Platforms: Xbox One (Reviewed), Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC
Dare we call it a comeback? After years of digital football supremacy that peaked with the PlayStation2, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series of games fell by the wayside and lost traction to its competitor, Electronic Arts' FIFA series. Recent entries, however, showed a positive shift for Konami, resulting in high sales numbers with review scores to match for last year's revamped title PES16. This year's edition, Pro Evolution Soccer 17, continues the series' improvement into a serious contender for gamers' wallets and time.
The Devil In The Details
This year's slogan is "Control Reality" – an entirely appropriate one thanks to tight controls coupled with improved, detailed graphics that will leave gamers feeling as if they really are controlling reality. Improvements in both sections of the game come from the PES development team's newfound acquaintance with Konami's proprietary FOX engine. The team used the engine to develop last year's title, PES16, but were unable to utilize it to its full potential.
"Some of the features from the past engine were modified within our production team," explained Assistant Producer Junichi Taya via translator Akane Oyagi in an interview in June. "However, until last year, we had some difficulties because we had to make new features from scratch based on the Fox engine."
The game's graphics don't immediately jump out during gameplay. In-game replays and opening match in-game cinematics, however, reveal the devil in the details. Player’s heads and faces sweat realistically, player's jerseys stick to their body after being drenched in the rain, and the various animations, whether in tackles or celebrations, are wonderful. Licensed teams obviously are a cut above non-licensed teams, thanks to having all their players scanned from head-to-toe.
Everyone’s An Expert
But what good is a football game that looks pretty but plays terribly? Thankfully, footie fans won't get the answer to that question in PES17, which plays like an absolute dream. Passing remains razor-sharp (unless you're controlling a traffic cone from a lower division team, of course) and the new one-touch system works like a charm.
The production team also made some controls contextual depending on a specific character's skill level. I had no problem pulling off skill moves and fancy dribbles with Lionel Messi, or scoring absolute screamers with Luis Suarez. Other moves are easier to pull off as they no longer require numerous flicks on both directional sticks or button-presses.
As Oyagi also explained in the previous interviews, this was simplified "(f)or these beginners and casual gamers...to create that element of surprise or something that they didn't really expect but they can easily understand the context of how it's brought into the flow of the game because, in the past, experienced players had to remember all these control combinations...but now with the whole situation of the player's posture, the direction of the ball, the outcome is determined in various ways."
Hits and Misses
PES17 includes game modes from the previous installments such as Exhibition Matches, Online Seasons, Master League (a managerial career mode), and the fantasy draft mode MyClub. The game modes are mostly unchanged from last year's edition, with a few tweaks here and there. Master League's transfer mode, for example, now works with an hourly countdown clock on the final transfer day.
What this year's edition is missing are the South American tournaments. The Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana were not included in this year's title. It's a true shame considering how many licenses for South American teams and leagues Konami obtained for PES17. The 20-team Brazilian Football Confederation is fully licensed for the game and includes a number of the country's world-famous stadiums such as the Estádio do Maracanã and the Estádio do Mineirão. All 16 teams from Chile's Primera Division first division league are also included, as are all 30 teams from Argentina's Primera A first division league.
Catalan club FC Barcelona get the best licensing treatment thanks to an exclusive contract with Konami. The team's home stadium, Camp Nou, is a fantastic digital recreation that will make every fan feel right at home. Other licensed Euro-based clubs include Arsenal, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, and Bayer Leverkusen.