Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

With the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise, Konami dominated the market of soccer games for years. Relying on the same arcade, fast and frantic style that defined the franchise the 2012 game found great critical reception among fans and industry experts as well.

Supported by their exclusive deals with soccer’s most prestigious franchises: UEFA, CONMEBOL, Copa Santander Libertadores, UEFA Europe League, and UEFA Super Cup, Pro Evolution Soccer boasts various official tournaments and stadiums.

Gameplay

Pro Evolution Soccer (also known as PES), has always offered players explosive moments, and great opportunities to dribble and develop breakaway plays on the field. On this version of the game, improvements were made towards artificial intelligence, especially on the defending side of the pitch and the referees. One of the most notable developments is in the use of the “Advantage Rule” which would stop diverse offense endeavors in earlier games.

Besides, that control remains largely the same, with a straight pass, shots, lobbies, and through passes. Additional mechanics like “teammate control” were added providing players with the more creative choices on the field.

Tackling the Sport

The variety of game modes offered to players is the greatest feature PES offers, with the classic 1v1 mode, Master League mode, Become a Legend, and Club Boss mode (unlockable), there is plenty of content to be explored. Developers have ensured that the campaign, or career modes, feel more rewarding and have more longevity, which means players need to put in the effort to either create a world-class team to play against the best, or to becomes one of the top players in the world.

In Master League, you are tasked with playing different divisions of a league of your choice, managing finances, and rosters. Here it is important to play well, win games, and be a good negotiator, performance, as well as strategy, are required for success.

Club Boss mode, serves as an escape for players who are interested strictly in the strategic elements of the game, here you are the managers, making deals, defining starting teams, strategies, and playstyles without ever getting into control of players yourself. As stated, this is a break from traditional modes and focused on the strategic side of the soccer game.

Become a Legend mode, is probably the one in which I personally had the most fun, creating and customizing a character from scratch was a satisfying experience. Of course, you won’t become Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi in a couple of games, but the journey of development is very entertaining and rewarding. Being able to improve and create whichever type of player is your favorite is a gift to anyone who ever dreamt of being a soccer player themselves.

Verdict

Fandom for soccer games has always been widely divided between the Pro Evolution Soccer series and the FIFA series. If you’re a fan of soccer you probably have heard of countless arguments for and against both titles, truthfully with FIFA retaining the rights to use the official names, and uniforms for teams Pro Evolution Soccer felt a hit to its ability to portray realism on the field. But, that’s why both games have found their niche, while FIFA has been applauded for their slow burn, defensive, locked-in mid-field game, and challenging dribble system, Pro Evolution Soccer has always been a staple of cutting edge graphics, a fast-paced, touch-and-go driven game.

Pros:

• Three Different Game Modes
• Official Stadiums and Tournaments
• Fast-paced game
• Rewarding experience
• Complete Roster

Cons:

• Visual Glitches
• Defending Bugs
• Uniforms and Team Names not licensed