is an effective strategy. When you reach the opposing net, things
remain challenging. The AI goal-keepers don’t hesitate to run right up to
you and block your attempts. Shooting is much harder than in previous games,
but you can score once you learn how the game reacts to your moves and
understand how its defense operates. It sounds more complicated than it is
in practice, which is due in large part to the game’s intuitive controls.
These remain unchanged from last year’s edition, and players can choose
either simple beginner controls or more advanced inputs. Button arrangements
are fine, with passing, dribbling and kicking assigned to a single button.
You can also make your players sprint or tackle aggressively, but you need
to be careful since using these too much leads to quick fouls, which can be
disastrous. You can perform a number of special moves with simple commands,
change tactics, and control multiple players easily. Advanced players now
have the ability to map their favorite moves to the controller, which makes
the gameplay even more instinctive when its implemented. Learning the
controls doesn’t require much in the way of skill, and their intuitive
approach means the games accessible. Experienced players should have no
trouble with the game – PES veterans should feel right at home with the new
game, since the basics haven’t changed much from last year’s installment.
While it’s not as robust or
deep in the features department as FIFA, there are still plenty of options
for gamers to choose from. The game includes practice matches that let you
tune your skills. You can also play friendly matches against opponents
without any real stakes or choose to play a full season of games in the
tournament modes. The game also includes extensive online options, and
allows you to create players and teams. This lets you make your own teams,
and you can almost create reasonable facsimiles of real teams. This is
important, because PES has
a limited number of licenses. These include
England’s
Champions League, the UEFA Cup from
Europe
and Copa Santander Libertadores tournaments from
Latin America.
Some of the famous players and their accompanying teams are also included,
but there are some glaring omissions, with the entire MLS absent while major
clubs such as Chelsea
are no-shows.
However, the good news is that the included
leagues can be played in single matches or tournament mode, which is a
somewhat mitigating factor. You can play these leagues via single matches or
go through an entire season of to the championship rounds. One of the more
interesting parts of the game is its excellent Master League mode. In this
mode, you can play as the general manager of the team, buying, selling and
trading for players to add to your squad or bidding against others in the
open market. As usual, your objective is to advance your club from the
bottom rungs to the elite leagues while earning profit and keeping your
satisfied. You can choose to play solo, or take the Master League online
with other players, which also allows you to update stats in real-time.
Players can also choose to create and compete as a solo player in the Legend
mode. Here, you tackle the role of a single player and go through matches,
earning points for your skills on the field and working your way up the
ranks. This is an excellent mode for players who want a deeper experience,
and gives PES 2012 added depth and replay value.
One of the biggest disappointments in PES 2012 is the
fact that it’s visual engine hasn’t progressed much over the past few
installments. This year’s edition seems to be treading water, with some
minor tweaks here and there, but nothing that really raises the bar. Its
presentation and menus are decent enough, and there are some nice cinematic
effects. As usual, the game’s replay feature is the standout. This allows
you to change the view-points, zoom in or out and change perspective easily,
You can then save these replay modes to view your biggest moments once
again. While this is a nice feature, it only highlights the game’s somewhat
disappointing graphics engine. Player movement feels a bit clunky and the
camera angles don’t quite have the smoothness of FIFA. This is especially
apparent when you zoom into the on-field mode, which is better than last
year’s edition, but still a little clunky. PES 2012’s sound effects are
decent, with the roar of the crowd and expert commentary used to heighten
the excitement that the game delivers. , the on-balance, the game doesn’t
look horrible, and is still an acceptable looking title in terms of
conveying a soccer match’s drama and excitement. While the aesthetics aren’t
quite as slick as they could be, the game still delivers solid gameplay
mechanics on the field. Even though its’ not as polished or deep as FIFA,
this is still a good soccer game. It’s easy to use controls and commands
make it intuitive for novices, while delivering enough sophistication for
advanced players. The game flows very nicely and is easy to play. Numerous
options and extra modes add to PES 2012’s depth, making for a satisfying
experience that will please fans looking for a more action-oriented soccer
title. -
Michael Palisano
