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So i thought more people may see it here.
************************************************************
So then, it is time, yes the big guns of football games are about to finally commence battle. This week saw the release of Fifa Football 2002, which I have to say has gone unnoticed. And on the 23rd of this very month sees the release of Pro Evolution soccer. There has been high expectations of both these games, and the pressure has been on both konami and EA to make there games the best they can possible be. Now is the time it needed to be done with Christmas coming which is possible the most important time for the developers.
In here you will find what is new, and whether its good or not, and its totally unbiased. Others have given there opinion, now its my turn. Behold, the battle will commence!!
So, to start off with, Fifa. This has been one of the biggest selling football games ever, and with every release has always sold millions. What made the game what it is was the arcade feel of it. It was the type of game that you could just pick up and play, and for many years people liked this. Then though came the release of the mighty ISS series on PS1, fifaís main base, to challenge for the title of best football game. But Fifa seemed to always win this battle. And because of that, year in year out the games were the same with every release, just updated and an extra thing added such as a power bar. However, many started to feel that the arcade feel was no longer what they wanted, but with the release of Fifa 2001 it seemed that nothing had been taken on board, and therefore nothing was changed. Still though it seems that the whoa of graphics and club teams was too much for the public to bare and so the game still sold many. But after this game, EA had lots of pressure on them to change the game, to match the Konami beast, and that they have with 2002, only they have now lost all that made the Fifa series.
The first thing that has changed is the name, now known as Fifa Football 2002, hardly a big difference, but its there all the same. There are all the usual teams in there, all from the top leagues around the world, all the names are there too. Also all the leagues and nation cups are there to play in so there is a lot to play through. Basically, with this game EA have started all over again, they have started from scratch, this has been mainly changed with the passing system, this has been made ëmore realisticí to try and bring the game up to ISS standards. However, this has not had the desired affect that was intended, as the ball often gets passed far ahead of your player leaving the ball for the opposition. The ball now though is a lot more versatile, for every pass you have to decide the power, so now its possible to over hit the ball, and as usual you decide the direction. Through balls or a lot more ëusedí now, and serve a more dominant role in the game. As you play the ball up the pitch a coloured line indicates where your player is running, and if you can get the through ball just right, it often feels very satisfying. Shooting is now more varied, with more ways than before can result in a goal, its now more possible to take the ball around the keeper, and lobbing has been made a little easier. But the fact is, its still very easy to score, and the new passing system really does not make the game all that much more improved from the last. Saying this though, the upper levels in the game have been made a little too hard, at times its really hard to keep the ball in your possession, and once you have lost it, you need to work damn hard to get it back. The tackling is the same as ever, fairly easy, and nearly every challenge is successful, but now deflections are more possible making the odd howler of a goal go in.
As for the graphics, there the same as ever, high in quality, everything looks nice, the players, the stadiums, the ref and lines persons, all the usual little video clips are included. But at times you feel its these that are selling the game, and too much time has been taken on presentation rather than game play.
In all, this first stab at the ësimí side of football games for EA, but this really is now way as fun as the other fifas were. This is a deeper more real version of Fifa, but with all the change its lost the Fifa morals, which makes it worse than the others.
So, what of the other, Pro Evolution Soccer. As every one knows, itís the Evo games on PS1 that changed the way we thought football games could be. With them, the games became so realistic we thought there could be no improvement in them at all, but with the arrival of Evo 2 we were put wrong. This game took the series a little bit further, a made the game that little bit more realistic, the AI was improved and made to act more realistic, often making mistakes and making runs up the wings ect. The keepers were too improved, but where still sometimes a little ëdaftí, but still, they were better than Fifa. Evo 2 was also the first game to feature a Fifa pro licence so finally there were real names in the game. This made a big difference to many people as they felt the passed games were not ërealí and figures show that the real names improved sales, shows why Fifa did well. This had been the best football game on any format, but with the release of Pro Evo, konami are about to change all that.
The name ISS has now gone, and has been replaced with a more, mature, Pro Evolution Soccer. This game is set to break all new ground, and become the most dominant football game there is. The controls have been vastly improved and made more responsive, passes happen on an instant you press the button, this makes the game a lot more better to play, great build up play can be made and use of tactics has never been so much used in a game than in this title. Counter attacking can be used more than ever before and is perfect to destroy those weak defensive teams. As always there is a large amount of different kicks, short and long passes, back heal, small touch-ons, clearance and the most important shoot and through ball. Through ball is one of those passes that will either make you a pro at this game, or if you cant pull them off, you are destined to suffer. This move is one of the most effective ways in which to score, placing the ball behind the defence leaving your player through on goal, if you practice this, and learn well, you will become a master of the game. Another equally great way to score is the use of the highly effective 1-2 pass, this again takes some learning, but once you have you will score many.
