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Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment
Publisher: Konami Computer Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PC DVD, PlayStation 2, Playstation Portable, Nintendo DS and Mobile
Rating: 3+
Genre: Sports
Players: 1-2
►Total Control: The PES Production team has enhanced the 360-degree passing ratio, offering unprecedented levels of control over every pass, shot, headed ball, throw-in, and through ball. This allows users to pass the ball into space, and move their play with total freedom. Players must precisely weight their passes and second-guess the runs of their teammates and exploit their movement, while lofted through-balls have an all-new level of accuracy.
►Shot Stamina Gauge: In addition to the generic power gauge, the Shot Stamina meter details the players exact level of fitness. Constantly sprinting will affect the players movements and will have an adverse affect on his stats, with passes going awry and a loss of pace.
►New Defender AI: Players now also hold their positions naturally, no longer chasing any ball that enters their area; preferring to close down the attacker and force them into a mistake.
►Animation and Player Physics: The PES Production team has totally reworked every element of in-game animation. These additions will become clear before even kick-off, with the players enjoying fluid, natural movements, with more realistic acceleration and inertia than ever before. The physicality between players is also improved, which was a priority requested in PES forums. Jostling and blocking now looks stunning, while there is a larger variety of convincing tackling styles. Ambient animation also adds to the in-game atmosphere, as players adapt their running and movement styles in line with play.
►Speed of Play: The new level of control means that PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2011 enjoys a more considered pace of play, which varies dependent on situations. The game will burst into life as counter-attacks come into play, but players can dictate the pace via slow build up or exploiting available space to surge forward. It is harder to make long runs from midfield, and successful play will depend on making quick passes to make room.
►Improved Goalkeepers: In keeping with the basis of total freedom of movement, players now have more control over their keeper. This greater control allows for quick roll-outs, instinctive saves, pinpoint accuracy with goal kicks, and precision ball distribution to make quicker breaks or playing down the clock easier.
►Aesthetics: PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010 showcased the best likenesses in a football game, and PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2011 ups the ante further. Facial animation has been enhanced, but the key advances are over 1000 all-new animations which have been recreated from the ground up using over 100 hours of motion captured footage. Every aspect of player movement has been reworked, with more organic runs, turns, throw-ins, tackles, and interaction. The way players speed up and slow down is also more natural; while replays display elements of motion blur that bring your saved goals to vivid life.
►Tactics and Strategy: The sheer number of options available in the PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER series has established it as a remarkably flexible simulation, allowing players to stamp their playing style on each match. The PES Production team has implemented an all new Drag and Drop mechanism that can be used in every aspect of team management, not just substitutions or formation changes. These settings are also animated to promote better understanding of the plays that have been altered.
Feint Settings: PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER has always offered a wide range of subtle skills, feints and turns, but PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2011 allows users to map key skills to a specific control area, making them available via the second stick or via specific button presses, making them more accessible than ever before.
Master League Online: Master League will offer an all-new challenge, as users are invited to try their hand against other managers online. PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2011 will mark the online debut for its much-loved Master League element, with players bidding against each other for the worlds best players, and attempting to build a squad that can compete with the best against online peers all over the globe.
360 Demo
PC Demo
UP on PSN, everywhere
Eurogamer.NET - 7/10
Whether you've been playing Pro Evolution Soccer since the PSone - chipping your PS2 to play Japanese copies of Winning Eleven between annual instalments - or whether you've been playing FIFA since it was isometric and never set eyes on the competition, this latest instalment of PES is going to take a little getting used to.
Yes! It's finally happened. Konami has succumbed to all the bullying and ripped PES up to start again. The result - somehow manhandled to completion before its traditional October deadline - shares some of the same philosophical DNA as its predecessors, which is to say it's still very hard to create chances and convert them into goals, but it feels different both to past PES games and FIFA's alternative.
(...)
Nevertheless, while FIFA 11 may be the better, more polished and controllable simulation of football, in many respects PES 2011 is the more charismatic of the two games. If you're only interested in the finished article then you might want to wait another year for further progress, but in the meantime PES fans can hold their heads high, and fans of the beautiful game are on the road to being spoiled for choice again in light of this encouraging instalment.
PSM3 - 89%
The write-up - from editor and resident football game expert Dan Dawkins - says that the game is 'intimidating but rewarding and skilful'.
It compares well to PSM3's FIFA 11 review, which gives EA's behemoth 91 per cent.
However, Dawkins reckons that PES is just 'a year too early' to challenge FIFA - and is on the road to recovery after a disappointing couple of years.
It's also pretty darn hard.
'This is not PES 6 or, indeed, PES as we know it,' writes Dawkins. 'The crippling, but tantalising, realisation is that almost all your years of accrued expertise are junk.'
He adds: 'For all the effort - on Konami's part and yours - PES 2011 doesn't displace FIFA 11 as PS3's best football game, but it does emerge renewed, smarter and ready to move onto better things.'
IGN UK - 9.0
After the promising strides made by last year's reboot, PES 2011 feels very much a realisation of that potential. With its emphasis on fun still apparent, the added realism provided by control, animation and AI enhancements improve and broaden the package's appeal no end. Factor in the added tactical flexibility and the addition of the online Master League, and it's easy to see why PES' return to form will be widely celebrated. Some may prefer FIFA's more studied approach to football realism, but when it comes to pick-up-and-play fun and intensity, PES 2011 gets my vote this year.
CVG
Still in second place - but the best PES in a long time. Fans will feel like an old friend has finally returned.
Uppers:
►More player control
►Infinite number of shots
►Master League (again)
►Online Master League
►Some great graphical examples
Downers:
►Little to no atmosphere
►Appalling commentary
►We still love licenses
►Patchy AI
►A little too light on its feet
Videogamer.com - 7/10
Let's get something straight: PES 2011 is a good game. It's the best version of PES I've played on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and it's a step in the right direction - but it isn't a FIFA beater. EA Sports started FIFA's transformation many years ago and now the fruits of that investment are paying off every year, whereas PES 2011 feels like it's just the start of a new beginning for the franchise. Fans will find a lot of positives, but fence-sitters will still want to go with EA's game.