ISS Evolution Reviewed 22/6/00

ISS Pro Evolution: The only question that needs to be asked here is, "Why?"

The Playstation has seen its fair share of soccer titles. The question on most gamers' minds (especially in light of FIFA 2000) is invariably "Do we really need another?" Konami hopes we do. ISS Pro Evolution is their latest football offering, but not the last. Konami is bringing out yet another soccer title for the states in about a month with the Major League Soccer license.

So what is this title doing on the market? Good question. It is a shadow of former ISS releases, it carries no license of its own, and is at best a mediocre effort on all fronts.

Perhaps if this was the first soccer we have seen for the system, it would be passable. But there is a storied history of great soccer games on the PSX, and this one doesn't measure up well. When compared to truly superior soccer titles like the ISS offerings for the N64, Pro Evolution falls well short.

Gameplay
Since Pro Evolution does not have a license, you have the chance to guide a bunch of made-up players through a single match, league or cup. There is no World Cup here. Nay, not even an MLS Cup. Here we have the International Cup, Konami Cup, European Cup, African Cup, American Cup and Asian Cup, none of which officially exist in the world. Of course, these things could be overlooked if the game was super-fun to play. But it isn't.

ISS has previously been all about gameplay, but this time out, it seems completely forgotten. The controls are unresponsive and difficult to master.

That is, when you can assume control. Pro Evolution follows a disturbing trend in soccer games: automatic player switching. When on defense, the computer selects the player you control. It always selects the player closest to the ball, eliminating the possibility of cutting the angle to the goal with a further-off player.

That is unnerving enough, but set plays are twice as bad. There is no arrow or other directional demarcation to show where a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick is going. You just have to point the front of your player at a general area and release. This takes the advantage away from such plays, which is a sin.

The one nice feature of the control is the addition of the through pass. It allows you to pass to a cutting striker who is breaking through the line. The through pass is the only feature of other ISS titles that seemed to survive, and happily so. It is a beautiful thing.

More generally, the game feels a tad slow. After playing a session of ISS on the N64, I returned to Pro Evolution and found it lacking spunk. The players feel as if they are floating above a field of grass rather than interacting with it. It is static, not kinetic. You can manipulate the speed of the game, of course, but even on the top setting it is unimpressive.

Pro Evolution allows customization of teams and players, but it does not offer team creation or trading. You can change hair color, build, height, skin color, player number and name. A few features could have made this more comprehensive (different face shapes, for instance), but the Edit Menu is just another example of this game's lackluster attitude.

Graphics
I must say, the opening of this game is unbelievable. Beautiful animations of player movement are inter-cut with split-screen silhouettes against colorful backgrounds. Hands down, this is the best part of the game.

In fact, the graphics are uniformly good, definitely on par with the top soccer titles for the PSX. The character animations are fluid and realistic. Players are crisp and well-rendered. They are best viewed on the Zoom camera, although it is not the camera to play with.

My only gripe with the graphics is that characters have the same general look. There are relatively few discernable body types, and there's only so much you can do with mustaches and haircuts.

Sound
There is little to say about the sound, because there isn't much in the game. Outside of the general din of the crowd, there is little to speak of. The commentary is all but absent. Once in awhile, the announcer will interject to tell you a corner kick is going to happen. Thanks, buddy. As with speed, commentary can be turned on to little effect. You can also toggle player name calling on. But since these are a bunch of guys no one knows about, that is an exercise in futility.

Comments
I was excited to play this after getting into other ISS titles. Bottom line, this game was a letdown. It doesn't even begin to measure up to FIFA. It isn't even as much fun as Infogrames Striker Pro 2000. There, I've said it. Save your money for the promising MLS title coming out in a month.

--Chris Carle

Presentation
No license, no real players and a lack of zest adds up to a middling title. 5.0
Graphics
Crisp graphics are this game's saving grace. The opening cinema is one of the best in a long time. 7.0 Sound
The commentary track is scant at best and the swelling crowd noises are standard issue. 4.0 Gameplay
Kudos for the through pass, but that's about it. Controls are weak, the game plays slow and feels unnatural. 4.0
Lasting Appeal
With another soccer title coming from Konami in a month, this one won't last long. You'll want to be moving on. 3.3
OVERALL SCORE (not an average) 4.1

The ISS Realm says....
WOW.  What a lambasting!  Is he even playing the right game?  However, I would not take any credence in anything said here. It is clear the player has not even played the game enough, as first, the auto-change can be switched to manual control, and the speed can be upped significantly.  And what is he comparing it against? Has he even played ISS Pro 98?  I do recall IGNPSX giving ISS Pro 98 a good review too, and Evolution is certainly superior to that game.   There have never been arrows for set pieces in PS ISS games, and all the ISS games have had the same intuitive control lay out.  Why is it suddenly difficult?   The wait for MLS, seems weird to me, as my understanding is that it will basically be the same game but with MLS teams in it. Big deal.  Seems he has played a few games, copped a hiding, and due to his lack of understanding of the sport (slight mis-spelling of names does not mean totally fictional players), suddenly thinks the game is crap.  If they can't devote reasonable time to a game, they'd be better doing the game, and themselves, a service and not reviewing it, period. 

