Medicalletter.com Review:
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- vince - The King is Back!I wanted to wait and play the game before I gave a proper review. Let me start by saying this game is great in the ways that are important for a videogame. The gameplay is awesome. The passing and shooting and most importantly; the AI. Konami boasted about the AI as being the most important feature worked on for this iteration and I must add, they did not lie. The AI for both your teammates and the opponent are incredible. Your players make runs when you have the ball and stay in a solid formation when on the defensive. It just makes playing the game a pure pleasure and you are no longer yelling at your virtual teammates. If you do feel the need to make your players make more varied runs, Konami have added the feature to take control of two players at the same time. It's difficult to get to grips with, but once mastered, it adds a huge dimension to your game.
Playing against the AI is in a whole other league as well. I consider myself a seasoned PES player and I always begin the game on Top Player level because in the past, I've found the AI too easy on any other level. I did the same this year but I was constantly getting beat so I have lowered the level to Professional. It's still difficult to win. They have added an unlockable "Superstar" level this year and I can only imagine how difficult that will be to win consistently. The AI is tough but not in a frustrating way, it's been done in a realistic way. Each team you play doesn't play the same way, so it's like playing against another person. Which leads me into another great feature in PES. Individuality of both players and teams. Konami always pays attention to the details of each and every player playing differently than another. But, this year it's even more pronounced, maybe due to the AI advances this year. Bottom line is that playing Barcelona on PES is like playing Barcelona in real life. They pass the ball around and maintain possession throughout and you have to beat them on the counter when you get the chance. It's very challenging.
Now onto the negatives. I think the graphics have taken a step back from last year a bit. It's not such a bad thing but you do usually expect the graphics to get a bit sharper each year rather than regress. Maybe it has something to do with the tragedy in Japan this last year, not sure. I also have to say that the atmosphere in the stadiums and the commentary are dour to say the least. This is something that has plagued PES for years so I don't know why I am even mentioning it to be honest. I hope that Konami can put forth a little focus on these issues for next year because I feel it would add so much more to the experience. It can be done too as FIFA have nailed it pretty well. I also think that the animations are still lacking and stuck in the PS2 days. They're not terrible but they are behind the competition. These are the biggest negatives I can think of at this time but maybe I need to play the game longer to find more flaws. But so far, I have played this game non stop since 9/27/2011. It's that fun.
If Konami make PES 2012 the base for their future iterations, I think that PES will take back the crown from FIFA. PES lacks all the glitz that FIFA has, but PES represents football more realistically on the virtual pitch. Most importantly, PES is fun to play and that will always make me come back. Well done Konami!
P.S.
I also wanted to mention that Amazon saved me on this purchase. I initially (ignorantly) pre-ordered this game from Best Buy. I then checked on the status, the day before release, and found out that it was backordered! Backordered? How can a pre-order be backordered? So, I canceled from Best Buy and ordered it from Amazon and received it on release. Kudos to Amazon. I will always order from Amazon if I buy a game online. Thanks again Amazon! - Golfing Fool - I am just starting week 3; may upgrade/downgrade review after 28 days/See my update; I upgraded to 5 starsI have a friend who didn't even look overweight who lost 20 lbs in 6 weeks on this - now she is very thin. So I decided to give it a shot. I lost 7 lbs week one --- that is just about what somebody might lose on a total fast in 1 week. That's amazing. Week 2 - only 2 lbs.
I was going to wait and write this review after 28 days (which I will need to continue to repeat). But too many people are giving up before even trying it. The diet is very complicated on week 1 --- Week 2 gets easier to prepare/plan for as you get to know the plan; By week 3, you are really getting to know the plan and it is much easier.
I equate this to changing up your exercise to confuse your muscles. Pretty much same concept. The fact that you eat so much on FRI/SAT/SUN helps this not be water weight. I am not a nutrionist but some of the things she says don't make any sense. You can have rasberries/blueberries/blackberries but no strawberries on Phase 3? Doesn't make any sense so I eat strawberries. I have watched her video stating that she has reasons for leaving off certain foods in certain phases because of "micro nutrients" but I don't buy all of it. What you can't have broccoli in phase 2/3 but you're counting celery as a vegetable which basically has NO nutrients? Makes no sense. On her blog, the author has admitted to some mistakes in the book (portions for those who need to lose >20 lbs. is an example). I think she doesn't want to admit to more.
That said, I follow the plan - almost exactly except in instances like the strawberry, broccoli.... I find it amazing to lose 7 lbs in one week. Has not happened in 20 years EVEN when I was on Medifast a few years ago.
If you don't have the book, this review won't make much sense. I was compelled to write, if you do have the book, give it a chance.
I will update after 28 days.
UPDATE:: DAY 29 - I made it and lost 15 lbs! I kept a Medifast journal 5 years ago and it took me 6 weeks to lose that much and I was heavier then. That is a high end low carb diet of about 800-1000 calories daily. This is much more than that (except Phase 2 which is about 800 calories).
I take the author's overall concept and phases mostly literally. However, I sometimes use common sense and have brocolli and strawberries in phase 3. I do cheat and have 2 cups coffe a day. That's all I really cheated with. It is expensive but as one of my friend's say: Pay the farmer now or the doctor later.
I have never felt healthier and don't have any cravings though I do miss my wine.... - Sischelle "sischelle" - I am crying!!!!This book has given me so many emotions. It is so thought provoking and enlightening!! You find yourself in a little of each of the characters and you are cheering for all of them. Such a wonderful story of pain, faith, self determination,acceptance, perseverance and family! i forgot how much I loved reading and especially Teri's books. BRAVO
- Madeleine B. - Because Sissies "Avoid."The Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable is perfect for anyone who is sick and tired of being pushed around by huge ships.
If you've ever left the harbor with butterflies in your stern drive, windlass all clenched up, hoping against hope that when a huge ship appears out of nowhere, you'll be able to remember what you're supposed to do to avoid it, this is the nautical phylactery for you. The Denon AKDL1 Dedicated Link Cable instantly vaporizes all huge ships (Panamax classification and up--WARNING: will not work on Aframax, Handymax or smaller!!!).
No contact with the huge ship is required, all you have to do is lift the high purity copper wire cable high over your head, point one of the rounded plug levers in the general direction of the huge ship, and emit a long steady howl of warning, followed by a primal shriek of vindication. The huge ship will first become kind of fuzzy around the edges, then quickly develop a wavy-ish patina, and finally just vanish into thin air. The whole process only takes about seven seconds. I have done this myself five times and am happy to report 100% success!
Some reviewers are critical of the high price of these Dedicated Link Cables. Yes, at $9,999.00 each, the Denon AKDL1 is admittedly an investment, but think of it this way: confidence, courage, not having to go without lunch because some huge ship took your $5.50--what price would you put on these?
Highly recommend!