Pro Evolution 2011 Game
- Release date: October 2010
- Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Windows, Mobile Phone, iPhone OS
- Our rating: 90%
The Pro Evolution Soccer series continues to make various improvements on its predecessor to ensure that repeat customers continue to buy the newest release. As we have seen in previous versions, some have worked better than others. Pro Evolution 2011 had a lot of hype surrounding some of the updates before release but has it lived up to expectations? In this guide, we will explore more about Pro Evolution Soccer 11.
Competitions
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 has kept all of the same competitions (Champions league, Europa league) that it had in its 2010, and has introduced two more, the super cup and Copa Libertadores which are both fully licensed. The Copa Libertadores has become a bit of a revaluation among those that enjoy a bit of trickery in their game, because of the amount of high flair players there are in the South American leagues.
Licensing
Unfortunately (or fortunately if you love the editor), Pro Evolution soccer has only pressed on slightly in its licensing. Just Man Utd and Spurs are licensed in England, while Serie A and La Liga has a respectable 33 out of the 40 available teams licensed. The French and Dutch leagues are fully licensed and so are 37 other European teams (the same teams as 2010 with the addition of Bursapor, Werder Bremen and Rubin Kazan). Licensing in the stadiums is not better either with just over half of the available 25 stadiums officially licensed.
Commentators
The commentary team has been revamped for the first time in a long while. Now, instead of John Motson and Alan Hansen, it is Motson and ITV's own Jim Beglin. While there was no official reason behind Hansen's departure it is believed that 'regular' Pro Evo gamers had become fed up with his commentary, and there were too many calls from fans of the game to make a change. So far, the introduction of Jim Beglin has had a positive response from critics.
Soundtracks
There are a total of 24 songs on Pro Evolution 2011; the biggest artists on the soundtracks are Keane and K'Nann. Other artists include Coldrain, Foals and Nina Zilli... No we haven't heard of them either!
While we may not have heard of them, it does not take away anything from their tracks. As with previous versions of the game, Pro Evo 11 has upbeat tempo tracks, which are in keeping with the games' pace.
New Features
As with any latest release of a long running series, the first thing that you will look for is the improvements, and the 2011 version of Pro Evolution has not disappointed with its array of new features and developments on existing features.
Total Control - Though introduced in Pro Evolution 10, this feature did not get the reception that developers would have wanted; however, the enhancements made to the 2011 version are much better. When attacking you get complete control over the ball (if you desire) which means you can weigh your pass, throw, shot and through ball perfectly. When defending you need to look for off the ball runs and move your defenders to cut then out.
This feature seems to have been perfected in Pro Evolution 2011 game, which has allowed the game to feel much more 'real' and much less automated.
Fitness Levels - In all previous versions of the game, when the fitness bar decreased a players speed would decrease, but the only noticeable difference this would make is that the player would get slower. Now this is not the case, as a players fitness levels decrease they will lose speed, lose power in their shots and their successful pass rate will get worse.
Computer AI - When playing against a computer, their defence will no longer chase down a ball which they have little/no chance of reaching. This is because the developers have added more intelligent AI which means you will find it much harder to break down the defence.
Stadium Editor - For those that like to get stuck into the editing side of the game, the introduction of a stadium developer will be a god send. You now have the chance to develop your own stadium, and the editor is very complex. You can edit everything from the stadium size to its location and even what colour you want the seats. The game has 25 unlicensed stadiums in total, with the chance to develop another 25, giving you a potential 50 stadiums.
Aesthetics - There has been a revamp in animation and movement to ensure that the 2011 version is much more intelligent than 2010. There are over 1000 new animations in 2011, which took developers over 100 hours to capture. They have all been successfully implemented into the system to allow for a much more 'real' experience.
Online Master League - Probably the biggest development of them all is the online master league. Pro Evolution 2011 has answered calls from fans to merge together online play with a league. Thankfully, developers put 2 and 2 together and came up with 4, as they already had the online play and a suitable league, all they have done is merged the two, and this has worked extremely well.
On top of all of these developments there is also; increased goalkeeper speed, more natural player movement, increased game productivity (speed) and drag and drop tactics.
Whether or not you like these editions will depend on if you are a fan of the series. A lot of the new features are just upgrades, which everybody expected, but others like the online master league have added to both the playability and longevity.
Tinkering
Fortunately, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 has not taken away anything from their rather hefty editor section and has only added to the amount of in-game features that you can edit. If you are a fan of editing then Pro Evolution 11 gives you more options than any other football simulator.
There are also various additions that have been made to team management and tactics. If you enjoy tinkering around with your team in order to get the best formation, off the ball runs and overall team setup, then Pro Evolution 11 once again comes out on top. On the other hand, Konami has also kept it simple, for those that prefer to get on with playing.
Reviews
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 has received great reviews across the board, which will be a relief to the developers. Gamespot scored the game 8/10, IGN 9/10 and PSM3 89%. In fact, there is no reputable game review website that rates the game anything less than a seven out of ten.
The public reviews have also been positive. Game sales are at a better rate for this game than at the same time with 2010, and the general opinion of the game has increased with all the additional elements.
Verdict
Regardless of your view on Pro Evolution Soccer 2011, the developments that have been made from 2010 have more than improved the game. These developments have made the game feel more 'real' to the player and more free flowing. If every development was as smooth and offered as much as the progress that was made from Pro Evo 10 to 11, there would be little to complain about.
Game rating (out of 10)
Graphics - 9/10
Pro Evolution Soccer has always been known for its outstanding in-game graphics, and 2011 is no different. While no major improvements have been made to the graphical interface, there did not need to be any drastic changes; as far as many are concerned, Pro Evo could keep the same graphics for the next five years, and it would still be better than the majority of the other simulations on the market.
Playability - 10/10
Previous to the 2011 game, Pro Evolution already had plenty of different modes, and the introduction of the online master league has made the game even better in terms of playability. The 'become a legend' and the master league mean that you could happily play the game from now to the release of Pro Evo 2012 without getting bored.
Originality - 8/10
Unfortunately, FIFA and Pro Evolution will never score above an 8 when it comes to originality because they keep matching each other's developments. The introduction of the online master league and a few smaller developments has kept Pro Evo 2011 different from all the other football simulation games on the market, including previous Pro Evolution games.
Game Depth - 10/10
As mentioned, there are so many game modes and different features that the game could not be any more in depth then it is now, which is why it gets top marks.
Addictiveness - 9/10
Previous to the online master league, there were still plenty of things that kept the game interesting. Now this has been added the game has become even more addictive. There are few games around that get people organising 'party' nights just to play the game, but Pro Evo 11 is one of them.
Value for Money - 9/10
At the beginning of April 2011, Pro Evolution Soccer decreased its prices, which has made it even better value for money. On the day of release, the game was not any more expensive than any other new game on the market. As of the beginning of April 2011, you can find the game for less than £20 brand new, and since there is still six months until the release of 2012, your £20 will not be wasted.
Overall Rating - 90%
If you are an existing Pro Evolution Soccer fan then you will not be disappointed with the update. New Pro Evolution gamers will instantly recognise the games terrific levels of depth, addictiveness and playability within the first couple of hours, and this is the reason why Pro Evolution Soccer will continue to sell in its millions for years to come.
Before deciding whether to buy Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 you may want to read our review on Fifa 2011 vs Pro Evolution 2011.
If you enjoy playing the Pro Evolution football games you may also like to play the highly rated free multiplayer football game - Kickabout League where you can play against real opponents across the internet in 5 v 5 matches.
