On It's 10th Birthday, Here Are 11 Reasons Why We Loved Pro Evolution Soccer 4

On October 15th, 2004, our lives were changed by a video game.

Pro Evolution Soccer 4 was released in Europe, and it was the best football game we had ever played.

10 years on, and the memories of that damn near perfect footy sim still vividly play over and over in our minds. Pro Evolution Soccer 2 and 3 were great games in their own right, but PES 4 was the daddy. This was the game that officially announced Konami as the King of the football video game world. At the time, playing FIFA was social suicide. If the lads came around and the PS2 was out, there was only one game that was being played... Well, apart from GTA Vice City, obviously.

To honour this milestone for a game that gave us so much, here we have 12 reasons that Pro Evolution Soccer 4 was so universally well loved.

The Intro

The All-Powerful Form Indicators

One little arrow beside a player's name was enough to rule him out of a game, or give him a surprise start. If Ronaldinho was on a down grey arrow, you couldn't play him. If Mark Viduka was on an up red arrow, the hat-trick was already scored. Do I gamble on a down blue Thierry Henry, or do I give an up green Jeremey Aliadiere the start? These were the dilemmas that kept Pro Evo enthusiasts up at night.

The Nuggets Of Footballing Wisdom From The Commentary Team

"Will this be a game of two halfs!?"
Of course it will, all football games are. The PES 4 commentary team featured Peter Brackley and Trevor Brooking, and they must have been given free reign of the recording studio and a crate of cans, because the stuff they came out with was both bizarre and brilliant. Calling basic saves "World class", comparing shots on goal to golf shots, as well as screaming people's names when in possession of the ball. It added a level of charm to the game.
"It's been a ding-dong battle between these two teams!"

The Japanese Referee

Despite Pro Evolution Soccer 3 featuring Pierluigi Collina on the cover, it was PES 4 that first saw the introduction of an on field referee and animated linesman. Finally we had someone to direct our abuse at. It turned out that the Japanese ref was by far the strictest of them all and loved nothing more than flashing his red card for the most minor offence. Still, playing a mate 8v8 because you both had 3 men sent off was a great laugh.

The Player Ability Chart

Stat comparison perfection. Would little hexagonal chart could tell you everything you needed to know about a player in one quick glance. The sharp upward arrow of the likes of David Bellion who were nothing but pace. The big wide graph of your centre back who couldn't move but read the game like it was a novel. No better system has since been seen, and FIFA 15 even stole the idea to put in their new game, which goes to show how great it is.

That Irresistible AC Milan Team

Dida at the back, safe as houses. Cafu, Nesta, Stam, and Maldini could honestly be the back four of an all-time World XI. The perfect balace in midfield, with Gattuso sweeping up, Pirlo and Seedorf conducting in the middle, and Kaka supporting the attack. Finally, the lethal strike due that was Shevchenko and Crespo, both of whom could do everything you needed from a striker. Amazing.

Master League

What more can be said about the greatest game mode of all time? Master League captured the heart, mind, and soul of everyone who started out a career with that loveable bunch of misfits who could barely kick a ball. Bargains were to be had, Lee Carsley was suddenly Roy Keane, wages had to be managed, kits were designed (often with horrific results), promotion to the newly formed Euro League, featuring all the best teams in the world which you hand picked at the beginning, was the be all and end all. Hours passed, months passed, in-game years passed, and there we were nurturing a re-generated 16 year old Pele into the next legend of the game.

Free Kicks

The Hilarious Unofficial Team Names

Before PES 4, all Pro Evolution Soccer games featured unlicensed teams, and it was what PES became known for. But the introduction of La Liga and Serie A teams in official gear was a big boost for Konami in PES 4. The Premier League licencing was more elusive, and as a result, we fondly remember laughing as Man Red, Merseyside Red, and North London challenged for the title, while West Midlands Village, Lancashire, and best of all, Crisisbless (Crystal Palace) battled it out at the bottom.

The Fake Shots

Charge up the shoot bar then press X, and watch as your player dummied his man and flew off into space. The fake shot was a devastating move in PES 4, so much so that the likes of Ronaldinho could cover the entire pitch with the ball just by fake shooting.

The Mythical Creature That Was Adriano

See also: The Pro Evo Master League Default Players, Where Are They Now?

Ranking The All-Time Top 5 Players To Use In Pro Evolution Soccer