Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is the latest version of Konami's popular soccer game for Windows. Although PES 2013 looks very similar to
Pro Evoultion Soccer 2012, it includes some subtle changes designed to improved both gameplay and graphics.
The gameplay in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is more manual than the
previous version, making it more like a proper soccer simulation, rather
than the arcade-style action of PES 2012. Though some elements seem to
be heavily inspired by
FIFA 12, this is no bad thing.
Gameplay
The rather restrictive control system of PES 2012 has been given an
overhaul for Pro Evolution Soccer 2013. Developer Konami calls the new
control system, ‘
PES FullControl’. There's a new dynamic
first touch feature, where a player can trap the ball using the R2 button in order to gain instant control of the ball.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 offers
manual passing, and
manual shooting is introduced to the game for the first time, allowing you to modify the height and power of each. FullControl also
improves dribbling, slowing down player speeds and allowing players to add various styles to their close control using the R2 button.
The manual control tweaks delivered by the FullControl system in Pro
Evolution Soccer 2013 definitely makes for an improved gameplay
experience, which will delight experienced PES fans. However, novices
will still be able to pick up and play the game without a problem.
Graphics
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 focuses on improving player likenesses so
that players in the game behave like their real life counterparts - a
system dubbed as '
PlayerID' by the developer. Famous players will run, turn, trap, move the ball and even celebrate like they do in real life.
In terms of player likenesses, PES 2013 is the closest to reality
we've seen from a soccer game - better even than FIFA 12. The graphics
as a whole in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 are fantastic, from the slick
team entrances to the detail of the kits and footwear.
Unfortunately, player
animation in Pro Evolution
Soccer 2013 is patchy in places. The way players turn feels clunky and
unrealistic and goalkeeper throw-outs are laughably exaggerated and
jerky. In fact, the supposed improvements to the goalkeepers from the
previous version seem to have not worked at all - actually goalies seem
more calamitous than ever!
The
Player Impact engine in Pro Evolution Soccer
2013 is quite impressive; you notice how players hang into each other
and how that influences your (freedom of) movement. However, it still
lags behind FIFA's engine in terms of the extent of the collision
animations.
Room for improvement
Those who were disappointed by PES 2012 will appeased somewhat by the
changes made in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, but there's still plenty of
room for improvement in the game.
The
tactics screen from the previous version hasn't
been added too - and it still feels a little puny. Having said that, the
in-game strategy changes have been made a lot cooler by the fact that
the coach appears in a little box in the corner of the screen to shout
instructions when you summon him.
There are still some plays in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 that make it
very easy to score. For example, you can still get behind a defense
effortlessly with a long through-ball/chip combo.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is a good quality soccer sim which
looks great and now gives you more control than ever over the gameplay.
