AN OVERHAUL OF PES 2011???

Since the likes of PES 5, the game of Pro Evo has undoubtedly moved down within its own ratings. Most of these reasons have been taken from the annoyance that is the scripting of the AI elements.

The enjoyment of playing the game has changed dramatically to the extent of a match having its own so called "story" being played out. Of course you have the satisfaction of scoring a few goals and winning a match, but in general, you simply cannot play the game without it somehow changing the course of events that are going to actually happen.

For an example, I played a game in Master League mode. My team were on good form, with mostly orange and red arrows. The opposing team were not on good form, with a few green, but mostly blue or purple arrows. Plus the opponents team were generally lower in stats than my own. 

This was all in offline Master League.

I was counter attacking any waves they were sending towards my goal, and keeping passing going very well.

Possession was high for me, giving me the chance to find a route through on goal. 

After launching a good few attacks which ended up with no goals, I continued to press on and see if I could eventually score. My shot to shots on target ratio was spot on and I had not put any wide or over. But still nothing went in! They did not have the best of defences, but always seemed to stop the ball or take it off me without a single free kick.

The second half came and brought me with a couple of options. Carry on with the style of play I was currently using, or change the tactics and move around them a different way.

I decided to stick with the same and continued to form attacks and defend as needed. After 10 Min's of the second half, I managed to score from a corner, but only just. In a twist, My star striker had been injured and ended up being subbed ( I later learned he was out for 12 weeks!).

Within a few seconds of the restart, they opponents formed an attack and passed the ball to their striker into the middle and headed towards my goal. I had 3 defenders still back and 2 were close to the attacker. When I tried to change my player to the closest one and try and close down the attack, it would not let me somehow. After plenty of L1 button pressing, I had my defender selected and sprinted after the attacker,

It was too late! The AI had been given that edge over me by gifting them a piece of scripted play that allowed them time to get through before I could defend myself. They had the keeper to beat though. Surely I could control the keeper enough to save my lead?

"Errrrr" said the keeper. 

I used the triangle button to bring the keeper out, but he moved one step, stopped and watched in awe as the player ran past him and slotted the ball in the net. This was a gift from the AI God who just wanted to give them a chance I suppose. Well the chances came thick and fast, and no matter what I did, I couldn't play the same as the first half. In the end, the game finished 3-1 and left me seething and wanting to throw the game away! I was not impressed. The other goals should not have happened either. 

You know when certain parts of the game are not right, and generally, if Konami want to keep the PES franchise going for years to come, they seriously need to sort this out. Its one thing giving AI players more individual functions and making it harder for you to play the game, but scripting the game so it allows the computer a comeback if things are not going their way is wrong. If you are a good player, you should get the goals you deserve and win the game, not have it thrown in your face by the game turning on you.

Whatever happened to a fair game and good sportsmanship?

Rant Over, but hopefully the next post will have a more positive note.