Codemasters (Club Football) and Sony (The World of Blues) being out of the race this year, the reference match to follow closely concerns the two always rivals Electronic Arts and Konami. While EA Sports dangled us a FIFA 06 exceptional which ended up being quite bland, the Tokyo publisher, true to form, was able to reassure its fans first thanks to a few illustrations scattered on the net, then thanks to a preview version of PES 5 could not be more successful. But the final cake proves to us, once again, that Japanese developers are listening to players, with a view to improving their football simulation and achieving perfection. And even if some concerns inherent in the series are still present, it is with undisguised pleasure that we tread the lawns of Pro Evolution Soccer 5.
The last chance game
No one knows that at present we are witnessing the very last confrontation FIFA vs PES discipline on current consoles. The imminent arrival of new generation machines will be an opportunity for developers to fine-tune their software visually in order to get as close as possible to the truth. So you will have understood it, it is difficult for Konami to improve the graphics engine of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 without the game speed or fluidity suffering. That's why this version looks suspiciously like PES 4 in its entirety. But looking more closely, we can notice that the developers of Konami Tokyo have taken great care of the facial modeling of footballers thanks to a large panel of hairstyles and faces so that we can recognize at first glance. eye the football stars of Calcio through the Premier League, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga. We can always criticize the fact that "second zone" players do not benefit from the same attention to the point of becoming illustrious strangers in the eyes of their fans. This defect is partly attributed to the absence of certain football licenses which make many people angry. And yes, if FIFA 06 is complete at this level, why Pro Evolution Soccer 5 wouldn't be! With each version, Konami offers us some new ones instead of solving the problem once and for all. And this PES 5 is no exception to the rule since alongside the Spanish, Italian and Dutch leagues, the game offers us some additional clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Dynamo kyiv, FC Porto, Galatasaray, Rosenborg BK, Djurgårdens IF, FC Kopenhagen, Rangers and Celtic F.C. For the German, French and English leagues (in its entirety), it will be necessary to iron. It has the gift of annoying but we get used to it. And then in this way, it allows fussy players to have fun in the Edit Menu by renaming clubs and certain athletes, by modifying pennants and jerseys. The kit of the perfect seamstress is also available, pushing the vice to the personalization of shoes. Corn Pro Evolution Soccer 5 primarily plays the simulation card through deep, rich and diversified gameplay.
Pro Evo 1 - FIFA 0
And it is obviously on this point that the developers have decided to reinforce the difference dissociating Pro Evolution Soccer 5 de FIFA 06. Forget the maneuverability of the 4th opus, this new component is intended to be more advanced to the point that novices in the series will find it difficult to take a liking to the game. The habits you acquired during the 2004/2005 season are good to throw away quite simply because, with the ball at your feet, the player you control will not have the same reactions as before. This feeling is experienced during the first games after a few passes. Ordinarily, the player receiving the ball could go on a mad dash, bringing the ball at the same time in the desired direction. Try this experience in Pro Evolution Soccer 5 and you will offer the possibility of counter-attacking to the opposing team or you will concede a throw-in in the best of cases. This is the first lesson learned from PES 5 : do not hold the key corresponding to the fast run when you want to control the ball. The players are now as perfectible as our weekend footballers on Canal +, it is better to keep the ball by using your dribbling skills rather than betting on speed. Ball control is the major asset of this new PES discipline thus offering a more successful game system.
Players now experience believable responsiveness based on your running speed unlike a FIFA 06 allowing anything and everything during a sprint. Charms such as rakes, roulettes, fake strikes or stepovers will be easier to perform with a short stride, especially since the defensive system of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 has been reinforced to avoid, as in 4, ending up with two players on the same ball, thus creating holes in the defense. This year, Konami has decided that each defender will hold their position until an attacker rushes into their territory. Consequently, it is much more difficult to pass on the sides in order to cross because we always have a defender marking on the pants. Therefore favor the circulation of the ball which may, depending on your opponent or the difficulty of the game, destroy the defensive lines. This is how we discover the other reworked aspect of the game: the strikes. Much more punchy than in Pro Evolution Soccer 4 and finally quite close to those of PES 3, however, they gain in precision and intuitiveness. Performing a volley or why not a scissor will sometimes be the miracle solution to plant a pawn instead of getting tangled up in a hazardous recovery. If the shots are a little harsher, that does not mean that it is possible to score a goal from midfield as was the case in PES 4 because framing your shot will require greater dexterity. To this, we must add a slightly less crazy goalkeeper who stays in his cages even when you are in the opposite camp. Guardian reactions have also been improved to make them more believable. He will not hesitate to box the ball more than to try to keep it while he is surrounded by a thirsty attack of goals. Likewise, no more cookie-cutter heads on an aerial balloon that he can easily catch, as we could see before. The general gameplay is therefore much more refined leaving little room for chance or beginner's luck.
To the toilet, the referee!
Konami wanted to make Pro Evolution Soccer 5 a clean game, a little too clean for that matter. It is enough to observe the attitude of the referee to realize that PES 5 emphasized the advantage rule and foul system. Pulling jerseys, shoulder blow, lift or stroller, the slightest misconduct is quickly whistled by the referee. This does not mean that he will show the yellow or red card all the time, as in FIFA 06. However, he relies on the advantage much more in order to let the action end. Unlike in Pro Evolution Soccer 4, the yellow logo does not disappear after floating for a few seconds. It is absolutely necessary that the team victim of a fault recovers the ball that the play continues otherwise it is the guaranteed free kick. Let's talk about free kicks. Oddly, it's much easier to aim square in PES 5 that in PES 4. So even the worst shooter, in other words me, can become the virtual Juninho of the free kick. As you will have understood, avoid mistakes as much as possible. Moreover, they are sometimes synonymous with injuries for both the defender and the attacker. When not immediate, the pains can kick in later in the game. At this time, it is a feast for the eyes to see the animation of the players as it is credible. Slow and lame race, everything is there to make Pro Evolution Soccer 5 a real football game. And the motion capture has been further improved, offering a greater range of movement, perfectly transcribing the gestures of our athletes. Moreover, the attitude of certain footballers has been worked on to make it unique, we think in particular of Ronaldinho's sprint, the break of Beckham, Thierry Henri or Roberto Carlos before a set piece. Pro Evolution Soccer 5 offers us a show that lives up to its ambitions even if, it must be admitted, the matches are much chopped up than in the previous parts.
Match d’exhibition
The show continues in the locker room thanks to the many game modes available and of course with the essential League Master. Few changes have been made here. You will have to manage a team as usual, taking into account player fatigue, injuries, age and keeping an eye on available transfers to ensure your club has the best possible recruits. But the greatest interest of Pro Evolution Soccer 5, it is obviously the appearance of the online mode in its PlayStation 2 version. Disappointing last year in the PC and Xbox adaptations of Pro Evolution Soccer 4, Konami has arranged the game mode and expanded it with the possibility of playing up to 4 people. Even at the level of the menus, we appreciate the navigation. No more stress of having only one minute to prepare your formation by choosing the multiple possible tactics. The preparation time has been increased so that everyone can take the time to properly organize their team. During online matches, the annoying lag of PES 4 is almost out of date and it is possible to check the connection of your host thanks to small logos ranging from green to red. During matches, you can also skip some annoying cut-scenes such as offsides, player changes or slowdowns by simply pressing "Start". However, a small flat is to be formulated concerning the change of player always a little bit automatic for all those who play in manual. This defect is still found in offline mode but is very slight and forgivable.
