Enhanced soccer simulation with improved AI, tactics, and realistic graphics for a dynamic gameplay experience
Enhanced soccer simulation with improved AI, tactics, and realistic graphics for a dynamic gameplay experience
Pros
- An improved Artificial Intelligence system dramatically enhances the realism of the game and makes it much harder for players to simply use speed, power, or brute force to win games.
- The new gameplay system, which started to be unrolled in 2011, is further refined.
- The creation options, including with players, teams, and stadiums, are robust and impressive - particularly for a game that is now eight years old.
- Online mode is sharp, fun and provides players with a wide array of options to use, all depending on what mood they are in.
Cons
- While the game was an improvement on the previous year's version, it contained no major changes, massive improvements or blockbuster new features.
- The game's physics system still feels clunky and off at moments.
- The game's popular 2 vs. 2 online mode was eliminated, much to the chagrin of long time players.
Pro Evolution Soccer is the 2017 version of the popular soccer franchise. This version, like those before it, comes with numerous technical and gameplay upgrades that enhanced the experience for players.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 was largely viewed by critics as contained a variety of improvements over the 2011 version. These included updated defensive systems, a tweaked in-game physics system and numerous graphical upgrades.
When compared to FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer has always struggled at obtaining the licenses to real players, leagues, teams, and stadiums. That trend continued in this version. Thankfully for players, Pro Evolution Soccer was able to obtain licenses for various Union of European Football Associations leagues, as well as the South American Football Confederation. This allowed fans of these leagues and teams to fully immerse themselves by using real players and teams.
17 licensed stadiums could be played in the game. Interestingly, this version also contained a stadium editor that allowed players to create their own stadiums, allowing for the creation of gorgeous or horrifying soccer stadiums.
Gameplay was further refined and improved, although some critics took issue with the speed at which players moved, noting that its odd physics system made the game less like real life and more like a strange video game. Starting in 2011, Pro Evolution Soccer began moving towards more thoughtful gameplay. It's 2011 version was criticized by some for creating a new gameplay system before all of the kinks were worked out. Those issues remain here, but there is no question that the product was improved upon.
It is worth noting that many facets of the game's play were dramatically improved. This includes the defensive system, which now required dramatically more thought and planning. The Artificial Intelligence upgrades also are evident in the way that your teammates play, as they move into better positions around you. This means that you can rely on smarter passes and better-executed offense.
Graphics, too, are improved, but most of those improvements are what you would expect for an annual sports franchise. It's difficult to judge a game's graphics that are eight years old, but at the time, critics noted the relatively sharp models used in the game and how they added to its sense of realism.
In its heyday, Pro Evolution Soccer featured robust online options. Players could play with friends of friends in exhibition games or the Master League. However, it is in this online version that some of the game's flaws, like odd dribbling systems, really come to light. Defense against another player can be very difficult to execute, turning games into score-fests.
At the time, the game was released on the PlayStation 2 (later PlayStation 3), Xbox 360, Wii, and 3DS. It would later be made available for multiple mobile platforms. While you can still buy an old physical copy of the game off of online auction sites, it is no longer possible to download the game on any device.
Pros
- An improved Artificial Intelligence system dramatically enhances the realism of the game and makes it much harder for players to simply use speed, power, or brute force to win games.
- The new gameplay system, which started to be unrolled in 2011, is further refined.
- The creation options, including with players, teams, and stadiums, are robust and impressive - particularly for a game that is now eight years old.
- Online mode is sharp, fun and provides players with a wide array of options to use, all depending on what mood they are in.
Cons
- While the game was an improvement on the previous year's version, it contained no major changes, massive improvements or blockbuster new features.
- The game's physics system still feels clunky and off at moments.
- The game's popular 2 vs. 2 online mode was eliminated, much to the chagrin of long time players.
Pros
- Smart AI
- Intense Training Mode
- Excellent Graphics
Cons
- Unusual Off-Ball Controls
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, or PES 2012, is a soccer simulation game that has a number of excellent improvements from the previous version. Both the gameplay and the graphics are better than they were in the 2011 version of PES, but the title still has a way to go before it catches up to FIFA, which is possibly the most popular soccer simulation franchise on the market.
In PES 2012, the improvements are focused primarily around the general gameplay experience and the team play aspect of the game.
The game features a new and improved AI engine that produces team playing experiences with the ultimate realism. Attackers form effective units, and defenders move in synchronized patterns for maximum coverage. This means you can force mistakes, and the system for switching players allows you to quickly select any player no matter where they are on the field. The physics have been boosted to create player collisions of incredible realism, and the system for jostling players is much more smooth and fluid.
PES is a series that has a reputation for focusing on the gameplay, and in pursuit of that, PES 2012 is mostly an update to the AI of the system. The players move just as they would in real life, and they are much harder to beat than they were in older versions of the game.
