Is there room for two football videogames in your doubtlessly busy life? If you are anything like Sportsvibe, the answer is no. Once again, that time of year has resurfaced when the customary debate rattles on; should you buy PES or FIFA?
For the uninitiated, Konami’s Pre Evolution Soccer franchise and EA Sports’ FIFA series have long tussled for supremacy in the virtual world of football video games. Stretching across a number of years and countless platforms, the seemingly unending bout of one-upmanship is showing no signs of deteriorating. In response to EA’s latest edition in FIFA 12, Konami launched an equally familiar-sounding title in PES 2012.
PES 2012 faces the same annual doubts about what exactly constitutes it as a ‘new’ videogame. Is it not a roster-updated version of PES 2011, dusted off, re-branded and re-shelved? FIFA 12 will face identical accusations as it’s own gravy train chugs along, but surprisingly – for PES 2012 at least – the accusations are unfair.
PES 2012 is, remarkably, different. The game claims to boast “a wealth of key advances, including revolutionary control additions and incredible teammate AI”. A bold claim. As Sportsvibe’s review copy dropped into the office promising “a new era in football”, we reminisced about that day Adrian instantly summoned a loose pass under his spell, only to shift it out of his feet and spray the pig-skin a full forty yards across to the opposite flank. Then we discussed how great that would be if it had actually happened. Then we realised it could happen, only virtually.
No disrespect to Adrian, but the virtual reality presented to us by a title such as PES 2012 offers the platform to achieve things that can far surpass real life. Chasing a World Cup winners medal? Want to score a penalty for England against the Germans? Now you can.
The new level of control handed to the person holding the pad is remarkable; the ‘Active AI’ system recreates the ethics of real football, with decoy and overlapping runs from computer-controlled participants adding to the natural flow of the beautiful game.
Konami have placed a huge reliance on listening to their fanbase, following accusations their franchise had fallen behind their rivals, and the utilisation of such feedback is clear to see. Central drawing points of previous releases are still options – notably the Master League format has been retained and revamped – whilst countless improvements to teamwork, mechanics and realism help to establish this as a genuine must-have for football videogame enthusiasts.
Whether you are a FIFA devotee or are too busy championing PES, it should be agreed that the PES 2012 title reeks of care, an assiduous attention to detail and a genuine love of the sport. As for us at Sportsvibe, there is only one debate now dividing the office; do we get PES 2012 on the PS3, or on the Xbox?
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