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Category Archives: Video Game Reviews

Q & A with Pro Evolution Soccer’s Tim Blair

PES Brand Manager Tim Blair takes a few minutes to talk to ISN about the newest edition of Pro Evolution Soccer (PES 2013), which is now available in stores.

1. Can you talk about the importance of the having licensing for the Champions League, Europa League, and Copa Libertadores?

Licensing is a big deal to the fans of PES.  Everyone wants to play with their favorite teams and inside their favorite competitions. The Champions League and the Copa Libertadores represent the largest club team competitions in the world. Fans love interacting inside these competitions.

2. How exciting is it to have your product endorsed by Cristiano      Ronaldo and Neymar? How did these relationships come about?

It is very exciting. Cristiano Ronaldo was the face of PES in 2008. We have kept in contact with this team through the years and it made sense to have him on the cover of PES again in 2012 and now in 2013. He is the most electric personality in the game today. The relationship with Neymar came about through our fervor and our close eye kept on the next big thing. Neymar is that next big talent in soccer. PES is the best and most popular soccer game in Brazil so this was an easy match.

3. What is the biggest improvement from PES 2012?

The top 3 largest improvements are:

A. Player ID which recreates the top athletes in soccer from their facial expressions on down to their individual movements

B. Pro ActiveAI gives players the most intelligent teammates on attack and defense. It results in a very even playing and fluid soccer experience

C. Finally PES Full Control (PES FC) gives players control over every shot and pass. Full manual shots are now possible, allowing for a higher level of precision and play. Inside this control is the Response Defending which now leaves defenders able tackle from any angle.  Players can also add much more delicate touches on the ball when receiving lofted or through passes. This enables them to tack on a flick or a cheeky flick to evade defenders.  

4. How important is the Winning Eleven/Pro Evolution legacy to the team that develops the game?

Extremely important. As with any brand, it means something to the people who play it. PES was made over 15 years ago to be the most realistic soccer game available. That is still the goal today and as you can see from a gameplay aspect, the development team is delivering on this.

5. What goals or expectations do you have for PES 2013?

We want to grow. We want to win over new fans that really understand the game and therefore appreciate the small intricacies of the game and how PES captures these in the digital format.

6. How many of the Konami employees working on this project are truly soccer fans?

I’d say all of them. If you took a stroll through the PES Productions, everyone has their team garb on display.

The Midas Touch: ISN Reviews FIFA Street

It seems like everything EA Sports touches these days turns to gold.  The FIFA series has sold millions upon millions of copies and has become the favorite of gamers and soccer fans alike.

Now comes FIFA Street, which is available on both the PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360®. Now comes FIFA Street, which is available on both the PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360®. It is a complete reboot of the Street franchise and is so good that you will forget that other versions of FIFA Street even existed in previous years.

The game is based on the concept that many players around the world learn to love the beautiful game by playing in the streets or jumping into pickup games.  It is a simple version of soccer, but also one of great creativity and skill.  Individual players become more important as a battle of talent and technique comes to fruition.

The controls are absolutely flawless, allowing you to juke and dribble your way to a pile of goals. It feels natural and very responsive.

There are 50 new skill moves, including some wicked aerial skills, that will leave your opponent wondering what just happened.

The crowd noise is incredibly authentic and the environments are really life-like and aesthetically pleasing.  The graphics are top-notch as expected. The game is really about the experience and we loved every minute of it.

The futsal-style matches were really enjoyable, especially since futsal is such a big part of the game in this part of the country.  It often goes unnoticed, especially in the world of video games.   But EA Canada thought of everything and made sure that every “i” was dotted and every “t” was crossed.

The futsal matches were quick, high-scoring, and really focused in on technique, not tactics. Last Man Standing and Panna Rules were really interesting as well.  Just say you know (because we didn’t) Last Man Standing is where you lose a player when they score a goal and Panna Rules is where you score by kicking the ball through your opponent’s legs.

The online modes were expansive to say the least.  The World Tour was great, very much like a Franchise Mode in other games.  It added depth to the game, easily adding dozens of hours of gameplay in just a single mode.

There were plenty of licensed teams and players from MLS to the English Premiership to national teams from across the globe. Our only complaint is that there is no Montreal Impact in MLS and some of the initial rosters were a bit out of date.

FIFA Street is a fun game that captures the best of the street game.  Whether you are playing as cover star Lionel Messi or a real-life freestyler, you get to experience a different version of the beautiful game.  Simply put, you can’t go wrong with this title.

Hey EA, any chance of a beach soccer or NCAA soccer title in the future?

Rating: 9.8/10

Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge Review (Sidhe/Madcatz)

The last title to bear the name of New Zealand great Jonah Lomu dates all the way back to 1997 when Jonah Lomu Rugby was released for the Sony Playstation, PC, and the Sega Saturn. It was a great title and is still regarded as one of the best portrayals of the sport to date.

Rugby enthusiasts were simply thrilled when the release of Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge was finally announced. The game slated for a late October/early November launch will only appear on the Xbox 360 despite early rumors that the game might be headed for the PS3 and PC as well. A launch towards a single console is a glaring weakness for the title, considering it leaves out at least half of the gaming population when you account for the colossal amount of Sony and Nintendo users.

One negative, but dozens of positives from this Sidhe title. The game is accessible to anyone thanks to a comprehensive array of tutorials. You can go from “What is rugby?” to “I can play this” in a matter of 30 minutes. The gameplay is smooth and fluid, which is amazing considering rugby isn’t the easiest sport to recreate in a video game. Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge captures the pure physicality of the game as no one has before.

