Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 Review

Every season, gamers get their hands on the latest soccer games. The only decision fans have to make is what franchise they want to go for. 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, in recent times Konami has 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 tip the scales in Konami’s favor?

Gameplay

Sports games live and die almost completely on their gameplay. Players can forgive poor graphics, but will not put up with sloppy, unenjoyable gameplay.

Fortunately, PES 2018 did not have to take a massive step forward. Konami had already laid the groundwork in the last few iterations of the series. So, their work could instead focus on refining the gameplay and making improvements to areas that fans still find lacking.

With no story mode to speak of (unlike FIFA’s The Journey), PES 2018 is all about the football. The game feels as fluid and realistic as ever. Dribbling has seen a huge improvement and passes now have a genuine sense of weight to them.

This helps with the new Real Touch+ system as well. A player’s control of the ball will depend on where their first touch occurs and how hard the ball was hit. What is most satisfying, though, is that individuals now feel unique on the pitch. Each has their own characteristics that actually shine through.

There are only two real complaints with the gameplay and these 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 is almost as if they have an in-built delay when attack suddenly switches to defense.

Goalkeepers too suffer from some of the inconsistency that has plagued the last few entries in the series. Expect them to make breathtaking saves one minute and then let in an absolute howler the next.

The end result of both of these issues is a lot of frustration. Although, there isn’t enough irritation to ruin the rest of the experience.