Because the Japanese publisher has so far opted for a somewhat contradictory communication. On numerous occasions, members of the studio have explained how much they are betting on the next generation of PES discipline - likely for 2013 or 2014 - powered by Kojima Productions' FOX Engine, the engine revealed in the trailer for Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes. To the point that we even come to wonder if PES 2013 really got the full attention of the studio. And when we realize that the game comes out this year almost a week before FIFA 13 to avoid confrontation, one may have doubts about its quality. However, after having tested it for many hours, it is difficult to say that Konami has abandoned this episode given the number of new features incorporated into the license. It is perhaps the one that contains the most, moreover.
PES discipline had been the first to include manual fire, which FIFA had hastened to transplant. Konami therefore returns the favor, which has the merit of making the circulation of the ball more natural and therefore more fluid.
In terms of handling, the 2013 vintage has indeed nothing to do with the beginnings of the series on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and we must salute the general direction taken by Konami before the arrival of the next home consoles. With the transition to all manual first. Whether through a dedicated trigger or the controller's control panel, it is now possible to fully manage the direction and power of its passes, calls and one-twos. PES discipline had been the first to include manual fire, which FIFA had hastened to transplant. Konami therefore returns the favor, which has the merit of making the circulation of the ball more natural and therefore more fluid. But not faster. Whoa! no, PES 2013 slowed the pace as the various previews were presented to us, to the point of arriving at a ridiculously slow and sometimes boring pace of play. A good basic initiative which, badly dosed, risks putting off some aficionados of the series without attracting those of FIFA ; with a few tweaks, however, Konami might come up with adequate game speed in the next release. The defensive phases are also revolutionized by the arrival of a new gameplay very similar to the tactical defense that appeared last year in FIFA 12. A button to maintain pressure on the ball carrier while remaining at combat distance, another to set foot as soon as necessary, with the added bonus of being able to manage the famous duel distance. A significant addition to the Electronic Arts feature. It all works quite well, especially since the teams now behave more cohesively, as a single block. Unfortunately, not all gameplay choices were so wise. The dribbles, for example, are certainly more numerous but do not come out naturally. Right stick, left stick, trigger: it's far from intuitive and it doesn't work every time, especially when running. We therefore often rely on the classic double-contact of Iniesta. Forget the Player ID, all players are able to get out the favorite gesture of the Barcelona midfielder or even Xavi's rake. Zero identity, therefore. Another good idea that doesn't really take off, one of a few. The perfect cushioning, the floating shot or the strike between the goalkeeper's legs are certainly very (too?) effective, but much too hard to grasp and ultimately anecdotal. Having to add a trigger to do an aerial pass is similarly quite tedious. These additions are proof of Konami's willingness to stand out from its rival and bring real new features to its series. But they unfortunately lack balance and some points might have deserved a little more attention, starting with the technical aspect of the game.
"Uh, is this the PS2 version?"
Because it must be stressed again, PES 2013 trails significantly behind its competitor. If at the beginning of the next-gen cycle, the Konami series could at least claim to be more pleasing to the eye than that of Electronic Arts, this is no longer the case today. Even the pre-game presentations sting the eyes: in addition to a sick shooting, the players, the lawn and the decorative elements suffer from a consequent aliasing, and this as well on Xbox 360 as on PS3. Luckily, the modeling of the faces of the most famous players remains of good quality, but once the kick-off is given, it's a disaster. The animations are still as rigid or even ridiculous (one thinks in particular of the reference to the six meters of the guards), and the players and the ball seem to slide, to float on the lawn without really being in contact with it. But there is a bit more serious since some of these problems are downright detrimental to playability. We are thinking here of the physics of a balloon and the slightly missed perspectives which give rise to strange trajectories and corners at the sixth post. We also think of the absence of a physics engine worthy of the name, which annihilates the utopia of physical duels and causes collision concerns (including with the ball). But we can also mention the calamitous AI of the goalkeepers, which recalls the greatest hours of Manuel Almunia at Arsenal. Speaking of artificial intelligence precisely, too bad that that of the team has not really been refined. As we have already said, it holds the road rather well in defense, but in attack, the movements stop in the last thirty meters, and it will necessarily go through a one-two to create the movement.
But there is a bit more serious since some of these problems are downright detrimental to playability. We are thinking here of the physics of the balloon and the slightly missed perspectives which give rise to strange trajectories and corners at the sixth post.
On the content side, Konami has gone all out and once again, the intentions are laudable, but the objective is only partially achieved. The English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish and even for the first time Brazilian championships are present and almost all under licence. If we add to that the Copa Libertadores teams, we get one of the PES discipline the most comprehensive in terms of numbers. Unfortunately, the Premier League remains the prerogative of Electronic Arts and comes to spoil the party a little bit, just like the absence of the Bundesliga. You will therefore have to go through the "editor" mode as usual to make your game a little more realistic. There are also more teams that have their fan songs, but the variety isn't really there and the soundscape is frankly perfectible. The presence of the pair Grégoire Margotton and Darren Tulett, supposed to reinforce realism, struggles to convince because of a flagrant lack of naturalness, especially for the Briton whose useless interventions will quickly push you to cut the sound. Still in the category of little things that, over time, begin to annoy, we note the very random updating of statistics, depending on fashion and especially commercial partnerships (Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG work on just about everything the world). Also note that our version was not really up to date in terms of transfers, but we hope that this detail will be corrected by the release of the commercial version through a patch to download.