One of the new additions to the game is an off-ball running system that helps you control your entire team with greater precision. The system essentially allows you to control a second player who doesn't have the ball while still remaining in control of the ball holder. If this sounds a bit difficult to manage, that's because it is. However, once you get the hang of the skill, it becomes critical for creating space.
The 2012 version of PES includes several improvements to the defensive system as well. Players will hold their formation with excellent stability even when they are under attack. Defending is now as intricate and involved as offensive play.
One interesting aspect of the improvements to this game is that it's easy to get chances on the goal since the defenders are highly susceptible when alone and the AI produces more efficient attacks. This basically means you won't experience games with low scores.
Beyond the changes under the hood, PES 2012 also features slightly improved graphics. The likenesses of the players have also been updated. Overall, the game has a highly polished feel, smooth animations, and engaging gameplay.
The demo for PES 2012 lacks much of the final quality of the end product, but it does provide a solid representation of the full game experience. You can play as Bayern Munich, Club America, Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, of Internacional. For a more thorough experience, try the Training section. It includes coaching tools that help you acclimate to the updated controls.
Pros
- Smart AI
- Intense Training Mode
- Excellent Graphics
Cons
- Unusual Off-Ball Controls
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- Impressive animation
- Adaptable artificial intelligence
- Satisfying training mode
Cons
- Difficult to control off the ball movements
- Still lags behind FIFA series
PES 2012 is the updated Windows version of the popular soccer simulation game.
It features improved game play and graphics when compared to its predecessor, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2011. As always when evaluating soccer simulation games, comparisons must also be made with PES developer Konami's arch rival Electronic Arts (EA sports) and its flagship FIFA series based on the world's most popular sport.
PES 2012's distinguishing features include changes in game play and team play, which enables the more tactically minded game players to take full advantage, as opposed to those players who prefer a more traditional arcade style "kick around". From a technical point of view, this iteration of PES boasts a new AI (artificial intelligence) engine which offers more realistic team play experience, as a result both offensive and defensive phases of play see the team move off the ball as a unit, forcing opposition players into errors. This aspect in pleasing to fans of real soccer, which has seen a marked increase in off the ball "pressing" as a tactic in recent seasons.
A new feature allows users to control the movements of the ball players, launching "decoy runs" to open space for passing while another player is in possession. These runs can be regulated by the user while retaining primary control of the player in possession.
As well as intelligent offensive play, defensive phases of play now simulate the real professional game in a satisfactory manner. Teams hold formation when under pressure for longer. However, the AI system seems unable to equip defenders to defend in one on one situations and through balls, making it easier to score with certain tactics.
As is to be expected with a popular soccer simulation franchise, this 2012 version of Pro Evolution Soccer can offer enhanced quality of graphics and animated versions of real life household name soccer stars. The animation has markedly improved, putting it on a par, if not exceeding what's on offer in the rival FIFA 2012. The managerial tactics and formation options in the "setup screen and tactical configuration" menus has notably increased its speed in comparison to previous versions of PES, which will come as a relief to users who have grown frustrated with long waits and laborious selection processes.
Pros
- Excellent graphics
- Impressive animation
- Adaptable artificial intelligence
- Satisfying training mode
Cons
- Difficult to control off the ball movements
- Still lags behind FIFA series
Pros
- Strong graphics, animation and sound
- Opponent AI still holds up
- Training mode helps new players
Cons
- Not updated beyond 2012
PES 2012 is a soccer simulation by Konami that offers exciting gameplay and challenging AI.
Pro Evolution Soccer, which is abbreviated PES and called World Soccer in Asia, is a fun soccer game that has excellent graphics, smooth animations and authentic music and sound effects. PES 2012 reflects the 2011 soccer season. You’ll have access to clubs, players and statistics for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Copa Santander Libertadores.
With PES 2012, you can control the action. You can control all of the players on the field, including the goalkeeper, or you can opt to control just a single player as you work to help your team win. Alternatively, you can simply manage the club, including rosters and strategies. You also have the option to let the AI control the movement on the field. Gameplay isn’t limited to just single matches, and you can lead your club to victories in leagues and tournaments. During play, you can also make trades, set up you own competition formats and much more.
If you’re interested in soccer video games, the PES is worth trying, and this demo will give you a taste of what the full game provides. There’s even a training mode that helps new players get up to speed, and even though this isn’t the latest PES iteration, the artificial intelligence and graphics still hold up. Keep in mind that PES is an annual series, which means that when it comes to teams, players and statistics, the games are never updated beyond the season for which they were released. Despite being forever locked in the 2011 season, PES 2012 is still a blast, and it's still worth playing.
Pros
- Strong graphics, animation and sound
- Opponent AI still holds up
- Training mode helps new players
Cons
- Not updated beyond 2012
