Konami's football game flies in 3D.
Broadcasters might be trying to convince everyone that the beautiful game is even more beautiful in 3D, but it takes some convincing to get an entire bar to don the dreaded glasses on a Sunday afternoon. Nintendo's 3DS doesn't have that particular problem and it proves one thing: Pro Evolution Soccer in 3D looks bloody spectacular.
Walking around the show floor at Nintendo's Amsterdam showcase it's clear that the quality of 3D is going to vary wildly, and Konami's efforts are near the head of the pack. Pro Evolution Soccer 3D has depth, clarity and some crisp visuals borrowed from the series' mainline, and the demo did its best to flaunt its achievements to the hilt.
Only one perspective was available, offering a dynamic view of the action that sweeps dramatically across the field. Reminiscent of the camera modes that accompany Pro Evolution Soccer's Become a Legend mode, it did a good job of tracking the action, smartly panning when sprinting down the wing to give a clear view of where to punt the ball next.
The full game will offer five perspectives and hopefully a radar will be thrown into the mix too. Its absence in the demo build coupled with the hyperactive camera doesn't make for the most representative of experiences, but underneath it all the Pro Evolution Soccer formula shines through. Like the series' best, it feels solid and reliable, and the depth of the visuals bring with them some tangible benefits. Distances are easier judged, adding a little extra feedback when lining up a cross or winding up for a pop from outside the box.
And the 3D helps make an already attractive game look sublime. Its visuals are comparable to the latter PlayStation 2 Pro Evolutions, though the 3D effect unsurprisingly renders it all much more impressive. Cue up a goal kick and the stadium spreads out before you in dazzling fashion, while the chunky and attractive player models look fantastic across the board. The demo hosts the 'Clasico' of Real Madrid versus Barcelona, so the football's equally eye-pleasing as Messi, Ronaldo and co. work their magic.
How much Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D will take from the most recent iteration of the series remains to be seen and for this outing the manual passing of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 was nowhere to be seen. That aside, it looks to play as well as its home console counterpart and it's a vast improvement on Konami's past handheld takes, and while the opposition AI was neutered and put up little challenge it still proved entertaining enough pinging the ball about between Real Madrid's galacticos.
Off the pitch there'll be some staple features – the Champions League licence will loom large, and the Master League will be making an expected appearance. There'll be wireless play and Street Pass features, though unfortunately online is not to play a part for this outing, a shame seeing Super Street Fighter IV is proving what the 3DS can be capable of when in the hands of an ambitious outfit.
But that doesn't detract from what proves to be one of the Nintendo 3DS's brightest prospects at launch, and what could be one of the best handheld football games to date. Keep an eye out for more in the run-up to its release this Spring.
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