Tackling too has been improved and made more responsive, but as always, the experts will win the ball as they will know when to charge in for the ball, or jump for the header, its all down to timing, and its up to you to judge that.
The shooting while improved some what, has stayed faithful to the Evo series, which is not bad as there was nothing wrong with it, most types of shots can be performed, high shots, lobs, low drives, all the usual really. There is an endless number of ways to score, and the better your build up play is, the more satisfaction you will get out of scoring.
Set pieces have more or less been kept as the same, and the usual system has been used. Corners are simple, there are a few main ways to kick the ball in, the harder the shot the deeper it goes in, or the simple short pass. Free kicks are as always a very good way of scoring, and after a bit of practice on the training ground you can curl the ball in like the rest of them.
There are all the usual cups and leagues to play through that are relevant to ISS games, mainly international cups with all the teams in there, there is also the league for all the top European clubs in there. Here you are awarded points for winning games which are put on the table, and points for buying and selling players. These leagues matched with the excellent game play will keep you interested for a long time. Like most games though, Pro Evo does have a few bugs, but not important to really focus on, there have been talks of passes going in dodgy directions, but then that happens on real football all the time, and sometimes its hard to select the player you want, but thatís about it.
The one thing Fifa does better on that Pro Evo though is the menu bars, Fifaís are flashy and look very pretty, Pro Evoís are a little dull, but do the job. But then, does that really matter? :D
Usually when deciding to buy a football game two things came to mind, do you want a arcade game to play, or simulator, and it was either Fifa or ISS. Now though its different, both games are now sims, this time you have to ask, which is better? And that answer is Pro Evo, this is the most realistic game ever everything about is going for realism, and Pro Evo pulls that off. Fifa had a good jab at it, but sadly lost in the game all that made it popular, but what was EA to do? They were pressured to change it, and now they have its become some what worse than before.
In my honest opinion, and all my biased talk to ISS has gone, the better game out of them is Pro Evo, this beats Fifa in all departments, both of the games look nice on the eye, Fifa a little more at times, but donít let that fool you, the game play lies over in Pro Evo, so give your PS2 the right game.
Thanks if you managed to read that.
Pro Evo
So i thought more people may see it here.
************************************************************
So then, it is time, yes the big guns of football games are about to finally commence battle. This week saw the release of Fifa Football 2002, which I have to say has gone unnoticed. And on the 23rd of this very month sees the release of Pro Evolution soccer. There has been high expectations of both these games, and the pressure has been on both konami and EA to make there games the best they can possible be. Now is the time it needed to be done with Christmas coming which is possible the most important time for the developers.
In here you will find what is new, and whether its good or not, and its totally unbiased. Others have given there opinion, now its my turn. Behold, the battle will commence!!
So, to start off with, Fifa. This has been one of the biggest selling football games ever, and with every release has always sold millions. What made the game what it is was the arcade feel of it. It was the type of game that you could just pick up and play, and for many years people liked this. Then though came the release of the mighty ISS series on PS1, fifaís main base, to challenge for the title of best football game. But Fifa seemed to always win this battle. And because of that, year in year out the games were the same with every release, just updated and an extra thing added such as a power bar. However, many started to feel that the arcade feel was no longer what they wanted, but with the release of Fifa 2001 it seemed that nothing had been taken on board, and therefore nothing was changed. Still though it seems that the whoa of graphics and club teams was too much for the public to bare and so the game still sold many. But after this game, EA had lots of pressure on them to change the game, to match the Konami beast, and that they have with 2002, only they have now lost all that made the Fifa series.
The first thing that has changed is the name, now known as Fifa Football 2002, hardly a big difference, but its there all the same. There are all the usual teams in there, all from the top leagues around the world, all the names are there too. Also all the leagues and nation cups are there to play in so there is a lot to play through. Basically, with this game EA have started all over again, they have started from scratch, this has been mainly changed with the passing system, this has been made ëmore realisticí to try and bring the game up to ISS standards. However, this has not had the desired affect that was intended, as the ball often gets passed far ahead of your player leaving the ball for the opposition. The ball now though is a lot more versatile, for every pass you have to decide the power, so now its possible to over hit the ball, and as usual you decide the direction. Through balls or a lot more ëusedí now, and serve a more dominant role in the game. As you play the ball up the pitch a coloured line indicates where your player is running, and if you can get the through ball just right, it often feels very satisfying. Shooting is now more varied, with more ways than before can result in a goal, its now more possible to take the ball around the keeper, and lobbing has been made a little easier. But the fact is, its still very easy to score, and the new passing system really does not make the game all that much more improved from the last. Saying this though, the upper levels in the game have been made a little too hard, at times its really hard to keep the ball in your possession, and once you have lost it, you need to work damn hard to get it back. The tackling is the same as ever, fairly easy, and nearly every challenge is successful, but now deflections are more possible making the odd howler of a goal go in.
