PES 2008 vs. UEFA Euro 2008

For a long time I have been itching to write a comparison between these two well known football titles on the PSP (or any other platform). Besides these two games, there is no other well known game for football enthusiast around the world.

PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) is released by Konami and was known with two different names around the world, Winning Eleven and PES. UEFA Euro 2008 is actually very similar to FIFA 2008, the final iteration of FIFA series, released by EA Sports. These two games represent two different approaches two the same genre. In this comparison we will discuss the differences between the two games and who their respective audiences are.

UEFA Euro 2008 is all about multimedia and information. It is almost complete in terms of teams, rosters, player information. Almost every player in every team in every major league in the world is there. Commentary during the game is exciting and complete with player’s names for even some not well-known teams. It is as though you are watching or playing a real game. Well… Almost…

PES 2008 on the other hand is quite the opposite. Even well known teams’ names are changed (due to some license issues we suppose), though the original players are there, their names are deliberately made-up. There is no commentary during the game, only some dull statements after a goal is scored.

No points to PES up to now, and full points to FIFA/UEFA Euro 2008. It seems that nobody with their right minds will go out and buy PES over FIFA. This my friends, however is not the case. I can say that PES is a strong competitor to FIFA, and even some more. Why is that?

First of all, PES is much more realistic. Player animations are smooth even in a limited environment like the PSP. It seems much more real to those who are playing and those who are watching. It is more fun (non-objectivity warning!) to play even with made-up player names and non-existant commentary. There are no fixed scoring tactics in PES, every game is completely different from the other. Also, both the opponents and your players behave much more intelligently. They run to free spaces to receive passes, intercept opponents’ passes and behave like real players, not like aging trees standing in a corn field.

Although FIFA provides real and complete information with both visual and aural supplements, it loses in the gameplay and fun side of things. Actually what I believe is, EA Sports tries to cover the shortcomings of the game engine with perfect visuals and sound. This however keeps hardcore football gamers trying the game for a while and running back to the PES series. I am one example, and not the only one. Nothing matches the amount of fun I get from playing PES, even by myself. Not FIFA’s wonderful commentary, nor its complete roster.

Currently I am exploring the “Master League” feature of PES where you manage a made up team with negotiations, transfers and skill changes. I am planning to write some tips and tricks for that soon. “Master League” defines another dimension in the re-playability to my choice of football game on PSP: Pro-Evolution Soccer.

Posted by Alpay

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