THE GOOD:Gameplay: This has been the selling point of Pro Evo games for years and this year yet again it has excelled. It plays and feels like a game of football should, the game is now slower and emphasizes on passing. You won't be able unless you are extremely lucky or highly skilled be able to pick it up and run the full length of the pitch to slam it into the top corner.
Graphics: Obviously with this being on the PS3 the graphics are superb but it's the small things that make the difference like the inclusion of a linesman and crowds that look reasonably normal. Players also move realistically and feels as if the have mass. It is still behind FIFA but with graphics this good it shouldn't be a big factor when choosing which to buy.
Better commentary: Pro Evo of old was well known for it's shocking commentary but this year with Jon Champion and Mark Lawrencen on board it is a huge improvement. It is still not up to FIFA standard but it is a major advancement.
THE BAD:
The referees: Every year it seems the refs are biased towards the computer and this year is no different, in fact it is worse. At times you will be furious with it, at times you will laugh at it and at times you will be baffled by it. A challenge that would have been ignored in last years installment this year may be punished with a yellow but if the same challenge was commited against you the ref wouldn't even acknowledge it as an event. This is the biggest flaw in the game and was the deciding factor in my decision to give it a 3.2 and not what would have been a guarenteed 5.
The soundtrack: Pro Evo has never had good music but this year it has become laughable. Where FIFA has good music from recognizable artists this has cheesey euro pop from places like Germany. Although the music isn't good it is only an annoyance that doesn't detract from the superb gameplay.
Licences: This is the thing that has forever been a thorn is Konami's side and the major reason why people prefer FIFA to Pro Evo. There are more licenced teams this time around but the Premiership is still the major casualty with Newcastle and Tottenham the only fully licenced teams. If authenticity really bothers you then you probably would be best off with FIFA but if you just want to play a great footie game then it is a small issue that can fixed in the editor.
Removal of features/glitches: This is a next gen console. It is the future, bigger, better and faster so why then have features that made past games that bit more enjoyable to play been removed? Surely you would go out and give us more but no Konami has given with one hand and taken with the other. Even the PS2 version has more stadiums. Also the glitches in the game are irritating especially the frame-rate issues. Thankfully a patch has been released but some of the glitches remain. This is most notable when playing online.
SUMMARY:
This is a deeply flawed game but where it matters is the best footie game around. If slightly better graphics, a better soundtrack and full licences are what matter then you would be better off with FIFA but if what made Pro Evo great is what you want there is simply no other substitute.
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