|
Pro Evolution Soccer 6 has launched on nearly
all major formats. Previously dotting-around various Super
Nintendo, Mega-Drive, PlayStation and Nintendo64 releases under the
label International Superstar Soccer, Pro Evolution
Soccer launched as a PlayStation2 exclusive, and the
International
 Superstar
Soccer title was laid to rest with a
final release on the GameCube. In the mean-time, the series has
made its’ way to Xbox, Xbox360 and PlayStation Portable. Now, some
months later, Konami’s Football franchise arrives back on a
Nintendo console – the NintendoDS.
Obviously, the basic premise of the title is that of
winning Football Matches, and the title does feature
Licensed teams, and players. There are five different gameplay
modes available; Match, World Tour, Network, Konami Cup and
Training, as well as options to create player-defined teams, tailor
teams and view all the collated records of your past Matches. When
with the ball, the A Button creates a Long Pass, the B Button a
Short Pass, the X Button is Through Pass and the Y Button is Shoot,
without the ball, the A Button is Slide Tackle, the B Button is
Pressure and the Y Button is Double Pressure; when near to an
opposing team member with the ball, the player’s avatar will
close-in and limit the opponent’s space. The R Trigger is used for
a Dash Manoeuvre, and the L Trigger is used to Switch the currently
controlled team member.
The Touch Screen is used quite inventively, considering
the nature of the release. Obviously, the Menus can be navigated
via touch-control, but also, two tactical choices can be assigned
to large panels displayed on the Touch Screen.
Match is the basic gameplay scenario: a single game or
Penalty Shoot-Out, player-defined, against an A.I. opponent, and
Konami Cup is a basic Tournament option. World Tour sees you create
an original team, and playing through organised Levels of games to
reach the #1 Spot. After defeating every team in your Group – you
are allowed to play each team as many times as you like, even after
having defeated them – you
 will be promoted through the ranks to
the next Group. For winning Matches, you earn Coins that can be
used to purchase new players for your team. Acting as the operative
Campaign Mode for the handheld release, World Tour is an
interesting addition to the formula. A Management Sim-light, with
many interesting ideas.
Network Mode is used very well, offering Single-Card
and Multi-Card options similar to that of
Mario KartDS. With restrictions on team and settings
options for the player without a Game Card, and in-game Friends
Lists to keep tally of all those you’ve played – both offline and
online – the set-up seems fairly well-squared. Occasional Lag
online is disappointing, but considering how ill-fitted the game
genre is to Nintendo’s handheld, this can be forgiven.
The titles graphics, however, are far less justifiable.
Some of the poorest 3D Models seen so far on the NintendoDS, far
less successful than even the system’s launch title
Super
Mario64DS, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 wouldn’t feel
out-of-place on the PlayStation. The title’s sound is also less
than impressive; minor, tinny commentary and a lacking soundtrack
don’t invite as much as may have been thought.
Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is a fair attempt at
translating the game onto the NintendoDS – far in excess of any
FIFA title the system has been, quite questionably,
blessed-with. However, it still lacks seemingly any
killer-qualities that make it a sure-fire diamond-in-the-rough.
Many more traditional titles seem to fail ungracefully on the
NintendoDS –
Over The Hedge,
Spyro: Shadow Legacy and
Ridge RacerDS also lack any refined qualities – and Pro
Evolution Soccer 6 skips down the fine-line of success,
ever-so-slightly losing it’s balance from time-to-time. |
