Each season, players get their hands on the latest soccer games. The only decision fans have to make is which franchise they want to choose. After all, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer has a fierce rival in EA’s FIFA series.
While EA has enjoyed the lion’s share of success, Konami has recently closed the gap. So much so that PES is now seen as a viable alternative to many soccer fans around the world.
The question is: Does Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 finally turn the scales in Konami’s favor?
Game
Sports games live and die almost completely on their gameplay. Gamers can forgive poor graphics, but they won’t put up with sloppy and unpleasant gameplay.
Fortunately, PES 2018 didn’t have to take a huge step forward. Konami had already laid the foundation in the latest iterations of the series. So, their work may instead focus on refining gameplay and improving areas that fans still find lacking.
With no story mode to speak of (unlike FIFA’s The Journey), PES 2018 is all about football. The game feels as fluid and realistic as ever. Dribbling has seen a huge improvement and the passes now have a real sense of weight.
This also helps with the new Real Touch + system. A player’s control of the ball will depend on where the first touch occurs and how hard the ball was hit. Most satisfying, though, is that people now feel unique on the pitch. Each has their own characteristics that actually shine.
There are only two real complaints with the gameplay and they both focus on the defensive side of the game. Defenders often have a hard time staying in position. They also suffer from slow reaction times, taking a moment to recover from a loss in possession. It’s almost like they have a built-in delay when the offense suddenly switches to defense.
Goalkeepers also suffer from some of the inconsistencies that have plagued the latest entrants to the series. Expect them to do breathtaking saves one minute and then let in an absolute scream the next.
The end result of both of these problems is a lot of frustration. Although there isn’t enough irritation to ruin the rest of the experience.
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