PES2008: it’s the keepers’ fault
Posted by: Greg Downs in England, International Tournament, Konami, Michael Owen, PES2009, PES5, pes2008, pes6, tags: England, FIFA08, International Tournament, Konami, Michael Owen, pes2008, PES5, pes6I’m still disappointed by PES5’s PS2 graphics. It’s extraordinary how quickly you can become used to a new console generation’s graphics - how quickly they become the norm.
I experienced the same problem back in 2002. After moving from the PS1 to the PS2, a few weeks later I put on one of my favourite PS1 games - Syphon Filter 2 - and I couldn’t play it for more than a few minutes. The PS1 graphics looked horrible. I couldn’t stand them. Things are not so bad for PES5. The PS3’s upscaling capability helps a lot.
I’m being a bit of a football game whore at the moment. I’m spreading myself around between two console games. Add PES6 and FM2007 on the PSP and I’ve got 4 ‘mistresses’ on the go at once.
I’ve been thinking a lot about PES2008 over the past few days. I’ve been thinking that PES2008 was a nearer miss than I gave it credit for. But for its terrible, unrealistic, perennially butter-fingered goalkeepers, and its overpowered dribbling, PES2008 could and should have been what we all anticipated it would be: the best football game ever. I am absolutely certain.
Which only makes it all the more personally disappointing (even crushing) that we were served up with the game we got. Could Konami issue a gameplay patch for the goalkeepers? Probably yes, if they wanted to. Do they want to? Probably not. They’ve probably drawn a line under PES2008 and already started to plan their marketing strategy for PES2009.
They got the passing right in PES2008. I also now think they got the pace of the gameplay about right - maybe 10% slower would have been slightly more comfortable, but it’s still a long way short of the insane speed of PES5 and PES6. The shooting, while less than entirely satisfactory, is a bit more difficult than the regular 6-2 scorelines might suggest. PES2008’s shortcomings - its lack of the sheer daily satisfaction that its predecessors had in bucketloads - can largely be traced to the atrocious goalkeeper AI. In my opinion.
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I’m plugging away at PES5, and yes, I finally won a tournament (on 4*).
Here’s the winning goal in the final, scored by Owen against Belgium (of all teams):
I hate to be always sounding so picky about PES. Believe me. But I have another picky point to make: Owen clearly shins that ball into the goal. From 30 yards out.
Sadly, winning this tournament doesn’t mean that I am now going to start a PES5 Master League. I was only playing on 4* and I have to win a tournament on at least 5* before I can consider myself ready and able. Ah, but am I willing?
That is the question. Behind all the bluster and grandstanding of the last week, I am experiencing doubts about continuing with PES5 as my main game for the rest of the year.
I don’t think I want to go back to PES2008. Although I have dreamed up a set of House Rules that would make things very interesting - you know, if I wanted to go back (not saying I would; just speculating here, is all).
I might turn my attention to PES6. Or I might - and this is going to sound like the ultimate heresy - turn to next-gen FIFA08.
After 400+ games on FIFA08, I’ve found that the reasons why some people hate it are the reasons why I like it. No, I don’t want to be able to zoom through entire defences with one player, thank you very much. Yes, I like to take my time. Yes, I enjoy dour 0-0 draws. Yes, I enjoy the challenge of a fantastically difficult and unforgiving shooting system. And so on…. I believe FIFA08 is a game that could easily occupy me until October. Now that would be a turn-up for the books. It would also be a considerable amount of egg on my face. Of all the years I picked to start a PES blog, it had to be this one…
I have a couple of days off work. I’m going to spread myself around a bit, see what feels right.
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if you play it on non widescreeen the gameplay is much slower
I just saw the FA cup highlights (across the pond and all)! What a win for Coventry City!
Play up you Sky Blues!
A great FA cup run would be just what the season needs, after all the drama.
bostongoals - I did see your tip about pressing the PS button and switching to regular view. I’ll try it out later tonight, thanks.
ck - Coventry City first on Match of the Day! We may never see that happen again.
I actually live in Belgium, bit of a random fact but to see that you beat Belgium in the cup final is always nice to see!
Fifa 08 is pretty good for me at the moment, about to start a manager mode after messing about in the tournaments and challenges trying to unlock all the kits and balls, until some kind fella told me that you can get a lot more points by winning trophies. Oh how time flies when you have to make 15 successful tackles, not concede a corner and score a goal with a defender inside the last 5 minutes.
And well played against Blackburn! Truly deserved win.