If I was doing an end-of-week review of PES2013, having played probably as much of the game as any proper reviewer did, I’d currently give it a 9. But I remain very cautious. It’s what we think of the game after a few months—or after a year—that really counts. That’s the true measure of a PES, not the first flush of new love.
With reluctance, I have suspended my fledgling Master League in anticipation of the arrival of a Championship Option File.
I spent yesterday and this morning playing in the Copa Libertadores.
Flicking through the teams available, there could only be one choice. I decided to play as Bolivia’s most celebrated team: The Strongest.
That really is their glorious name: The Strongest.
I confessed a while ago to never having heard of many South American teams, to my shame. (Not that I would ever claim to be the most knowledgeable football person. I’m definitely not. This PES blog is about PES. It’s only about football insofar as PES is about football.)
But I had heard about The Strongest, somewhere in the dim and distant past. Where had I heard about them, though? I think it was on a documentary on late-night Channel 4 back in the 1990s. Somewhere between The Word and the late-late-night fare that was all we had to watch back then.
The Strongest played Once Caldas in the pre-tournament qualifying round, a two-legged affair. I huffed and puffed my way through the first leg, winning it 2-1 after going behind to an early soft goal. I won the second leg 1-0.
From where I was plunged into a group with SC International, Santos FC, and Juan Aurich. A defeat and a draw so far.
Life is tough. And I’m still only on Professional difficulty. With players averaging in the high-60s OVR, this difficulty is still enough of a challenge to make things very interesting. Games can be scrappy if I let them. I have to seek to impose myself on games to get any kind of flow going. It’s very deep and rewarding.
So far the standout player for me is an old-fashioned outside-left called ESCOBAR. I also note the presence of a DMF called LIMA, who I’m sure I bought for a Football Manager 2005 save a long, long time ago.
Being exposed to the Brazilian top-flight teams in my Master League, and now seeing these teams and this atmosphere in the Copa Libertadores, tells me that I need to play a South American Master League career at some point this year.
If today’s WENB Championship OF is late, I’ll start playing Master League down South America way. Maybe as The Strongest, who knows.
EDIT: the WENB OF came out as I was preparing today’s post.
UPDATE – I can install the new OF, but can’t seem to use it. Each time it just freezes on the spinning blue circle load screen (pre-match). Sometimes it only gets as far as the black screen. A hard reset each time (three beeps, never good to hear).
The file looks awesome too, exactly what I was waiting for. I’ll wait to see if it’s a widespread problem or if there’s a fix. I f there’s no sign by tomorrow, to heck with it, I’ll start my permanent ML with the made-up teams and players.
UPDATE to the UPDATE – I can play if it’s anything other than Championship vs Championship. Eg. Man Utd vs Cardiff works. But, alas, Cardiff vs Crystal Palace, nope. Freezes. Very odd.
Whatever happens, Monday’s post will see the real start of my real Master League. I’m done hanging around now.