The biggest strength of the game is its depth. The amount of licensed teams and leagues is impressive. You can play for teams like New Zealand’s All Blacks, Australia’s Wallabees, and USA Eagles. Leagues and competitions include AU/NZ Super Rugby teams, the Aviva Premiership, ITM Cup, TOP 14 Orange, RaboDirect PRO 12 among others. If you are looking for licensed South Africa or Argentina teams or the Rugby World Cup, you will have to purchase Rugby World Cup 2011 from HB Studios.

There is no shortage of quality mode thanks to the aforementioned Tutorial Mode, Quick Matches, Competition Mode, and the multi-year Career Mode that reminds me of something created by EA Sports. The Career Mode gives you countless hours of gameplay and actually serves as a game within a game. This is a feature never before seen in a rugby title here in North America.

You can’t forget the multiplayer opportunities that can be found online, including head-to-head matches and a leaderboard competition.

There are a wide array of customization options throughout the game so that the gamer can really take ownership of their experience. The commentary is excellent thanks to Grant Nisbett and Justin Marshall, who offer realistic opinions and thoughts on every game. It’s like having John Madden in the booth.

You can’t forget the visuals, which are not only realistic, but can best be described as stunning. Players, stadiums, and the crowd all look great. The game atmosphere is promising as well and feels very authentic.

This title captures the true spirit and passion for rugby union at both the club and international level. Hopefully this game will help spread rugby’s popularity, considering the large spotlight that the Rugby World Cup has put on the sport. You can tell that the developers of this title actually know and love the sport and did not see this as just another project.

Purchase the title here.

Score: 9.5/10

We like to keep things simple here at ISN. We use a 10 point scale for all of our reviews with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.  This fits in with many of the gamer-specific sites out there on the Web and provides a system that is easy to understand.

FIFA 12 Still the One to Beat

Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 has finally given EA Sports and their FIFA series a run for their money.  In any other year, we would say they are neck and neck and that it was a fair fight.

Celebrating a Galaxy goal or the release of FIFA 12 with Donovan on the cover?

However, FIFA 12 is a significant improvement from last year’s masterpiece, which drew rave reviews from just about everybody.  If FIFA 11 was an A then FIFA 12 is surely  an A+.  The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and Konami is forced to go back to the drawing board.  Did I mention that FIFA 12 has already received over 20 awards for this title, has a North American experential tour, and an insane sales history?

So what is so great about FIFA 12?  Where do we start? Well the gameplay can only be described as perfect.  The stadium models, game intros, and commentators are all world-class.

The online modes are unbelievable, especially with the ridiculous amount of FIFA 12 fans that are always online.  When we logged on there were 76,8050 people involved in online matches with a total of 246,801 players online.  It is safe to say that you will never go without quality competition.

Our love affair with the Career Mode just got a little bigger.  Management is now easier and more importantly more realistic.  You will no longer see MLS benchwarmers going in the transfer market for millions or  a ridiculously low budget to run the team.

You can now manage a scouting network and a youth academy, which allows you to develop the next generation of famous footballers at your club.  This is a nice touch that adds depth to the overall game experience.

The EA Sports Football Club and the Ultimate Team (included on the disk) feature make this a game that you lose yourself in.  You sit down with FIFA 12 saying you are playing just one game and the next thing you know a couple of hours have passed.  FIFA 12 is a game that you will want to play over and over and for a long time.

We didn’t feel that a perfect rating was deserved because FIFA 12 lacks licensing for the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores.  If you want to play in either of these tournaments, you better check out Pro Evolution Soccer 2012.  That is about the only thing we can complain about. Can Konami finally catch up to EA Sports in the soccer business? Can FIFA 12, the greatest soccer game ever created, get even better? We will have to wait until next fall to find those answers.

Score: 9.9/10

We like to keep things simple here at ISN. We use a 10 point scale for all of our reviews with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.  This fits in with many of the gamer-specific sites out there on the Web and provides a system that is easy to understand.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (Konami)

This is an important year for the Pro Evolution Soccer series.  This could be the year where PES 2012 makes a serious stand against the immensely popular FIFA series and its latest incarnation, FIFA 12.  FIFA 12 has a ridiculous sales history, a global marketing campaign, a North American experiential tour, along with some of soccer’s biggest names.

How can PES 2012 compete? Exclusive tournaments, incredible visuals, stellar gameplay, and the immensely fun Football Life mode are a start.  Not to mention cover athletes Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar getting behind the title.

First, you have to realize that Pro Evo is the only place where you can get the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.  And yes the famous UCL anthem and all the bells and whistles come with this title.

The graphics are even better than last year.  The stadium models and pre-game festivities are absolutely breathtaking.  The replay system is great, allowing you to capture your favorite Pelé-like moments and share them with the world. Yes we are talking about Facebook integration.

Gameplay has always been a priority for this series and this year is no exception.  The gameplay is smooth and most importantly realistic. All of the difficulty settings are fair because of consistent AI.  Yet you can always hop online and play against some of the world’s best gamers.

Football Life has to be my favorite; both Master League and Become a Legend are incredible.  Master League allows you to try out your skills as a manager, while Become a Legend allows to strap on your boots and take a stab at the world’s game.  Press conferences, training sessions, agent meetings, and boatloads of stats are a staple in either mode.

Unlicensed teams have always been a downfall for the series and this year’s rendition has the same flaws, even though it is not as bad as previous versions.  Admit it playing as Man Blue isn’t as cool as Manchester City.  Yes, they have licensed teams like Manchester United, but more work needs to be done in this area.

Keep in mind that no video game is perfect, but this one certainly is getting closer. PES 2012 is a great title with incredible gameplay, visuals, and an amazing tradition of excellence.

Score: 9/10

We like to keep things simple here at ISN. We use a 10 point scale for all of our reviews with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.  This fits in with many of the gamer-specific sites out there on the Web and provides a system that is easy to understand.