Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (PSP)

Let me start by saying that I sitting on the fence with the FIFA vs. Pro Evo debate, and I consider myself unbiased but acknowledge that I'm not the greatest there is at these games by a long shot (no pun intended).

As you can probably tell from the comments above, I'm extremely disappointed with the Pro Evolution Soccer 5 PSP game.

To start with, the ref's drive me mad. It's almost impossible to pull off a slide tackle without giving away a foul, and before people start yelling "its because I can't do it". It's really not that. I try them from the front and side with equal effect. The main reason for the difficulty in landing a slide tackle is the bizarre ability for the player you're tackling to change direction with my player already on the ground and about to land the tackle, meaning you clatter his legs instead of getting the ball. This I find very frustrating, as there are very few players in the history of the beautiful game that can do this when the player tackling them is already halfway into his tackle. Opposition, and sometimes your own players often fall over too easily when the pressure function is used. Not only is diving cheating, it slows the game up and is equally frustrating when your player does it, as they seem to pick the worst times.

The loading times for this game are shocking. GTA Liberty Stories loads noticeably quicker than this, and it's loading up half a city and its contents! Substitutions seem to take an age, as you're often forced to watch a poorly animated cut scene. Once this is over it's back to another black screen while the game sorts itself out again. The cut scene where the player has a dig at the ref is another one, and with the already highlighted ref problems this can happen quite a lot.

The menu system is unclear and not helped by some of the options and features; obviously translated from its original Japanese language (anyone who has read word for word translations will know what I mean) finding out other results can be tricky.

I have conceded many a goal now from extremely dodgy player section from the computer, meaning the most logical player for me to have control of is not selected, and I'm having to challenge with a player in a much weaker position. This problem also presents itself when a lose ball occurs, meaning the player with a distinct disadvantage can sometimes end up with the ball, which means that half a second later you've lost possession.

In conclusion, this game appears rather rushed and is let down by some very basic errors for a football game. I know this review seems a bit one sided, but that's because I genuinely can't find any redeeming features, and my copy will be getting traded in for another game very soon.

The players on Pro Evolution Soccer 5 are rated as I would rate them. I had pro evo 4 on the xbox, but once I mastered the slightly different technique needed it was a joy to play!

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 did not meet my expectation levels this year. Once the release date for PES5 had been announced, I was relishing the opportunity to play it, but I was let down dramatically. Had I known that it was going to be a re-release of PES4, then I would not have purchased it. Luckily for me my older brother purchased Fifa 06 which exceeded my expectations. The game play on Fifa offers a lot more than PES5. The graphics are much clearer, much sharper, and I would seriously recommend Fifa 06 over PES5. PES5 was a disappointment to both me and my buddy, who had recently purchased it from the local market a few weeks before it hit the mega stores, for only 6 of the queens.

I would seriously recommend to stay clear of PES5, and hinder in the direction of Fifa 06. If it wasn't for the laziness of the people at Komami, then there would be a variety of improvements to the current PES5. The ability to curl the ball by holding R2 is one of few improvements to the former elite of football gaming. I can safely say I will be returning back to the current supremes of football gaming.