GM Review – Pro Evolution Soccer 2013
Pro Evolution Soccer is one of the two most respected football game franchises in the history of videogames and every new iteration in the series is awaited by fans with much expectations and anticipations. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is no exception to that rule and has a lot running on its pacy shoulders. But, does it manage to live up to the hopes of its soccer crazy fans or gets tackled by problems and ends up living a foul experience for them? Let’s find out.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, for one, is spot on as far as gameplay is concerned, offering inumerous set-pieces and several gameplay options, it’s bound to please soccer fans across the globe. The control system is also easy to pick up and the advanced training mode the game comes with will help novices master the skills in very little time. However, all’s not well with the game. Rather than being a true successor to its predecessor, Pro Evo 2013 can be considered an improvement more than a full blown upgrade over the latter. The visuals are also nothing to write home about and most of the players are not even recognizable if you don’t follow the game religiously.
Even the game modes are similar to the 2012 version which leaves a sour taste for those hoping for a fresh breath of air, to add to its woes, it’s missing official licenses for most of the teams and that certainly doesn’t help either. However, it scores in the department which matters the most – that is the gameplay. The game truly feels like as authentic a football experience as you can find sitting in front of a LCD screen, with a bevy of options and easy learning curve, it’s a definite winner for soccer lovers worldwide. A fact, which makes it easy to forgive its cosmetic errors.
There are various gameplay add-on in this year’s iteration which improves the overall experience by a lot. Be it the ability to trap passing balls by bouncing it off your chest so that it drops on your feet with ease, or several other subtle combos which you can pull off, the game will offer you with a host of options to show off the soccer star in you. The more you play this game, the more experienced you’ll get, and most importantly, the more you’ll begin enjoy playing it.
This is perhaps one reason while it feels more like a fighter than a sports game, with huge incentives for those who’re willing to put in the hours to master its moves over those who believe in just a few simple button presses. It’s this learning curve which will appeal to soccer fans worldwide and will offer them with a genuine on-field experience as well as scope to learn a lot of advanced tricks. Another plus is the A.I of the game, it reacts intelligently to every move which you make, and more often than not, will keep you on your toes, especially in the more advanced difficulty settings.
Closing Comments
All said and done, PES 2013 is a step in the right direction from the developers to bring the series back on track from what seemed to be an eroding experience. Of course, there’s plenty to be done here and a scope for a lot of improvements, but this is a game which is both enjoyable and playable for long bouts. With a amazing learning curve, bevy of complex moves, and a pure soccer experience, PES 2013 is certainly a title soccer fans shouldn’t miss out on. If you belong to that class, putting on your gear and getting this game is your best bet, but if you’re looking for a more arcade-ish football experience, you won’t lose much by skipping this one.
