Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 News Post

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (360/PS3) Review

05:42 PM - October 4, 2011 by RaychelSnr

The Pro Evolution Soccer series has always lived and died by its gameplay. You don't expect stunningly polished presentation when you pop in PES, but you do expect fun and authentic on-pitch action. The problem was that for the past few years, even the gameplay has faltered, leading to a string of subpar offerings from this once mighty franchise.

Last year was a step in the right direction, as PES 2011's gameplay started to offer football fans glimmers of hope. This year,PES 2012 has eradicated its predecessors� flaws, and took gameplay to a whole new level. This is by far the best PES game for the current generation of consoles.

Read More - Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (360) Review

Game: Pro Evolution Soccer 2012Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PC / PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 4 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 ty5oke @ 10/04/11 06:03 PM

Very good review Kelvin. Agreed with all the flaws mentioned but the gameplay is so top notch that this is my go-to footy game.

# 2 RoyceDa59 @ 10/04/11 06:42 PM

I agree good review the more I play the game the more I fall in love with it. However I do think the game has some pretty good animations it is just the transitions between some of the animations is where it falls short. Overall, this game is really great and I can't stop playing it.

# 3 PAPERNUT @ 10/04/11 06:55 PM

Great review. Out of the box this game is a solid 8. With option files added to it along with custom stadiums and chants, the game jumps up big time IMO.

# 4 EvanRG @ 10/04/11 07:00 PM

I'm buyist, but I feel this is the best soccer game to ever be released. There, I said it.

The reason the AI is attacking a lot is because people try to play PES like Fifa (aggressive, going for the tackle to quickly instead of holding up play).

PES also has a contain button on defense (had it last year also before Fifa) and if you use it, you can very easily hold up play. Watch a CPU vs CPU game to show this.

Video game reviews are subjective and I agree with a lot of what you said, but I respectfully disagree about Fifa gaining a higher score.

Especially considering the gripes you made about Fifa.

Quote:


	Another flaw that becomes more apparent the longer you play the game is that the CPU doesn't have too many styles of playing. First of all, fouls are a rarity. The opposition doesn't dive in enough. When they do, they’re too successful. Second, I’ve yet to see them adjusting their tactics in relation to the score. While they do press higher when going for a goal in the dying minutes, the differences in urgency is nowhere near as pronounced as they should be. In short, sometimes you can feel like you’re playing a “one-size-fits-all” CPU. These issues, while they won’t make the game unplayable by any stretch of the imagination, do impact the spontaneity of gameplay. After a bit of playing, sometimes you can feel as though you can foresee every run that’s about to trigger, or that games are starting to feel one note.

I appreciate how balanced you were, but I feel like the reviews you wrote give two completely different scores than what you actually rated and talked about.

Gameplay wins outright every time and going by what you wrote -- PES should've won.

(I feel like a lawyer resting his case.)

# 5 Bahnzo @ 10/04/11 07:29 PM

I can't agree with any review that rates PES lower than FIFA this year.

# 6 Jgainsey @ 10/04/11 08:03 PM

As usual, I'll be buying PES for PC.

The consistently solid gameplay, along with the great modding community usually make my video game soccer choice pretty easy.

Personally, I wouldn't have given FIFA a higher score than PES this year, but the content of the review is fair. I don't get all that worked up over the review scores in and of themselves, but it is still a shame that the better game "lost".

# 7 kerosene31 @ 10/04/11 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanRG


	The reason the AI is attacking a lot is because people try to play PES like Fifa (aggressive, going for the tackle to quickly instead of holding up play).

This is 100% true. I was trying to defend in PES similar to the way I did in Fifa 11 (I played more Fifa last year). I was terrible. I adjusted and am a lot better.

I agree that PES has more flaws this year, but still I prefer it. It doesn't have the polish, but it just has it where it counts.

# 8 KG @ 10/04/11 10:38 PM

Everyone always feels like there is scripting in sports games but it exists in real life. That old cliche "you're at your most vulnerable after you score" is tried and proved. One club is trying hard to score, the other club is trying hard to defend packing it in and absorbing constant flurry after flurry. When your club is the latter how nervous are you? You get that same feeling in PES but because it's a video game people EXPECT the players to take into account the game situation and adjust on their own. It doesn't happen that way. Those like bars you see on the far right hand corner is the CPU changing mentality. When they do that, you need to do that. You feed right into the "game is scripted mentality" if you don't adjust.

