Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

Continuing one of the more exceptional franchises for Nintendo Wii, the innovative ‘Play Maker’ controls feel even better this year.

The wait has been worth it for this latest iteration of Pro Evo for Nintendo Wii. While the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 iterations of PES 2009 have been found lacking compared to their FIFA rivals, on Wii Konami’s flagship knows no equal.

There’s a passion and deep appreciation of the sport that’s born out in the refreshing new approach to gameplay in Wii PES. The point-and-drag approach introduced last year was raw and showed potential. This year it is refined and much easier to get to grips with – you can now aim your shots and there’s more control over defensive play. Most importantly for a game that takes most console football fans out of their comfort zone, the tutorial is better presented.

You’ll be scoring goals and jinking your way down the touchline in no time, and you could prefer playing PES in the new way despite now being given the option to revert to the more familiar buttons layout on a classic controller. Not many games on Wii have been revolutionised in the same way that PES has enjoyed. The only others that spring to mind are Metroid, Super Mario and Mario Kart all from Nintendo.

Credit should go to Konami for being brave to reinvent a brand as established as Pro Evo and especially to an audience that may be less familiar with games than most. The Play Maker controls are arguably more accessible than a confusing array of buttons, and make more sense to the game of football overall. It is a team sport and this is how Wii PES is played to its best advantage, directing the bigger picture while still enjoying a respectable amount of control on the ball.

Notable new additions are Mii Support and the fan favourite Master League mode carried over from the PlayStation and Xbox series. Master League will be taken more seriously than the Wii exclusive Champions Road player / manager campaign but to be honest we find the latter more enjoyable for the format. Champions Road with its trading card player transfers and players that improve their skills based on match experience gives you plenty to buy into.

Weirdly the Champions League mode, despite the high profile license, is the least appealing tournament in the game. But this could be partly because so few of the Premier League clubs bear their proper names and strips. It’s okay if you’re a fan of Manchester United or Liverpool, but who wants to lead North London or Middlebrook to victory? We have to dock points of PES for still not offering the real deal. However it does give hobbyists something to chip away at in the extensive Edit mode that customises all players, teams, and even stadium names.

It may not yet be perfect, but Pro Evolution Soccer on Wii is looking more and more like a viable way forward for console football that elsewhere seems stuck in a rut. Above all it has the feel of the beautiful game and captures the fun as well as the seriousness of the sport that’s loved by millions.

4 out of 5