For more on Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, check out our full Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 review. Or, for more of the best Xbox 360 games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Nestled somewhere between FIFA on the Wii, and FIFA on the 360 on the realism stakes, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 offers a fun, yet authentic footballing experience that, while it doesn't have the licensed kits and official team names that FIFA games offer, provides a lot of footballing fun nonetheless.
If you've got a child who wants to move on from the more arcadey charms of FIFA on the Wii, then PES 2012 may be the right game for you. Although some children may be disappointed at the lack of officially licensed teams, meaning rather than Chelsea, you'll be playing as London FC, for example, things can quickly be fixed with a trip to the edit menu - and the players all already have the right team names regardless.
With a fairly complex control scheme, this certainly isn't as easy for young kids to pick up as something like FIFA on the Wii, meaning they'll need to be fairly well versed with a 360 or PS3 controller to be able to play well. The difficulty level, too, doesn't scale back quite enough to cater to some younger players, as it gives us a run for our money on Beginner - maybe we're just getting old.
Similarly, a lot of the game's geared towards older players, with the footballing life mode specifically combining a confusing menu with micromanagement of a football team, which is bound to leave some younger players baffled. Thankfully, that's just one mode, and the League/Cup mode lets you play through entire seasons as a team of your choosing without the faffery. There's also no need to worry about buying the game second hand, as the game has no online pass, and there's no risk of the game's servers being turned off after just a few years, meaning you'll be able to continue playing for years to come!
This being a football game, there's nothing here for parents to be concerned about. There's no violence, gore, or swearing, and there's arguably less aggression than in the real thing!
With full support for four players on the same console, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 lets the entire family play together - although it does get rather awkward from time to time to keep track of exactly which player you are, and where you are. A more obvious player-tagging system is needed for family fun!
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Xbox 360