Keepers are a mixed bag much like they are in real life. Most top league keepers are capable of producing the spectacular, few are able to do it consistently and even the best (Van der Saar, Casillas, etc...) have been put to shame on match-day. Yes, I'd like to see them catch more direct shots but I've seen double and triple saves as well as them coming off their line on-their-own to clear or deal with troublesome balls.

I agree with a lot of the review though and overall there is just something about PES that draws me despite it's flaws.

# 9 Hjkflannel @ 10/05/11 07:04 AM

Hi can someone explain this opinion people have that PES has a slower build up then FIFA? Have people played Fifa this year? the build up is very considered on the attacking and defensive side of the ball. Pes has always been end to end stuff with direct football normally seen in the last minutes of real games. Im not sure if it is an American misinterpretation of football, i find it really odd, when people call FIFA less realistic, i mean just look at the physics on PES, its really fun, but come on.

# 10 cadalyst17 @ 10/05/11 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahnzo


	I can't agree with any review that rates PES lower than FIFA this year.

It's the overall package. These are two entirely different games with different building philosophies. I look at it as body and soul. Fifa definitely is the body and PES is the soul.

Fair review. Even though it is not a sim. It does manage to blur the line (sim/arcade) with such amazing, creative gameplay.

# 11 cadalyst17 @ 10/05/11 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjkflannel


	Hi can someone explain this opinion people have that PES has a slower build up then FIFA? Have people played Fifa this year? the build up is very considered on the attacking and defensive side of the ball. Pes has always been end to end stuff with direct football normally seen in the last minutes of real games. Im not sure if it is an American misinterpretation of football, i find it really odd, when people call FIFA less realistic, i mean just look at the physics on PES, its really fun, but come on.

PES is a faster game.

# 12 kerosene31 @ 10/05/11 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjkflannel


	Hi can someone explain this opinion people have that PES has a slower build up then FIFA? Have people played Fifa this year? the build up is very considered on the attacking and defensive side of the ball. Pes has always been end to end stuff with direct football normally seen in the last minutes of real games. Im not sure if it is an American misinterpretation of football, i find it really odd, when people call FIFA less realistic, i mean just look at the physics on PES, its really fun, but come on.

Many people are turning down the default speed on PES (which is very quick) to at least -1 or even -2. On default PES kind of plays like pinball.

PES 2012 has amazing build up. If you only played the demo, it played a little different. With the retail on professional difficulty you have to move the ball around. In past versions, you could use through balls on the wings to set up crosses and that was how you scored. This year is a lot better. That still happens, but you can't just bomb the ball down the pitch at all.

PES has better build up because like a real team the pressure increases as you move closer to the other team's goal. If you are early on in a game with no score, the other team isn't going to be hyper aggressive at you when you are in the middle of the pitch. They don't want to give up a cheap foul or give you too much space. As you get closer is when the CPU gives you less time with the ball and ups the pressure. Just like the real sport, you see a lot more midfield movement at a slower pace. In Fifa in my experience if you stop for long you are going to have someone all over you no matter where you are.

# 13 Hjkflannel @ 10/05/11 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerosene31


	Many people are turning down the default speed on PES (which is very quick) to at least -1 or even -2. On default PES kind of plays like pinball. PES 2012 has amazing build up. If you only played the demo, it played a little different. With the retail on professional difficulty you have to move the ball around. In past versions, you could use through balls on the wings to set up crosses and that was how you scored. This year is a lot better. That still happens, but you can't just bomb the ball down the pitch at all. PES has better build up because like a real team the pressure increases as you move closer to the other team's goal. If you are early on in a game with no score, the other team isn't going to be hyper aggressive at you when you are in the middle of the pitch. They don't want to give up a cheap foul or give you too much space. As you get closer is when the CPU gives you less time with the ball and ups the pressure. Just like the real sport, you see a lot more midfield movement at a slower pace. In Fifa in my experience if you stop for long you are going to have someone all over you no matter where you are.

FIFA really isn't like that this year, the AI will contain you rather than pressure you all the time like fifa 11. I played PES with -1 speed, although haven't played the finished game (EU). The build up still felt fast, i think the way the ball can travel so quickly and directly makes the killer ball so much more effective. I found the demo exhilarating but ultimately unsatisfying. Sometimes through balls feel destined to go to my striker likewise with crosses that zero in on the attackers head. The shooting is more about powering up that bar and crossing your fingers unlike FIFA where even a through on goal isn't the end of the story. PES is an attacking game that is great fun but not a simulation. Some say it has the soul of football, i think they are misinterpreting the mechanics of the game. It offers great goals every match, every time - football isn't like that. its sometimes about bad passing, poor decisions 80 percent of the time then suddenly one great move earns a goal. Would you say NBA Jam represents the soul of basketball (well some might) but i hope you get my point.