As for the graphics, there the same as ever, high in quality, everything looks nice, the players, the stadiums, the ref and lines persons, all the usual little video clips are included. But at times you feel its these that are selling the game, and too much time has been taken on presentation rather than game play.
In all, this first stab at the ësimí side of football games for EA, but this really is now way as fun as the other fifas were. This is a deeper more real version of Fifa, but with all the change its lost the Fifa morals, which makes it worse than the others.
So, what of the other, Pro Evolution Soccer. As every one knows, itís the Evo games on PS1 that changed the way we thought football games could be. With them, the games became so realistic we thought there could be no improvement in them at all, but with the arrival of Evo 2 we were put wrong. This game took the series a little bit further, a made the game that little bit more realistic, the AI was improved and made to act more realistic, often making mistakes and making runs up the wings ect. The keepers were too improved, but where still sometimes a little ëdaftí, but still, they were better than Fifa. Evo 2 was also the first game to feature a Fifa pro licence so finally there were real names in the game. This made a big difference to many people as they felt the passed games were not ërealí and figures show that the real names improved sales, shows why Fifa did well. This had been the best football game on any format, but with the release of Pro Evo, konami are about to change all that.
The name ISS has now gone, and has been replaced with a more, mature, Pro Evolution Soccer. This game is set to break all new ground, and become the most dominant football game there is. The controls have been vastly improved and made more responsive, passes happen on an instant you press the button, this makes the game a lot more better to play, great build up play can be made and use of tactics has never been so much used in a game than in this title. Counter attacking can be used more than ever before and is perfect to destroy those weak defensive teams. As always there is a large amount of different kicks, short and long passes, back heal, small touch-ons, clearance and the most important shoot and through ball. Through ball is one of those passes that will either make you a pro at this game, or if you cant pull them off, you are destined to suffer. This move is one of the most effective ways in which to score, placing the ball behind the defence leaving your player through on goal, if you practice this, and learn well, you will become a master of the game. Another equally great way to score is the use of the highly effective 1-2 pass, this again takes some learning, but once you have you will score many.
Tackling too has been improved and made more responsive, but as always, the experts will win the ball as they will know when to charge in for the ball, or jump for the header, its all down to timing, and its up to you to judge that.
The shooting while improved some what, has stayed faithful to the Evo series, which is not bad as there was nothing wrong with it, most types of shots can be performed, high shots, lobs, low drives, all the usual really. There is an endless number of ways to score, and the better your build up play is, the more satisfaction you will get out of scoring.
Set pieces have more or less been kept as the same, and the usual system has been used. Corners are simple, there are a few main ways to kick the ball in, the harder the shot the deeper it goes in, or the simple short pass. Free kicks are as always a very good way of scoring, and after a bit of practice on the training ground you can curl the ball in like the rest of them.
There are all the usual cups and leagues to play through that are relevant to ISS games, mainly international cups with all the teams in there, there is also the league for all the top European clubs in there. Here you are awarded points for winning games which are put on the table, and points for buying and selling players. These leagues matched with the excellent game play will keep you interested for a long time. Like most games though, Pro Evo does have a few bugs, but not important to really focus on, there have been talks of passes going in dodgy directions, but then that happens on real football all the time, and sometimes its hard to select the player you want, but thatís about it.
The one thing Fifa does better on that Pro Evo though is the menu bars, Fifaís are flashy and look very pretty, Pro Evoís are a little dull, but do the job. But then, does that really matter? :D
Usually when deciding to buy a football game two things came to mind, do you want a arcade game to play, or simulator, and it was either Fifa or ISS. Now though its different, both games are now sims, this time you have to ask, which is better? And that answer is Pro Evo, this is the most realistic game ever everything about is going for realism, and Pro Evo pulls that off. Fifa had a good jab at it, but sadly lost in the game all that made it popular, but what was EA to do? They were pressured to change it, and now they have its become some what worse than before.
In my honest opinion, and all my biased talk to ISS has gone, the better game out of them is Pro Evo, this beats Fifa in all departments, both of the games look nice on the eye, Fifa a little more at times, but donít let that fool you, the game play lies over in Pro Evo, so give your PS2 the right game.
Thanks if you managed to read that.
Pro Evo