Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

 Xbox 360
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
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  1. WonderwallWeb
    94
    Last year was obviously a blip because Pro Evolution Soccer is now back and it is better than ever. The best football game on the market, but only just.
  2. Cynamite
    90
    The fall of the King! Although PES 2009 is better than its predecessor, it loses the duel against an extremely strong FIFA 09.
  3. IGN UK
    85
    For all its problems off the pitch, there’s no doubting that PES 2009 is the most fun football game on the market.
  5. Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
    85
    In this effort to regain the title, PES plays it safe and recovers the classic gameplay that conquered the players in the last decade. But while it can be enough to hold on the fans, the reused formula and the comeback of the same old flaws can be a growing problem for the future. [Oct 2008]
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  6. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    85
    It's still great, though it could (and should) have been so much better. [Christmas 2008, p.60]
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  7. Game Informer
    85
    While this game plays better on the pitch because AI teammates are smarter at taking runs, distributing the ball, and springing others with through balls, it lags behind FIFA in its feedback to the player and the fact that it has a better sim feature while you are on the bench.
  8. Gameplanet
    85
    Putting aside the disappointments of PES 2009, on the pitch, the game is still the most realistic football sim on the market. I don’t believe the PES franchise is getting any worse, rather that EA’s FIFA franchise is barking at its heels and surpassing it in some areas.
  9. Vandal
    85
    It is not the best simulation, but it's as entertainment as few games, and a good challenger that we could say arrives one year late. But football fans can be happy: this year we can choose without missing.
  10. Total Video Games
    80
    PES makes changes to its formula that aren't particularly welcome for the most part and, while the Become A Legend mode has potential, the general gameplay has taken a downturn.
  11. Xbox World Australia
    79
    On the other hand Konami have seemed to rest on their laurels, and for possibly the first time have dropped the ball and seen FIFA take the win.
  12. TeamXbox
    76
    Pick up Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 if you are a huge fan of the series or need a fresh football fix. Everyone else would be better off snatching up a used copy of "FIFA 09" from the preowned rack.
  13. GameTrailers
    76
    The more players demand by way of stats, management options, and formation flexibility, the more this franchise gets left behind. Having a limited selection of real teams playing in a fabricated league just doesn’t cut it anymore. The gameplay remains as a solid foundation, but that can only take a game so far.
  14. Gameplayer
    75
    Outside of the new “Be A Legend” mode, there’s very little reason here for existing PES owners to upgrade. "PES5" on PS2 is still the pinnacle of the series.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
48
#48 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
86
#86 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

User Reviews

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User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 79
  3. Negative: 16 out of 79
  1. IamNader
    May 14, 2023
    7
    Graphics are looks better than PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 but it is not as good as it - 7/10
  2. AdamWilkin
    May 21, 2009
    9
    A definite improvement over PES2008 and still better than Fifa but only just. It is let down a little by people with dodgy connections onlineA definite improvement over PES2008 and still better than Fifa but only just. It is let down a little by people with dodgy connections online which ruin the game but all the other modes a better than ever. The Master League is miles better than anything on the Fifa games… Full Review »
  3. JimmyD.
    Nov 26, 2008
    8
    Yeah - small dev team - less improvements every year - it's taken 3 years to get (almost - but not all) the features of PES5 to nextgen Yeah - small dev team - less improvements every year - it's taken 3 years to get (almost - but not all) the features of PES5 to nextgen systems. But the gameplay is still king. For all its modes and features - FIFA09 still feels like slow PES on the pitch. My yardstick every year is trying out the FIFA and PES demos with my (offline) friends - and seeing what they think - seeing as I usually spend half my gametime on PES playing friends when they visit. Half my friends didn't want to play the second half of a FIFA09 match. Yes - it's flawed. Yes - these reviews should give Seabass a kick in the pants. But - for me - the fluid, rewarding gameplay is still there. And Liverpool FC!… Full Review »
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