. Released during a pivotal era for sports gaming, it wasn't just another annual update—it was the moment Konami tried to plant its flag in the "next-gen" ground after a rocky transition the year prior. The Debut of the Champions League
Licensing was always the Achilles' heel of the Pro Evolution Soccer series, and PES 2009 was no exception. While the inclusion of the UEFA Champions League, the French Ligue 1, the Dutch Eredivisie, and fully licensed Italian Serie A teams provided a strong foundation, other leagues remained fragmented.
: The Nintendo Wii version utilized a unique control system where players could use the Wii Remote to control teammates' movements while dribbling. Platform Availability The game was released for a wide variety of systems: Consoles : PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. Handhelds : PlayStation Portable (PSP). Other : PC and mobile. Legacy and Modern Status Successor : It was succeeded by PES 2010 . pro evolution soccer 2009 pes 2009
One of the biggest additions to was the introduction of the "Become a Legend" mode. This mode allowed players to create a single player and control only them throughout their career, starting from lower leagues and aiming to become a global superstar.
PES 2009 showcased vastly different experiences depending on the hardware: While the inclusion of the UEFA Champions League,
The year 2008 was the turning point in the console war. FIFA 09 was universally lauded as a masterpiece. Most outlets called FIFA 09 the more complete game due to its fluidity and licenses. Eurogamer noted that PES 2009 still played great thanks to "nips and tucks," but lacked the fluency of EA's title.
While the series later rebranded to eFootball in 2020/2021—a move that received mixed to negative reviews— remains a shining example of when the franchise was at its peak in terms of pure, enjoyable gameplay. Key Features Summary Description Release Year Cover Star Lionel Messi Signature Mode Become a Legend Exclusive License UEFA Champions League Handhelds : PlayStation Portable (PSP)
The official PES 2009 Wikipedia page noted that the Edit Mode was restored to "its former glory". This flexibility meant that while FIFA 09 looked better, PES 2009 on PC could be customized better.