Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

Ever since Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer franchise came into existance it has been overshadowed by EA Sports' FIFA games.  2011 marks a new year for both games and while FIFA gets a better grade overall PES 2011 proves to be an improving product and is a good alternative to the EA Sports title.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is closer to an arcade soccer video game when compared to the near-sim that FIFA is and honestly this is fine for now.  It should be noted, though, that should Konami really want to make a good attempt at unseating the champ they should look more towards the simulation side of the coin.  What it all boils down to for PES, though is a fairly exciting fast-paced soccer game.
PES 2011's graphics are quite good with a high level of detail on the players themselves.  There are some inconsistancies, however, as many of the game's named superstars look very much like their real-life counterparts while at the same time the lesser-known players look as generic as generic can be.  The stadiums and pitches also look quite nice though sometimes it feels as if they could have used a few more touches of details here and there.  The game's audio falls within the expected paramaters for a sports title.  The commentators are present throught each match, book-ending them with a TV-style intro and summary.  They are also, as expected for a soccer game, quite British.
Gameplay and controls are often times the make-it-or-break-it for sports titles and they've been a bit of a weak point for the PES series.  Luckily, they've been improved upon for 2011's edition.  Players now have 360-degree control over their players and both making passes and taking shots on goal are controled not only by where the player is facing but also by how long the button is pressed.  A quick tap of the button constitutes a softer pass or shot whereas a longer button press adds power.  It's not perfect but it gives the player more control even if sometimes things seem to get a little out of control.  The ball physics aren't quite there so some of these new control features don't always yield the desired or expected results but it's still a major step in the right direction.
Similar to the My Player game modes found in the current 2K Sports titles, PES 2011 has what Konami calls Become a Legend'.  For those who've played any 2K Sports titles since last year will feel very at home in this mode though there are some enhancements that PES has that the 2K games don't.  After creating your player (which you get a lot of control over) and choosing your basic stats you go into contract with a team with the goal to become a professional soccer legend.
As you play you'll gain experience points that are put towards your player's skills and attributes.  Become a Legend, though, isn't only about your performance because it also takes into account the business side of the game by allowing you to fire/hire agents and hopefully get yourself playing for a team in one of the major soccer leagues.
While on the topic of soccer leagues, this is one section where PES really comes up lacking -- especially when compared to FIFA.  Simply put, the variety just isn't there.  This is especially true for American gamers and soccer fans.  There is exacly one team from the States available in the game:  a slightly weak Team USA.  No MLS teams in sight.  There are teams from other leagues and there is also a good assortment of international/country-specific teams but the lack of licenced teams from certain leagues is a major drawback.
While Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 comes up short when compared to FIFA 11, it needs to be noted that these games differ enough in features and play style to say that they can be considered two different gaming options.  If you're more of a simulation sports gamer then FIFA is yet again the game to play, but if having a faster-paced game that plays slightly more like an arcade title than a sim then PES 2011 should be the game of choice.