Pro Evolution Soccer 4 - Australian Review (Reviews)

Chris Stead, GamePro Australia

09/12/2004 16:00:57

Pro Evolution Soccer is god. That's pretty much the mentality for most soccer fans cum gamers. Blessed with breathtaking animations and mind-blowing gameplay, it's extremely fluid, very responsive and above all, ultra-realistic. Still, there was room for improvement following the release of PES3 in late 2003 and with PES4 making the series' first foray into the uncharted waters of Xbox and PC, expectations are set ludicrously high. Perhaps too high, as while PES4 remains a finely honed beast unlikely to lose its genre throne, we are still left with room for improvement.

But really, the 'problems' are minor gremlins that rarely succeed in unsettling your gaming experience. There are 4 modes (Match, Master League, League, Cup) to indulge in, as well as a host of customization options and a much improved training mode. It is the latter where you can get your mind around the new moves, mostly concerned with beating a defender - all of which are easy to master, if you can memorize them all. While nothing beats taking on a mate, the Master League is an exceptional single player experience. It's long, challenging (the AI is very sharp) and the depth to which you can analyse each match is extraordinary, just check out the data on your defensive patterns or shots on goal.

This depth continues onto the paddock: the controls are simple and responsive. Through-balls are probably the most improved of the kicks, thanks to far better field-map and a more intelligent AI. But there are also notable improvements in headers and first-touch control which greatly add to the experience. It will often seem like the AI directs passes the wrong way, or doesn't get a shot off in time, but usually that is the result of you over-reading the play. The game uncannily mimics real world timing and some plays just don't extrapolate as planned. Not that it is all attack, as the defensive component of the game is equally as tight. Pit two equally skilled gamers against each other and a 0-0 draw can occur, but still be very exciting.

Wraps and plaudits aside, there are some components of PES4 which are frustratingly disappointing. The set-plays in particular still lag behind what is offered in FIFA 2004. Sure, there are now some superfluous options as to how the kick is taken, but direction, curve, power and target are all still complete guess-work. Plus, the annoying replay bug that prevents you from doing manual replays as soon as the ball is out-of-play also continues its plague. Sprites will now move a lot slower when dribbling, which will annoy some gamers, but it's more realistic and the commentary can also still be out of place - but on the whole the presentation is sublime, especially with the replays, cut-scenes and animations.

In fact, you could spend weeks just enjoying the simple things in PES4, the little things that a true fan of the sport will notice and appreciate. The way defenders shout out when they think an attacker has strayed offside, the ref giving a player a talking-to after a foul, the delightful curl and spin of the ball as it comes off a wingers boot during a flanking manoeuvre, a mind-blowing finger-tips stop by the goalkeeper, the player's uniforms gathering dirt, a deft little inside-boot flick over a diving defender or a successfully implemented foot-over-ball trick as you seek your way around a lurking defender. But most important of all, like no other game, is PES4's ability to make you burst with pride - watching in complete satisfaction a stunning exchange between your midfielders leading into a stoppage time game-winning goal - the crowd lifting with your success. It makes you feel like you are really part of the action - it makes you feel like a Soccer God.

Score = 9.5/10

[ Other stories about Gameplay, Mimics ]

Graphics: 4.5

Sound: 4.0

Control: 4.5

Fun Factor:

Scoring scale: 1-5

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Publisher: Konami / Release date: 01/11/2004 / Genre: Sports / OFLC Rating: G