# 14 kerosene31 @ 10/05/11 02:56 PM

I only played the Fifa 12 demo so can't comment on the final game. The PES 12 demo was watered down difficulty wise. It said it was "professional" difficulty, but it was nothing like the full version. The demo was much easier than the final game. The demo played more like regular than pro. In the final game, the CPU doesn't give you nearly as much as it did before.

I'm betting the Fifa demo was easier too, as many games seem to do this (NHL was as well). I think making them too easy makes it hard to evaluate the game.

A manual crossing option is something badly missing from PES. Crosses are too accurate and tend to hit where the player is standing when you release it, not where he should run to. The demo had really easy crosses to score on, which is different in the final version.

Passing works great in PES once you find the right pass assist settings. The other problem with PES is it lacks a real manual passing option as well so you really just have to spend the time to get used to it.

PES is a good representation of the game this year, it just has strengths and weaknesses just like other games. Where PES shines and the reviewer states is AI. Your teammates will make smart runs and more importantly, you can rely on them to play defense and intelligently help you out. In PES when the CPU player is coming into the box I block them off preventing them from shooting and when I do that a teammate will wisely jump in and help out. Fifa's new feature seems ok, but I didn't spend much time with it. In PES sometimes you don't have to even call for pressure, they just know what to do and do it. It doesn't feel like a bunch of 1 on 1 encounters.

It all comes down to what matters. AI is huge for me as offline play is all I do. PES is legit this year and it doesn't come down to which is "better" but which one people prefer.

# 15 EvanRG @ 10/05/11 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjkflannel


	FIFA really isn't like that this year, the AI will contain you rather than pressure you all the time like fifa 11. I played PES with -1 speed, although haven't played the finished game (EU). The build up still felt fast, i think the way the ball can travel so quickly and directly makes the killer ball so much more effective. I found the demo exhilarating but ultimately unsatisfying. Sometimes through balls feel destined to go to my striker likewise with crosses that zero in on the attackers head. The shooting is more about powering up that bar and crossing your fingers unlike FIFA where even a through on goal isn't the end of the story. PES is an attacking game that is great fun but not a simulation. Some say it has the soul of football, i think they are misinterpreting the mechanics of the game. It offers great goals every match, every time - football isn't like that. its sometimes about bad passing, poor decisions 80 percent of the time then suddenly one great move earns a goal. Would you say NBA Jam represents the soul of basketball (well some might) but i hope you get my point.

I respectfully disagree.

# 16 Hjkflannel @ 10/05/11 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanRG


	I respectfully disagree.

I think the great thing this year is everybody wins pes is great and FIFA is great, last year both had big issues. I spent along time with both demos this year but FIFA won, I would ask any pes fan to checkbout this years FIFA before making any comparisons. it has made strides that are hard to come back from such as satisfying defending (something I've never seen in a football game) all it needs now is the incredible pes attacking ai, and a refinement of the impact engine. Ive played pes since the ps2 days and it's good to see it finally getting back to the level of end to end action that made It so fun to play.

# 17 KG @ 10/05/11 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjkflannel


	FIFA really isn't like that this year, the AI will contain you rather than pressure you all the time like fifa 11. I played PES with -1 speed, although haven't played the finished game (EU). The build up still felt fast, i think the way the ball can travel so quickly and directly makes the killer ball so much more effective. I found the demo exhilarating but ultimately unsatisfying. Sometimes through balls feel destined to go to my striker likewise with crosses that zero in on the attackers head. The shooting is more about powering up that bar and crossing your fingers unlike FIFA where even a through on goal isn't the end of the story. PES is an attacking game that is great fun but not a simulation. Some say it has the soul of football, i think they are misinterpreting the mechanics of the game. It offers great goals every match, every time - football isn't like that. its sometimes about bad passing, poor decisions 80 percent of the time then suddenly one great move earns a goal. Would you say NBA Jam represents the soul of basketball (well some might) but i hope you get my point.

FIFA contains just for the sake of saying that they have toned down pressure. I've spent more time so far with FIFA (waiting on the OF) and the amount of time you have on the ball inside your opponent's half is mind boggling. I can get the ball to my ST, turn, take 1-2 dribbles before the CB will come up.

