I'd even go as far as to call some aspects of the gameplay broken. It's rare that you'll see a player do that jarring sports video game thing of sliding into place to force an animation to meet the ball, or jerk unnaturally as he realises his atoms should be in one position over another.īut then, there's a lot that's not great about the on-pitch action in this year's PES. The fluidity of motion in this game is something else. Outside of the boot flicked through balls to overlapping full-backs, no-look crosses, deft chips, and, when players collide, realistic scraps for possession. PES 2020's player animations are a joy to behold.
This review is based on the PS4 version of the game, which we were provided with. It’s kept from perfection yet still delivers a fantastic and infinitely replayable soccer experience that demands attention.
Don’t take that as me saying that this is a bad looking game in any way, shape or form it just doesn’t have the best player faces I’ve ever seen in a sports title.Īlthough it has a couple of minor shortcomings and isn’t able to identify fouls as well as it used to, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is a definite win for armchair footballers.
Then again, PES has always been more about gameplay than graphics – at least, to me. It’s not a huge detraction, but it’s worth pointing out. There’s also solid but repetitive commentary, an upbeat licensed soundtrack which, for some reason, plays the same couple of songs ad nauseam, and even Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” which is used to pump you up during certain modes’ introduction cinematics.ĭuring close-ups, the more recognizable players tend to look pretty great, while some of the supporting cast members can suffer from lifeless looking faces. Those variations now feel more lifelike than ever before.Īs far as presentation is concerned, this year’s PES impresses and takes another step forward, despite a couple of downsides. It looks good, runs extremely well and, as mentioned above, features realistic animations and ball physics, the latter of which are a treat to watch during slow motion replays. Make sure to tool around with different weather and grass length settings, too, because you’ll really notice a difference between things like short and long grass and dry and wet weather. The UEFA, Copa Libertadores and other leagues are a great way to just enjoy the game, but customizable exhibition and online quick-matches are also good options. Of course, if you just want to play and have fun without needing to worry about transfer windows, ratings, money and the like, it’s easy to just jump into things. Hell, you can even turn unused players into trainers who can better your team through physical regimentation. Being able to specifically choose a manager based on his tactics, formation and unique methods was also appreciated, and Konami even went so far as to create a system in which players who gel with the manager’s tactics perform better on the field. I especially loved how its signing and transfer system brought to mind collecting hockey or baseball cards, with its random draw and colour-based rarity system, and found it very rewarding to see my players level up after strong performances. It feels right, and the changes that were made certainly factor in prominently. Out of the above, what impressed me most was the retooled M圜lub mode.