Konami announced the latest iteration of highly acclaimed soccer game, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2013, is now available at retail stores nationwide.
For this year's game, the development team went back to the origins of the game that pioneered the genre, by working directly with fans of the franchise to deliver a game that gives total freedom of control back to the players. This full control, coupled with enhanced artificial intelligence and life-like player animations makes PES 2013 the most realistic soccer game on the market.
"Soccer is all about how the player interacts with the ball, from the first touch, to dribbling, passing and all of the moves associated with playing," says Tomoyuki Tsuboi, President of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "What PES 2013 is giving players is complete control to impact their game how they'd like, including all of those key elements I just referred to. Recreating that experience of an authentic soccer game and giving that freedom back to the players is paramount in the development of PES 2013."
Three key elements form the basis of Pro Evolution Soccer 2013's innovations, with all new additions falling within the fields of Pro Evolution Soccer, which include FullControl, Player ID, and ProActive AI.
The first element, FullControl (PES FC) offers a level of control that has never before been used in a soccer game. The features of PES FC include:
• Total Freedom of Control: Pro Evolution Soccer introduced the concept of freedom of movement. The new 'PES FC' in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 goes further with total freedom over ball control.
• Dynamic First Touch: Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 introduces subtle ways to receive the ball, from traps, gently lifting it past an attacker to run on to or a variety of other moves. First touch is everything and players can trap the ball using the R2 button, killing the speed of a well-hit pass and bringing it instantly under control, or using the momentum of the pass to turn a defender.
• Full Manual Shooting and Full Manual Passing: Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 offers fully manual passing and for the first time ever, manual shooting, allowing users to determine the height and power of each. Long low passes can be sent skimming across the pitch, while shooting the user has total control over where the shot is placed. Skill and precision are needed to master these, but passes can be made into open areas, allowing lone strikers to thrive, while offering an unrivalled variety in ways to score.
• Dribbling: The speed with which a player moves with the ball has been slowed in line with real matches, but using R2 allows players to add various styles to their close control. Players can vary the speed of their dribbling, and cushion the ball as they move freely within a 360-degree circle. The new system allows players to knock a ball past a player and collect it, nutmeg them, or hold up play by shielding the ball as team mates find space and make runs.
• Full Manual One-Two: Active one-two passes can be made, with the second player being moved in any direction), facilitating various tactical movements.
• Response Defending: Countering the attacking options the new dribbling system offers, is a beautifully-balanced defense system. Players can use R2 and X to slow an attack, with a double-tap of the X button prompting a perfectly-timed challenge. Full 360-degree control means that players can check runs and steal the ball from a parallel position, while the individuality element will see world renowned defenders using aerial dominance of physicality to win the ball.
• Goalkeepers: Even the game's keepers benefit from more control, while their distribution is more precise thanks to the addition of a power gauge when they throw the ball, creating opportunities for new, quicker counter attacks.
The second key element of Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is the Player ID, which focuses on the individual characteristics and movements that each player boasts. The components of the Player ID include:
• Player Individuality: The very best players in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 will be instantly recognizable via signature attributes, skills and tricks that bring them to life. The way they run, turn, trap and move the ball, shape to shoot and even celebrate will be noticeably different during play.
• Individuality to Goalkeepers: Goal keeping has been totally invigorated via new animations and play styles. New varieties of saves and reactions have been added to ensure the game's 'keepers are in line with the efforts of real shot stoppers. This level of realism also extends to the game's top-rated goal keepers, with their moves to close attacks down, fling themselves to tip a shot past the post, and in-goal acrobatics benefiting from all new animations and AI.
The third element is the ProActive AI, which unites the control and realism, with players that will respond and find space as befits those at the top of their game.
• Balance of Play: The development team has worked closely with the Pro Evolution Soccer fan base to eradicate any illogical elements to the way players move and run in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, with the 'ProActive AI' system enhancing the speed and balance, resulting in a more realistic game experience.
• Enhanced Goalkeepers: Improvements to the goal keepers was voted the key advancement soccer fans wanted to see in Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, and the team has worked hard with real life goalkeepers to ensure the AI decision process has been vastly improved. Keepers now respond with better reactions, clear their lines more effectively and push the ball safely out of play rather than into dangerous areas.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and is priced at $59.99 for PlayStation3 and Xbox 360.
PES 2013 for PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Wii will be available later this fall.
For more information, please visit and www.konami-pes2013.com.