ESPN MLS GameNight (US version of ISS Evolution) Reviewed 17/10/00
Note, Winning Eleven 2000, is most likely the the Japanese game that MLS is derived from.

Strangely enough, a little tweaking and a license does wonders for this sim-like "futbol" game.

A couple of months ago, Konami brought ISS Pro Evolution to the States. Lacking a license and without the slick gameplay of EA's FIFA offerings (or ISS games on other platforms), the game was an enigma. Why bring out a soccer title a month before you release another licensed game… especially when it is a very similar product? You got me. But that's what Konami decided to do.

Now, we are faced with ESPN MLS Gamenight, the second part of the Konami tandem. The same problems that plagued ISS Pro Evolution are still there. After all, it is virtually the same game. However, this time the players have names you can recognize, the MLS franchise is real, and the game just feels a little different. Is it the best soccer title on the system? Definitely not. Is it better than its Pro Evolution counterpart? Yes.

Is it that the good folks at Konami had more time to tweak this game? Apparently so. Player models look a little better, the action is more fluid and the AI seems improved. But it’s the intangibles that make this one more enjoyable. In Pro Evolution, player names were fudged to approximate their international counterparts. This is what happens when you don't have the rights to such things. In Gamenight, there's something much more fulfilling about turning away a shot with Tony Meola, as opposed to an imaginary player named Tony Miata.

You might remember that I scorched the original release of ISS Pro Evolution to the tune of 5.1 (it was actually 4.1, then mysteriously changed to 5.1 a week or so later - ISS Realm). Why? Partially because I expect a lot out of soccer titles. I have been playing the game all of my life: in youth leagues, high school and through college, both outdoor and indoor. I still play today. If you fly to San Francisco, I'll be more than happy to take you on in a game of footy, either outdoors or on the living room couch, twisted-cord style. My love for the sport makes me impassioned about the video games related to it. ISS fell short of my expectations, and I slammed it. It was a moment of passion, and the game deserves another look. I stand by the fact that the lack of license made Pro Evolution weak, and that the commentary and repeat play (in the face of another title on the way) left something to be desired.

Gameplay
On the other hand, I was a bit hard on gameplay in the Pro Evolution review. This game sports the same engine and control scheme. In both titles, the controls have a slow but steady learning curve, but once you master them, they're solid and responsive. My standing complaint in the area of controls is that too much is relegated to the shoulder buttons. While it seems natural to hold down the R1 button to sprint, using L1 to change players took a lot of getting used to. But that's just me.

Changing players is still a point of controversy. Unless you are diligent about switching your players, the computer will do it for you, and often at the worst time. This can be quite unnerving on defense when you're trying to switch from a closer player to the defender who has a better angle on the ball. The computer's player selection is uneven, and may leave you in an awkward situation.

One other gripe that wasn't addressed in this version was the lack of control during set plays. While you are able to choose between several different sets on each given dead ball, there is no way to tell where the ball is going to go. Instead of an arrow (which is standard in all other soccer sims out there) to show where the ball is headed, Gamenight only permits you to point in a specific direction and let the chips fall where they may. Without some kind of meter or arrow, the best you can do is put the ball in a general direction. While this cuts down on an opponent knowing what you're going to do, it hinders you more than it helps.

Luckily, the smoothness of gameplay seems to have improved. Pro Evolution felt a bit plodding at times. It's not that the players move faster here, they just move better. The gameplay isn't halted as much by an overpowering defense or an unrealistic number of goals. In fact, the flow of the game is more fluid and the AI is, at times, very good. While in PE defenders and goaltenders were easy to smoke, the players in Gamenight hold the line much better, no matter what the difficulty is set to. On offense, players make appropriate runs and crash the posts when you expect them to. There are no wonky goals here, unless you maneuver your players way out of position.

