Cristiano Ronaldo leads PES 2012 attack

PES 2012 is released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC on October 14, and KONAMI today announced that the PSP and PlayStation 2 versions will follow on October 28 with the Wii game to follow on November 4. The publisher has also confirmed that versions for Nintendo 3DS and iOS formats are also in development, with firm dates to follow.

The announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo will be the face of PES 2012 comes as anticipation for the football title hits new heights. Press acclaim for the game has been universally positive, with the key additions of Teammate Control – wherein players can prompt runs or control two players at once – and the Active AI system that ensures teammates work to create space and make key attacking and defensive runs winning wide-ranging plaudits from the media.

“Cristiano Ronaldo embodies everything we are trying to achieve with PES 2012,” commented Jon Murphy, European PES Team Leader. “He is quick, skilful, with an eye for a pass, and devastating in attack. His movement and energy brighten any game, and we are delighted that he has agreed to work with us in the pivotal title in the PES series.”

“I have long admired the PES series, but what KONAMI has achieved this year is remarkable,” Ronaldo enthused. “Football is all about teams working together and making assists and runs that create attacking opportunities. KONAMI has recreated this perfectly, and PES 2012 is a brilliant simulation of a real match. If you know football, you are going to want to spend some time with this amazing game.”

PES 2012 will feature prominently for KONAMI at gamescom, and the publishers has produced a bespoke demo version for players to experience. The demo will allow users to try out a wide range of the game’s licensed clubs, with a strong mix of club and national teams faithfully recreated. KONAMI is keen to show the individuality each team offers in PES 2012, hence the full list of clubs playable at gamescom is as follows:

National: England, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany

Clubs: Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, Villareal, Lille, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Stade Rennais FC, Ajax, FC Twente, PSV, AZ, FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting, Bayern Munich, Leverkusen, Santos, Peñarol, Club Atlético Vélez, Club Cerro Porteño.

Gamescom will also introduce visitors to key new modes within PES 2012. Football Life showcases the different career paths in the sport, and allows users to experience a career as a player, manager or owner. It is an umbrella title spanning the popular Master League and Become a Legend modes, both of which have been enhanced for the new game, but also the all-new unlockable Club Boss mode, where you steer a club fiscally.

The Training Challenges will also be on show, allowing users to refine their set-piece skills and to get to grips with the possibilities afforded by the new Teammate Control system. KONAMI will also use the show to outline key advances in PES 2012’s online elements, with the welcome return of Master League Online, plus a series of exciting community elements designed to play up the competitive natures of the series. The new personal data system which allows players to save preferred option lists, control elements and an avatar will also be shown.

“PES 2012 is the most completed football game to date and gamescom will give us a chance to show the many advances to everyone attending the show,” commented Murphy. “We look forward to seeing people get to grips with all it offers and will be watching closely to see how the many new elements are received.”