Pro Evolution 6 heading our way at the end of the month
While EA have given FIFA ’07 a full technical makeover, the guys from Konami have opted for more subtle changes that are going to take far more getting used to than the hour or so we spent hands-on with the title. After reviewing FIFA 07 a few weeks ago we were impressed with how EA had managed to bridge the gap between the two titles, but what we really hoped for was to see Konami taking further steps in the right direction by making Pro Evolution Soccer 6 the best soccer title ever. Let’s take a look…
In Pro Evolution Soccer 6 there are more officially licensed teams than ever before and you’ll now see the official kits from the likes of the Czech, French, Australian and English national sides. You’ll still be playing with the likes of Manchester Blue and Lancashire, and while it doesn’t affect the gameplay in any way, it’s slightly takes the edge of things when you get drawn against a made-up team name in the FA Cup semi-finals, but we’ve coped with it in the past.
Click for larger imageThere is now am all-new World Cup qualifying campaign that allows you to pre-select your International squad, so if you feel the likes of Paul Scholes deserves a place in the England squad, he can now be selected. The overall presentation remains the same, which we think is a good thing, and on match days you’ll be choosing formations and tactics via the same trusty system as before.
Click for larger imageAt first glance, there appears to be little change to match days. The graphics have been improved when it comes to the entrance scenes and the short cut-scenes that show sending–offs or free kicks being awarded, but the difference isn’t worlds apart from the last Pro Evo incarnation. On the pitch next-gen shading techniques have been included, meaning that on a bright day the sun casts a shadow across the pitch and shadows from the player's movements are accurately recreated. There are also far more animations than before, such as players cheekily grabbing the ball for a throw-in when it blatantly came off them. Overall it’s a bit of disappointment that the shift to the next-gen console hasn’t resulted in more obvious changes; the crowds still look static during the matches and apart from the rotating advertisement boards around the sides of the pitch, a quick glance off-pitch is a fairly bland experience.
