Picked up my copy of Pro on Thursday..
I played mostly Exhibition games on Thurs & Friday whilst editing the English teams (I got the names & the kits pretty good, but the editing is pretty limited as to how much you do)..
I’ve not really noticed any slow down, but I heard its mostly a PS3 issue which can be resolved by setting the TV to the same as suggested on the back of the box..
The intro is pretty good, got some dude doing some nice skills in black & white with fancy colours, as well as some hot chicks in skimpy cloths..
The first screen is more user friendly.. Gone is the long list of all the options, in comes a new one option at a time, with a blue background & lights behind.. **In Borat voice** Iz Nice!!!
1st Game I played (& you would of never of guessed this one *<
The teams seemed up to date bar final day dead line transfers (Solano is still at Newcastle & we don’t have Baye & Faye)..
The form arrows are still there so you can see who is in form.. I decided to change my formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.. (Viduka, Owen & Martins all upfront was too hard not to play, lol!!).. Once I did that I went straight in to the game..
The intro doesn’t seem to of changed much.. It is the same as 6, but slightly slightly speed up.. It looked a bit jittery, but not enough to worry..
I felt right at home straight form kick off.. I think because I had been playing the demo, I had adjust to the slower speed of the game..
I had Emre playing in more advanced midfield role & could feel he is much more comfortable on the ball then some one like Butt.. This is a new feature & later when I played with Barca & Messi, it was really noticeable.. Very Impressive!!
The game started tightly, but with me mostly attacking.. Owen escaped his marker down the right & played a low cross in the box.. Butt arrived to sweatily volley home..
The AI seemed better. (despite Sunderland being utterly rubbish) they seemed to be trying to attack down my midfield flanks (Playing 3 in midfield, my wings were vulnerable)..
Defending again seems to of been tweaked.. Defenders some to chase the ball more & drift out of position.. (Playing with better defenders, later on, & it seems the better the player, the less likely they are to drift out of position they are)..
The Keepers seem more error prone.. They are better at one on ones, but at shots from distance, they seem to drop the ball more often & I’ve had goals scored & conceded where the keeper should of saved but the power of the shot has seen it get through & treacle over the line.. This combined with the defending means more goals will be scored.. Good or Bad?? I’m not sure right now..
Back to my game & at 3-0 I was crusing, & it wasn’t even half time yet!!
My 4th goal was a bit special.. A lovely through ball from Emre to Oba down the left, Oba, just outside the 18 yard box, cuts inside, skins to Sunderland defenders & curls a 20 yrd screamer in to the top corner!! Beautiful!!
Only on Pro, can something like that be recreated & look so real & perfect..
4-0 up at halftime, Sunderland tightened up for the second half..
I made a few changes by accessing the in game options.. There is now a picture of the dug out in the right hand corner.. I think this will allow to do something (Prop management instructions) but I haven’t figured this out yet.. You now don’t leave the game when making subs.. its all done in game.. Much better..
I should mention the commentary at this point.. Martin Lawernson & Jon Champion (ITV I think).. It s improved & seems pretty much in sink with the game, but Lawerenson sounds like he 6 year old reading lines from a script..
The crowd sound is also disappointing.. No specific team chants.. It sounds like a general mumble..
The music is also terrible.. It sounds like Jap-pop.. Not my cup of tea.. SOund off on Pro for another year for me!! (You know you’d rather have your music on any way!!)
Back to my game again, Owen added a 5th & then took a knock.. (pretty realistic!! Owen getting injured!!) It’s the same as before.. A stretcher came on.. The only difference is, when the player has finished receiving treatment, a little box appears in the bottom left hand corner showing the player coming back on the pitch..
The game finished 5-0.. This had me pretty worried.. My 1st game (I played on regular difficulty) & I won 5-0.. But after a few days & starting a Master League I can assure you it’s more likely Sunderland are just really bad (& I’m pretty fucking brilliant 😉) I lost a couple last night & the good teams are hard to beat..
Over all this Pro has pretty much every thing I expected.. It’s missing a few stadiums (St. James has gone 🙁) & the editing mode seems toned down rather then expanded.. But tis means they have something to add next year..
Seabass (the creater) has promised a true next gen version, with massive up grades will arrive in the near future.?.. A dramatic improvement on near perfection?? I’ll be looking forward to it..
Graphics: 9: + Greatly improved over last season.. Players show a real likeness, not just in faces but also movement & ball control..
– There seems to be a lot of generated faces of the lesser players.. Squad players have the same face over & over..
Sound: 5: + Commentry is in sink with the action on the pitch..
–: Lawerenson sounds like hes reading an auto cue & the music is pap..
Gameplay: 10 + Faultless.. The game speed, the shooting.. Its perfect..
–: Its easier to score.. I can’t decide if thats a positive or negative..
Overall: 9.. This is the 1st true next gen Pro Evo.. Worth the wait.. The ultimate football fans football game..
