PES 2017 (PS4)

I’ll start of by saying that I don’t normally write reviews but felt the need to do so in this case and wanted to put this in context. I’ve been playing football games since the Atari ST games to the modern day. Some of my favourites being Microprose Soccer, Kick Off 2, SWOS, Actua Soccer, ISS Deluxe, and of course the greats of the PES and FIFA series.Up to around 2008/9 I was hardcore PES no other game could touch it, however after this FIFA really came into its own. PES has shown glimpses of magic, but ultimately it couldn't match FIFA in a number of areas such as presentation and modes, and the gameplay just wasn’t good enough to make up the difference. Over the last couple of years however, you could see the gap closing. Last year FIFA was still my go to game, PES was good but still had a number of bad flaws – poor keepers, poor online, difficult to use option files etc.Now to this year, I downloaded both demos and spent a couple of evenings going back and forth. At first I was still FIFA. But the more I played the more I started to move towards PES – the shoot and long pass button being the other way around kept throwing me off (I changed them now) but I got over this. So I ordered PES, thinking I could always sell it if I wanted to get FIFA.But wow. I feel embarrassed even considering this. I have had more fun and excitement playing this for a day than I have with any football game for a number of years – probably since PES 5 or 6.I’ve has 4-4 thrillers, sneaky 1 – 0 wins and a few defeats along the way but the key is they are all enjoyable. When you concede you acknowledge that it’s your fault, when you score you feel like you have earnt it. No scripting, no silly situations where Gareth Mcauley (as great as he is!) is able to catch-up with De-Bruyne in full flow. The game just looks and feels right. It feels fluid, and introduces a real unpredictability into a game that FIFA just doesn’t have. For the first time since I can remember I am actually watching some of the highlights at the end of the game.The animation of the players is fantastic, and this coupled with the excellent ball physics sees ricochets, deflections and collisions looking super realistic. As a results for the first time since I can remember I am actually watching some of the highlights at the end of the game.This year its actually really simple to update the kits and badges using easily available option files, all you need is a USB stick and google. Last year it was a pain, I gave up and went back to FIFA as I a sucker for accurate kits and badges etc.The menus have also been given a revamp, while still not at FIFA’s level, they are much improved and a lot easier to use. The soundtrack is ok too.I know that a lot of people have had issues with PES online over the last few years. I have a couple last year but nothing too serious. This year I’ve only played a few games online but have had no issues, so again looks like they have improved this but I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve played a few more.Now just to make sure I wasn’t vastly over hyping the game for whatever reason, I went back to FIFA demo last night just to check. It really is night and day. FIFA feels robotic, and for the first time in ten years I won’t be buying it. I feel kind of sad, I won’t deny I have had some great times with FIFA, but it’s time to move on.I know its early days, but as I feel at the moment this may be one of the best football games ever released, maybe even one of the best games ever released. If you are in any doubt don’t be, get PES.I hope this review helps anyone who is on the fence, any questions just ask. I am playing on PS4.

I have played PES for the last few years, since the PS4 versions started - I publicly acknowledge that during the 2009 to 2014 I defected to Fifa, as at that time on the 360 it was the best footie experience out there. However PES 2016 was an exceptional experience and i gave it five stars.So PES 2017, an interesting experience, my initial view, and had I published this review would have been one star.. what had Konami done to 2016... in essence, they had tightened it up, all the areas I had learnt to play around the AI had been gently nudged, tweaked and made a little more complex to overcome.I only play the Master League, so views of other areas of the game please research other reviewers.I am now actually quite happy in a way.. I have had to drop down from top player to professional to get used to the game. It is tactically harder, and my first seven games as Ipswich (I'm not a fan of them), led to 7 nil nil draws. Even the commentary mentioned my ability to lock out.. and then I had a 1-1 games.. and then I managed a win, and by a massive 1-0... And trust me I earned that 1-0. In fact I had a few heart in mouth moments, but held on to get the win.. where as my 1-1 draw I had come from behind.. the other 0-0 games I was struggling to find a tactical formation that did what I needed with the players at my disposal... What it needed was subtle tweaks to get the best out of my players, and that is key to the game, you need to understand your players, how to develop them, what they are skilled at and where they will perform best to do what you want.. And even when you get that right, trust me I have very high percentage stats for posession, you still have to adapt as the AI will and counteract you during the game.Why not five stars - I still think it is missing something, I cannot put a finger on it, but there is definitely something just not quite there. Maybe it is missing a little je ne sais quoi.Update - Well ended my first season in the championship with Ipswich in mid-table, this has never happened before. I even drew 28 games, most of them were nil nil specialities. In fairness the commentary made a routine mention of my ability to lockout a game. On the positives I got a new contract, and have managed to buy decent players in close season - so new season first two games against ex-premier league teams.. oh and guess what two draws... a nil nil, and a one one.. Will see where the second seasons goes - begin to hope Skyrim hurries up, as it might be my saviour...Sorry Konami, something is amiss, when someone who played routinely on top player, has dropped down a level and is desperately struggling to find tactics, players and combination that allow me to score at least one goal per game, then something is a miss... I didn't score loads before, but enough to win leagues, and grind out results, now I grind out nil, nils like they are fashionable.. I wouldn't have bought a season ticket for Ipswich prior to playing Pro Evo 2017, if I did, I would sell it now on my performances.. I will update if I ever get out of the championship... If there is a massive positive, I am potentially one of the richest clubs in the league after one season and have a plus fifteen million saved for the day I get promoted.Final Update - I have finally update to five stars - why? I managed to get Ipswich promoted via the play offs after mucho tactical tinkering. Anyway, before I kicked off a game in the premier league, I studied a video by another player.. and I worked out I needed to better marry up my tactics to players owned... I changed to a 433, and at the mid point of season 1 in the premier league I am 2nd in the table, and while not routinely putting in wins, I am certainly winning more than I was losing, or drawing before.. Also my team have started to develop in to both my tactics, and my style - this does help, and my team now seem to understand how I play, and how I change my style of play.I would recommend this to anyone who really likes a chess type game of football that requires thought and not ABC ways to score and win. ala Fifa.

Started playing this soon as I got it this morning. The reason why I am giving it 3 stars because I was slightly disappointed when I noticed that Manchester united have now been put back as Man Red but it wasn't the end of the world but the main things I have noticed this year is although they changed some of the teams to having licences I have noticed the ones which now have them such as Arsenal, Liverpool they don't have their actual stadiums and with the sacrifice of Utd they no longer have Old Trafford on it neither and they no longer have licence on the Spanish League and Real Madrid don't even have a licence. The main thing what scores it low is the game play its not completely bad but I have noticed some things like with the goalkeepers I know they was supposed to be vastly improved this year but seriously every single shot from distance he saves that's not realistic and when watching things about new and improved keepers on youtube I saw game footage of that long distance shot being saved time and again and I did fear that would happen which was same as pes 14 which is the worst one they did.