PES scores one on Fifa
HERE’S THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY THAT IS PART OF PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2017
Pro Evolution Soccer has been building upon its strengths for the past few years and it has all come together in
PES 2017. It signifies a monumental change in how the series and the football sim genre will be perceived and analysed in the coming years. PES 2017 shines in its core gameplay, which is better than any football game ever made.
The first thing you will notice is the greatly improved offensive and defensive AI. Players make smarter runs inside the box and defenders hold their position effectively. No player will make a mistake unless you screw up, and that might just be the key difference between the two football sims. While FIFA tries to recreate the drama of real world football, PES treats it more like a video game. Every decision is yours and that’s the only input that matters. You never feel like you were cheated out of a win. Thankfully, this is particularly true for the goalkeepers as unforeseen errors have become a rarity. Its harder to score goals but its also harder to concede. Action on the pitch involves methodical breakdown of the opponent’s defence while carefully utilising the faster players. Scoring goals is more about getting in the right position instead of randomly shooting and hoping for the best. There are no loopholes to exploit, which makes every goal equally rewarding. Figuring out and refining all the different tactical options available is immediately satisfying as the game quickly adjusts to your new instructions.
While PES does not have the licences for a majority of the famous clubs, it does have the rights to showcase faithful representations of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.
But I do wish it had more game modes as the usual selection of Master League, MyClub and Become a Legend is getting boring. While the tech and presentation will probably be an issue for the foreseeable future, the commentary has barely seen any improvement. The familiar voices of Jim Beglin and Peter Drury sound too robotic. There is no flow in their conversations and the lines repeat too often.
What PES lacks in tech, it more than makes up for it in the gameplay. It’s more tactical and less scripted compared to FIFA. While the age old licencing and presentation problems still drag it back, the feeling of playing football has been masterfully recreated in Pro Evolution Soccer 2017.
8.5 OVERALL