Konami confirm PES 2013 as FIFA rivalry resumes

Konami have placed the emphasis squarely on control when its PES 2013 title returns to do battle once more with FIFA 13 this autumn.

With Cristiano Ronaldo fronting up the series ‘a player who embodies the skill and grace of top level football’ according to the official press release, PES 2013 places its focus on the individual skills of the world’s best players, handing the player ‘total freedom’.

For the first time full control over shots will be available as Konami look to create the most faithful recreation of modern day football to date. Elsewhere new animations are said to ‘match the running motions, abilities and playing styles’ of players’ real-life counterparts.

‘This is an exciting time to be part of the PES community, and PES 2013 marks a new level of playability with the return to our key ethos of utter control and freedom,’ commented Jon Murphy, European PES Team Leader. ‘Football is all about making magic happen with skill and precision, and PES 2013 truly encapsulates this. Fresh faces within the development team and some very exciting ideas will breathe new life into the PES series, and we look forward to showing what we can do in the coming months.’

Apparently three key elements form the basis of PES 2013’s innovations: PES FullControl, Player ID, and ProActive AI:

PES FullControl (PES FC) offers total freedom over ball control, subtle ways to receive the ball – from traps, gently lifting it past an attacker to run on to or a variety of other moves – while fully manual passing and, for the first time ever, manual shooting give the player control over exactly where the ball is placed.

Player ID meanwhile places focus on the individual elements and movements that each player boasts so that the best players will be instantly recognisable with signature attributes.

Finally, ProActive AI seeks to ensure that players respond and find space as befits those at the top of their game as the developer look to ‘eradicate any illogical elements to the way players move and run’ in PES 2013. Greater organisation as teams track back or pelt forward also promises to set a harder to beat defensive line while allowing for quicker counters as goalkeepers also benefit, seeking to clear their lines more effectively and making better decisions.

PES 2013 will also boast ‘better connectivity and atmosphere’ with the myPES application connecting Facebook-using PES fans, while the game’s audio effects are being tied closer to the on-field action – expect crowds to react accordingly when Cristiano throws himself to the ground in “agony” then.

It’s slated for autumn 2012 across PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP, 3DS and Wii. Expect to hear more once we’ve had chance to dribble it around some orange cones.