PES 2009

Developer: Konami
Format: Multi-Format
Genre: Football

Can the best football game on the market get any better?



Let's hope so! PES 2009 has been reworked from the ground up. New player models, AI elements and physics routines all combine to create what Konami believes is the most advanced and realistic football game ever. But at the heart of PES 2009 are two new modes designed to make players rethink the way they approach the game.

Central to this is the new 'Become a Legend' solo mode, which casts the user as a midfielder or striker within a match. Using a default vertical camera view, the player starts as a rookie pro at the start of their career, and charts the many highs and lows of becoming a professional player. The ever-present Master League has also been reworked, with negotiations now a lot simpler and conducted on a two-tier club and personal basis, while loyalty now plays a part with disaffected players' moods having an adverse affect on their performances.

In addition, the way the player guides the ball has been changed. The PES series has always treated the ball as a separate entity, but new calculations related to the air resistance and friction of the ground make passing and movement in PES 2009 a great deal more realistic. Different weather conditions will now have a more pronounced effect on the weight and movement of passes, with players having to compensate for more heavy conditions in poor weather.

Expect a full release on just about every format you can think of in October - except for Wii which comes out in Spring 2009.