The same goals I scored on FIFA '08 are the same one's that work in '12. Angled shots with the finesse modifier, passes across the goal for tap-ins, etc... Don't get me wrong, there are some aspects of FIFA that I love (the new tackle system for example) but it doesn't provide the spontaneity that PES offers. Not every goal is pretty on PES either. I have scored some absolutely ugly goals resulting from scrambles in the box, something the other game doesn't do as the AI is incapable of doing it consistently.

Through balls have been greatly toned down since PES 2011 and I prefer this header system where it values timing as well as physical skill.

# 18 Hjkflannel @ 10/06/11 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG


	FIFA contains just for the sake of saying that they have toned down pressure. I've spent more time so far with FIFA (waiting on the OF) and the amount of time you have on the ball inside your opponent's half is mind boggling. I can get the ball to my ST, turn, take 1-2 dribbles before the CB will come up. The same goals I scored on FIFA '08 are the same one's that work in '12. Angled shots with the finesse modifier, passes across the goal for tap-ins, etc... Don't get me wrong, there are some aspects of FIFA that I love (the new tackle system for example) but it doesn't provide the spontaneity that PES offers. Not every goal is pretty on PES either. I have scored some absolutely ugly goals resulting from scrambles in the box, something the other game doesn't do as the AI is incapable of doing it consistently. Through balls have been greatly toned down since PES 2011 and I prefer this header system where it values timing as well as physical skill.

Good points, i think FIFA's contain system does go to far at times particularly in the box when you just want players to swarm and the goals i have scored often come from the wings. The computer always attacks from the wings (another complaint). The system isnt meant to decrease pressure its meant to make the game more considered and tactical. As for the crossing i do agree that timing plays an important factor but have the aim on auto does feels a bit old, plus the angle a winger can catapoult the ball across his body still needs work, i do like the way the computer closes you down on the wings aggressivly. I think Pes needs an new animation system to progress, i think this is as good as it gets on this engine. I think the thing that is great about pes is if you think it you can do it but that doesnt apply to the collisions where things are still to bumper cars, although at least the computer actually fouls you, unlike fifa.
Ive scored the kind of goals you are talking about and they are quite spontaneous but also comical. Normally the ball will be spilled by butter hands goalie, bounce off a player and then into my path.

# 19 KG @ 10/06/11 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjkflannel


	Good points, i think FIFA's contain system does go to far at times particularly in the box when you just want players to swarm and the goals i have scored often come from the wings. The computer always attacks from the wings (another complaint). The system isnt meant to decrease pressure its meant to make the game more considered and tactical. As for the crossing i do agree that timing plays an important factor but have the aim on auto does feels a bit old, plus the angle a winger can catapoult the ball across his body still needs work, i do like the way the computer closes you down on the wings aggressivly. I think Pes needs an new animation system to progress, i think this is as good as it gets on this engine. I think the thing that is great about pes is if you think it you can do it but that doesnt apply to the collisions where things are still to bumper cars, although at least the computer actually fouls you, unlike fifa. Ive scored the kind of goals you are talking about and they are quite spontaneous but also comical. Normally the ball will be spilled by butter hands goalie, bounce off a player and then into my path.

The contain system is great in theory and with some fine-tuning will be the backbone of a new & improved FIFA but right now w/o tweaking team tactics it doesn't resemble real life. It's absorb absorb absorb until you, the user, do something. I think PES's defensive approach is right on with the amount of pressure + tactical intelligence.

Animations do need to improve in PES, no doubt about it, but the impact engine has made FIFA take a step back IMO. Aside from the crazy animations that you can find on youtube there are numerous times where you an animation collision will initiate and the outcome is totally unpredictable with no regards to physics or strength. I've seen physical CBs like Hummels & Ferdinand get thrown by the likes of Bojan because an animation will take them out the play. There's too many times where you cross your fingers playing defense and hope that the ball won't magically drift into the attackers path after a collision. Coupled with the fact that you AI will often leave you high & dry with their reaction times and I've given up many goals online that I have literally no control over.

I still enjoy both games but I've put more time into FIFA right now while I wait for the 360 OF to come out.

# 20 rckabillyRaider @ 10/08/11 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG


	The same goals I scored on FIFA '08 are the same one's that work in '12. Angled shots with the finesse modifier, passes across the goal for tap-ins, etc... Don't get me wrong, there are some aspects of FIFA that I love (the new tackle system for example) but it doesn't provide the spontaneity that PES offers. Not every goal is pretty on PES either. I have scored some absolutely ugly goals resulting from scrambles in the box, something the other game doesn't do as the AI is incapable of doing it consistently.

That is so true. It's almost literally the only goals available on FIFA which makes it quite boring after a few games.

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