Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Review

[Bahnzo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Slizeezyc

I'll have Timmy come by and clarify perhaps when he gets a chance. The whole living in Korea thing kind of throws that off though haha.

Which again I don't understand why we have a review for a game that isn't offered here in the US? It's great that he's played it, but then there's been a thousand other reviews for the same game. If you have something new to tell me about the USA version, then that's something I'm interested in.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bahnzo

Which again I don't understand why we have a review for a game that isn't offered here in the US? It's great that he's played it, but then there's been a thousand other reviews for the same game. If you have something new to tell me about the USA version, then that's something I'm interested in.

Well we did put an import label on the review for that reason, and it will be reassessed once the US version comes out obviously. But really it was done because it was one game that wasn't in the database, and as a sports site it's important to be a hub for anyone, whether it be an American or otherwise.

[devilsjaw]

Quote: Originally Posted by mgoblue

Yeah, I don't want to call the reviewer into question, but I just have no clue who this guy is and I don't know what his thoughts/opinions have been long term. I don't know whether the "slower gameplay" aspect is really something that'd have me interested in PES again, or if his "slower gameplay" is really still the pinball speed existing.

I have the European version for my PS3, and the game speed is not an issue imo. I played the demo on my 360 and felt the same most did, in that the game played two fast. With the recent patch the game received, the speed is not an issue, as the passing to me is almost too slow, you really have to hold down the pass button to get good pace. I feel the speed is along the same lines as FIFA.

[devilsjaw]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bahnzo

Can I ask....how sure are you that this is the same version that will be released here in the US? I would hope that after 4-5 months after initial release there would be some differences between that version and the one offered here in the USA.

Konami never changes anything for the American version. They are as lazy as EA. They can't even bother to update the transfers.

[noles_acc]

Sorry for my late response guys. The time difference does make things unnecessarily complicated.

Now onto the questions:

Quote: Originally Posted by Gamecocks625

Are there still framerate issues on the PS3 version even after the patches?

I believe this vagueness in the word choice in my review led many to believe when i wrote "slow" gamespeed, it meant "lag." There have now been two patches, and really none were ever necessary. The lag only came if you were running the game on standard television, like the 480fpi (I'm not a techie, sorry if that's the wrong acronym), and not HDTV. I've had the game on HDTV and have the patch and notice very little lag off-line, and just a bit online, though whether the game itself is to blame is debatable.

Again, the game speed issues were literally gamespeed. I deleted this from my first draft of the review (maybe I shouldn'tve), but dating back to the PS2 version, Winning Eleven 7 was slower, WE8 was very fast, WE9 was much slower, while WE10, with all its automatic strafing, felt like it was a different speed as well. Compared to WE8 and even WE10, the PS3 version just feels slower--and the reason might be the bumped up screen resolution. Imagine if someone looks faster on a basketball court, courtside or in the nosebleeds. That's what I tried to get across in the review--is everything happening slower because of the gameplay engine or is it because the camera is pulled farther back?

Quote: Originally Posted by Bahnzo

Can I ask....how sure are you that this is the same version that will be released here in the US? I would hope that after 4-5 months after initial release there would be some differences between that version and the one offered here in the USA.

I have not been in contact with Konami, so I apologize that I do not know. I believe a very similar version will import over to the States. In fact, Konami often gives the best versions to Japan and Korea, even giving more player attributes, little small menu interface features (like in WE8, I think, the game had headshots of players long before this became common in the US version). I think the menus get a bit weird sometimes because Konami is trying to adapt its "Japanese" interface to tailor to Western crowds.

Quote: Originally Posted by JRod

Slower...that's odd. Could it be they've taken this time to slow down the game. Or it has to do with the NTSC/Pal conversions? Odd.

I have no idea what NTSC/Pal means, but according to Wikipedia it means something to do with the color-encoding system of my television. Again, please read above for my clarifications on why I wrote the game seemed "slower."

Quote: Originally Posted by mgoblue

Yeah, I don't want to call the reviewer into question, but I just have no clue who this guy is and I don't know what his thoughts/opinions have been long term. I don't know whether the "slower gameplay" aspect is really something that'd have me interested in PES again, or if his "slower gameplay" is really still the pinball speed existing.

Who the bloody hell am I? (hey, it's a fair question...haha). Well, I've reviewed games across all platforms for the better part of 10 years for various Web sites (search my name and some of the older Winnings, and you'll find numerous reviews of mine). I have owned every Winning since it came to the PS2, most FIFAs ('97 version was the greatest), and my soccer game playing experience dates back to "assasinating" opposing players (remember this? after like three tackles the players would go limp and lay on the field?) in World Cup on the NES. I was also a defensive midfielder and captain of my high school soccer team. I worked as a journalist for a while as well.

But to more directly address your comment: when it comes between FIFA and PES, you have to determine what is "pinball" speed. Because if you watch the EPL or La Liga, and imagine that in a video game, you'd probably expect the pass speed to be even faster! Haha. Unless you're one of those elite PES gamers who can net those amazing 60-yard shots, one-timing it from a backline pass from your centreback, I don't know if the game, frankly, has ever been too "pinball." I think that it is just normal.

***
Anywho, thanks everyone for your great feedback so far, and I'll do my best to keep the responses faster than what I've done so far.

[CaptainZombie]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bahnzo

Can I ask....how sure are you that this is the same version that will be released here in the US? I would hope that after 4-5 months after initial release there would be some differences between that version and the one offered here in the USA.

Quote: Originally Posted by mercalnd

That's pretty much how I felt when I imported the European version as well.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slizeezyc

I'll have Timmy come by and clarify perhaps when he gets a chance. The whole living in Korea thing kind of throws that off though haha.

Slizeezyc, good to hear that the review will be reassessed when the US version releases, because the demo we played was different gameplay wise from the Euro release.

[therizing02]

Quote: Originally Posted by candymanGT

Slizeezyc, good to hear that the review will be reassessed when the US version releases, because the demo we played was different gameplay wise from the Euro release.

Different in a good way?

I recently re-installed the PC version and installed a patch (not the official patches) with an updated option file and this game is by far the best of the year. By far.

Still thinking about picking up the console version though.

If I get a PS3 can I import a copy from Europe?

[devilsjaw]

Quote: Originally Posted by therizing02

If I get a PS3 can I import a copy from Europe?

Yes, that's what I did. Personally, I would wait until October for the next version, Konami have admitted that this years version was not what they wanted.

[Intelx]

Quote: Originally Posted by devilsjaw

Personally, I would wait until October for the next version, Konami have admitted that this years version was not what they wanted.

They also said the same thing lastyear.

Intelx

[clean-sweep]

the thing with this year is that one pass can totaly break a whole 4---4 wall and play a pin ball style of football wich they play in the epl but certaintly not for the whole 90min.