Whether its NBA or NHL, the genre struggles with balancing its defensive issues, with each new iteration over-tuning some aspect of its defensive algorithm. When the AI is down, it seems to respond by becoming overly clinical.ĭespite its defensive frailties, the defending is not much worse than other sports games. On more than one occasion, a 3-0 halftime lead resulted in a 4 or 5-3 defeat after a litany of small errors. This is expected if the game wants to stay realistic, but the degree to which minor mistakes were punished seemed a little out of whack. Minor defense errors were punished far too easily, with one misplaced tackle or movement out of position often ending in a certain goal. When playing AI-controlled opponents, particularly on higher difficulties, the organization of the defense seemed too convoluted. This may be down to a lack of playing experience – football games tend to reward long-term commitment – but defending appeared as a direct contrast to attacking. PES keeps players on their toes but also rewards them with its diversity of attacks.ĭefending, however, is perhaps PES’s weakest on-field issue. In one match, an AI-controlled team can quickly change from a tiki-taka style of passing to a high-press, all to hoofing the ball upfield without any sense of artificial warning.
The range of passing given to players is unparalleled, with each holding onto their own playing style. The work put into the passing system is a marvel, with players having a multitude of choices aside from the usual options of direct-pass or through-ball. PES 2019 is the best game to pass a football in, ever. Whether it was a scrappy tap-in or a long-range screamer, each goal felt earned. In roughly 20 hours with the game, new ways of scoring and defeating unconventional defenses presented themselves. Instead of focusing on a few methods of effective play, the game rewards thinking outside the box. PES forces you to play as a real footballer would, opening up scoring opportunities and incentivizing tactical nuance. The game shines when attacking, with the title opening up more avenues of scoring than its minted-out rival. Sure, sometimes the ball bobbles in an odd way or a pass moves in the wrong direction – this is to be expected in the sports genre. That is not to say that PES lacks the odd bit of AI randomness. The series, especially PES 2019, offers unparalleled levels of player involvement on the pitch never once did I really feel like I was out of control of the action. Compared to its competitors, PES nails the essence of football. PES has a calmer, more realistic sense of play.
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2019 REVIEW SERIES
The introduction of new licenses, clubs, and stadiums has polished the series up nicely. The past few titles in the series have shown encouraging changes, with this iteration improving the series’ upward curve. To say that PES 2019 is a return to form would be hyperbole, but the title shows encouraging signs for a series that was almost lost earlier this decade. On paper, FIFA and PES seem overtly similar, but PES’s cutting edge can be defined by an old UK-gamer adage: PES is for football fans, FIFA is for kids. The last truly great PES title to release came back in 2006, leaving fans of the series’s simulation-heavy design itching for something substantial. The gap in financial backing still exists, despite the franchise’s best efforts to attract some big names and clubs to its roster. The gap in the competition was a lot closer back in the early 2000s, with PES having the better gameplay of the two, but losing out on pricey licenses and marketing.
Its major competitor, FIFA, now dominates the football market, pulling in audiences PES could only dream of having.
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2019 REVIEW PRO
Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) has always defined itself through comparison. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 on PlayStation 4
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