There are several game modes available in Gamenight, and the best of these is to play through the actual 2000 MLS season. In addition to MLS play, there is the International Cup, Konami Cup, European Cup, African Cup, American Cup and Asian Cup. If you need some practice (which is a great help in getting used to the controls) there is an extensive training mode here as well.

All of the MLS teams are represented here, as well as several national squads, which have been plucked directly out of PE. While I'm happy the choices are there, the heart and soul of this game is taking a Major League Soccer team to the MLS Cup. After all, who knows how long a soccer league will hold on here? There may not be many exclusively MLS games in the coming years. Get 'em while they're hot!

Graphics
The graphics in Pro Evolution were strong and they continue here. The player models are virtually the same, although the animation sequences in Gamenight seem a bit smoother. Overall, this is one of the better looking soccer titles on the market. The reason? The realism in the animations.

The trapping and tackling animations are especially cool. If you charge a player and denude him of the ball, your player will sometimes stumble a bit as he claims the ball. On a breakaway, the player will kick the ball far in front of him as he strides to the goal. If a ball is headed over the end line, a foot trap won't cut it. If your player tries to pull a ball down like this, it will dribble off his foot over the end line. The delicacy in capturing these motions is quite good, and lends a lot to the realism of the game.

Player models are pretty crisp as well. Although there is not a lot of differentiation in face type, you can definitely tell when you're up against Carlos Valderrama (the game's cover boy), Marco Etcheverry or Roy Lassiter from their posture and body type (and of course, hair).

Sound
Another area where this game shines over Pro Evolution is in the sound category. While the on-field sounds and crowd noise are rather standard, the play by play commentary has picked up significantly. Undoubtedly this is due to ESPN's stake in the game. Perennial soccer voice Bob Ley lends his voice to the game to good effect.

If you want a Spanish announcer, tune in to the vocal stylings of Luis Tapia. This adds a great dimension to the game. Once I tuned in once to Luis, I never went back. It is just too rewarding to hear him yell "Goooooooaaaaal!" when you score. In addition, Tapia is likelier to chat during the whole match, lending even more realism to the game.

Comments
Overall, Gamenight improves on Konami's Pro Evolution title in most of the problem areas, making it a solid soccer sim for the PSX. The MLS license, coupled with the support of ESPN lend credibility and depth to the game. The added commentary and improved AI but hurt, either. The real question is, do you want to play a more simulation-style game (like this) or do you want to wait for a more arcade-style FIFA at the end of the month. In the end, it boils down to preference.

Presentation 8.0
The MLS license makes a big difference here. Personality and familiarity help to make this a superior game to Konami's ISS Pro Evolution.
Graphics 8.0
Crisp, smoothly animated players make this one of the better looking soccer titles out there.
Sound 8.5
Bob Ley and Luis Tapia (Spanish) provide modest but accurate commentary. The crowd and game sounds are pretty standard, really.
Gameplay 7.0
The controls take getting used to, but once you do are quite responsive. Set plays are still a bit hard to manage.
Lasting Appeal 7.0
Of ISS Pro Evolution and Gamenight, this is the superior game. The question you need to ask yourself: Will I still play this when FIFA comes out at the end of the month?
OVERALL SCORE (not an average) 7.9

--Chris Carle

The ISS Realm says...
Well, at least the MLS license has forced them to play it more - giving it another chance.  Unless this is indeed a US version of the Japanese WE5, then I doubt the AI would have changed that much simply for a US release, or even for a mere Olympics and minor tweakage update that WE2000 is over WE4 (Pro Evolution).  More likely, with the extra practice, they have just realised how good it is.  But come on, waiting for Fifa?  Gimme a break.  Worldwide, this game has been given the highest recommendation of almost any sports game ever. Yet here it is flawed?  I agree that the cursor change is totally unnatural, but that is a minor detail.  And the controller can be reconfigured anyway.  Most games have problems with their auto cursor control.  However, players serious about their sports games should be on manual control anyway. 

I agree with the dead ball situations too.  The lack of any arrows or indications is absurd, but again, does not really hurt the game that much.  It is interesting too how ISS games are now simulations whereas Fifa games are arcade style - a complete role reversal if it were true.  While things like no arrows may push the game more to simulation, the general easiness, yet difficulty to master, of the gameplay means very much an arcade game - but with realistic touches.  While Fifa is more arcade - and ISS-like - now than it ever was, it is still way behind the latest ISS games.  Like I have said before, the only thing you'd take from Fifa is the teams.  And with the MLS and ESPN license supposedly improving ISS Evolution like it has here, it seems that only a full international license will ever give PSX ISS the distinction it deserves in the USA.

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