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There are many produces of sports games across all gaming platforms, we have EA Sports (its in the game), Konami and 2K being three of the biggest in next gen platforms. It was 2009 when I was first blown away by a sports game. I was walking through a mall and I saw a shop in the distance. They had a television bracketed onto the wall. From a distance I presumed it was a television shop as they were clearly showing a basketball game, as I got closer I started to realise it was a gaming shop and therefore it must be a computer game. I then found myself stood in front of the counter, a couple of metres from the television still believing that this was in fact a live basketball game.

I was simply blown away by the graphics. The only thing that gave it away that I was in fact watching a computer game was a little ‘Demo’ watermark in the bottom of the screen. The game itself was NBA 2K 2009. Whether you like basketball or not, this game is worth every penny you pay for it. The visuals, commentary and cuts will take your breath away. The sweat on the skin, the shine of the court. Ive not even mentioned the crowd yet. The animations of the crowd are the best I have ever seen. Fact. You’ll see supporters talking to one another, going to buy a hotdog, standing up, sitting down, cheering, booing. They are so life like, and to be honest, I think thats what fooled me into thinking I was watching a live game.

Is it strange that my favourite game of all time is not on a next gen console? Instead it comes from the 16 bit, cartridge game, SNES. My favourite game of all time is Donkey Kong Country. From the moment it loads up, a smile is on my face. The jungle music and the image of the goofy pair of Donkey Kong and Diddy really does set the tone.

As you fly past the first few levels, the addiction kicks in. The first level can be completed in about 60 seconds if you know the game well. The levels are however rather complex, with hidden areas, mini games, and little cheats.

Like Super Mario collecting coins. Donkey Kong is slightly different in that you collect bananas. 100 bananas = 1 life. Believe me, later in the game you’ll need these lives.

A special shout out has to go to my favourite level of the whole game. The runaway mine train level. The level starts by jumping into a mine train and rollercoasting your way through the level, jumping to avoid ‘baddies’, ducking under and jumping over missing parts of track. The level really is at 100mph. With quick succession broken track and what seems to be quite imposssible long jumps, you end the level shattered. What a game!

I have been playing the latest version of Pro Evolution Soccer now for the last 6 months. Naturally I feel like I have given the game plenty of time to show me what it has to offer. I am the sort of gamer who only really plays when I have friends over. For this version of Pro I have mainly just been playing a 2 player Master League vs the computer. We are Bolton, but started the Master League in D2.

As with all ‘season’ games which come out every year, we always compare to past versions and of course competitors. The PES vs Fifa battle has been going on for over 10 years now, every year people voicing their opinions on which is the better football series.

First of all let me point out the positives for this years PES.

• Player faces and kits looking as accurate as ever (with the help of the editors at pesgaming)
• Camera angle. Particularly at the start of the game looks very realistic
• Score and time graphics. Finally PES has put the time and score together on the left hand side so it looks more like when we watch football on television.
• Can win a penalty. This is a dig at last years PES where I started to believe it was actually impossible to win a penalty.
• Stadium editor is a great addition. I have been calling for this for years. Its just a shame it is so limited.

Now for the negatives…

• Tackles and Fouls. Free kicks and Penalties being given even when a player has clearly got the ball first.
• Penalty kick system. Change it, change it, change it!!! I want a power bar and the option to chip, its not difficult. Fifa 10 had it very close to perfect.
• Master League transfers system. Why cant I choose how much im prepared to pay for a player out of my budget?
• Passing. Ive found it really difficult to score ‘arsenal style’ goals this year as the passing pace and accuracy seems worse than ever. I thought it was meant to be the year of ‘freedom’
• Auto kick off. This really isnt necessary. Why did you add this?

I will leave my improvements for another blog. But personally I feel Pro Evolution Soccer hasnt hit the heights that were promised. Although I enjoy playing the game, the fact the ‘rules’ of football are not implemented in the game make it a rather poor title. This isnt football, this is something else.