The latest version of everyone’s favorite football game, Pro Evolution Soccer, has finally hit the PSP, but has it been worth waiting on considering most of the console versions have been with us for a while now? And in what way does this version differ from its console counterparts?
When Pro Evolution Soccer first hit the PSP, I like everyone else was quite disappointed, after all it just didn’t feel right, the screen would blur because the action was too fast, the load times were extremely long and there was no Master League (perhaps one of the games greatest additions), this disappointment however was rectified slightly by PES 6 which brought back the Master League and made some of the other problems better.
PES 2008 now goes one step further and improves this brilliant series yet again, drawing it’s inspiration from this years Playstation 2 version, the game has included loads of tournaments, leagues, the master league and the excellent World Tour mode which is perfect for the handheld. The game also includes the full edit modes, making this a real handheld version of Pro Evolution Soccer and not some pretender with the same name.
So how does it play? The answer is, like it should, a shrunken down version of the real thing and boy does this make me happy. All the action and speed has been perfectly represented in this version of the game, during a game everything feels like it is going at 100mph and you will still be tearing your hair out when you hit the post or crossbar, there have been quite a few occasions on the train where I have screamed out at a near miss only to be given a few strange looks, but this is how the action draws you in, just like it does on the console versions.
One of the great things about this game is that no matter how busy it gets on screen, the frame rate seems to cope well, there is no dip at all in the action, no slowdown, which is a great testament to the developers because the action is usually always frantic. The computer AI is also perfect, winning matches is certainly not easy because they will read your every move, especially on the more difficult levels.
Everyone knows what leagues, cup and the Master League brings to PES, but add in the World Tour mode and you really have hit a winner. The World Tour mode is perfect for the PSP, basically you tour the World playing against different teams, however before each match you are given a challenge, this can range from winning the match without making any substitutes to getting through 90 minutes without being caught offside, the challenges really vary a lot and the quick pick up and play nature of these make them perfect for playing on the go.
This year the developers have included the ability to swap your data between the PS2 and PSP versions, meaning you can take data from home and play while you are away, this is great because it means any progress you make when you are out is not lost as you can easily load the data to the PS2 on your return, if I was being picky I would say what about swapping data with the PS3 version, however given that this game was in development when the PS3 was still fairly young, I can understand why the developer chose to do this with PES on the Playstation 2.
Graphically you can not fault PES 2008, it is just like having a 16:9 PS2 version in your pocket, the game looks absolutely perfect given the frantic pace. The replays also look fantastic, all the options are there to watch your goals from any angle, reliving your glory in anyway you want. Unfortunately the sound is pretty average, the crowds can feel a little quite sometimes and you really notice the lack of commentary which only appears at key moments, however given the limitations of the PSP, this is forgivable.
PES 2008 on the PSP is such an improvement on previous years that it is probably now one of the best games you will find on the PSP, it’s fast, frantic and addictive, in fact it is the perfect game of football and a great addition to the excellent catalogue of games currently gracing the PSP.
