What gives you the most satisfaction? Maybe the first pint on a sunny evening after work, or the look on Portillo's face when he got turfed out in '97 (hey, this is the Guardian) but yesterday's session of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was right up there. It's mainly when scoring a goal - a proper punch the air moment - but such is the realism of the ball movement that seat-of-the-pants defending is similarly enjoyable.
Konami have really nailed the ball physics with PES 5 and it just feels right. The beauty of the series has always been to make tap-ins as satisfying as 30-yard screamers. The increased challenge in PES 5 - it *is* harder to score - only exacerbates this. Then there is the lovely thud as two players slid in for a 50-50 ball, which will usually spin off in an accurate direction.
The players seem even more grounded than ever - there is none of the turf skating of other titles. Before this descends into total love-in it's necessary to report that the usual issues still bedevil the game. The presentation is as arcane as ever, while the action will probably be too realistic for some. This really isn't a game that you can pick up and play - practice and perseverance are necessary and the majority of matches mirror the ebb and flow of football, not basketball. Now if only they would hurry up and release the bloody thing so online gaming can get started.
