Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 Review – Xbox One

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TSC Gaming’s Fred Richani reviews Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 from Konami on Xbox One!

About This Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 (also available on PS4 and PC), featuring even more PES content than last year such as 3-on-3 co-op and enhanced football gameplay! But how does this PES 2018 stack up to the critically-acclaimed versions of recent years? Find out in our in-depth PES 2018 game review!

Disclosure: TSC Gaming was provided a free PES 2018 code by Konami for the purpose of this review.

Written Review

What’s up everybody? This is Fred Richani of TSC Gaming here to give you my thoughts on Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, available on Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. We reviewed the Xbox One version. Konami’s annual football game returns with more content than ever and an enhanced playing experience, but PES also returns with the same issues that have plagued FIFA’s rival over the years.

Let’s get to the good stuff first. The graphics are still some of the nicest you’ll get on Xbox One. Konami has clearly stepped up the pregame presentation, and replays and highlight reels are always fun to watch. In terms of frame rate, knock on wood, I’ve had zero issues so far. The gameplay is once again quite enjoyable once you get the hang of it. I’m by no means a hardcore soccer fan, but I love the beauty and nuances of the real-life game, and what many call the beautiful game is brought to life here. Compared to previous PES games, the gameplay felt a bit slower-paced and more responsive to player actions, especially headers and defensive plays. At times there might be a bit too much emphasis on defense; nothing too crazy, but I sure do love to score some goals. If you’re new or haven’t played in a while, I strongly suggest the helpful tutorials. Even if you have, you might learn a trick or two.

On to the options. PES has more than enough for any sports gamer; in fact, you might get overwhelmed as a newbie by the depth of Master League and MyClub. Master League returns, letting you take a club to the promised land as manager or suffer the consequences from ownership. You can name and customize your manager’s look. In terms of customizing coaches and characters in sports games, it’s a step above Madden but below NBA Live and NBA 2K. Some see face scanning as gimmicky, but sports gamers have grown accustomed to it, and it would have been nice to have it in the game or via a mobile app. How you play Master League is up to you: start with renegotiations and transfers, or advance the calendar to play actual matches. Being a Neymar fan, I had to make sure my dude got in the right uniform before anything else. If you’re a fan of Football Manager or want to know what it’s like to run a club, this mode is for you.

Outside of the lack of face scanning, there’s one aspect I don’t like that’s consistent throughout the entire game: the menus. No offense to Konami, but they look more PS2 or original Xbox style than 2017. So much reading, so many prompts, one after another. I was a journalism major, so I have no problem reading, but even my eyes grew tired. I’ll compare PES to Madden again: when you play Madden for the first time, you get prompts, but also a friendly, helpful narrator who walks you through everything. I realize mainly soccer fans play this game, but it helps to make things as user-friendly as possible, especially for new gamers. Not everyone will understand the intricacies of the in-depth transfer system, or that MyClub is pretty similar to EA Sports’ Ultimate Team. The interface isn’t a deal breaker, but it can be the difference between somebody choosing PES or FIFA for their first soccer gaming experience.

MyClub lets you put together a team that earns points and various unlockables, similar to Madden Ultimate Team, playing against the computer or online. I’m not the biggest MyClub or Ultimate Team person, but I can see the appeal. New to PES online is three-on-three co-op, where you and random gamers or friends team up against online competition based on skill level. It’s a whole lot of fun and can get out of hand real fast if you and your teammates aren’t on the same page. It’s a welcome addition to a game already stacked with options, and we’ve run into no server issues so far in any online mode. Much like previous versions, PES boasts several leagues and playable tournaments, such as UEFA, against the computer or online. As with many sports games, there’s a large disparity in competition depending on skill level, so play a few exhibition games to see where you’re at before going all in. Next year, I’d like to see options like NBA Live’s this year, where you can choose an arcade, simulation or competitive gameplay experience. I’m not a huge soccer fan, so the lack of club rights, such as Manchester United being cleverly substituted with Manchester Red, doesn’t bother me as much as it probably does hardcore fans. Then again, I’m a Messi and Neymar fan, and both are prominently featured, so I can’t complain.

So what’s the verdict? Content-wise, I give PES a 9. As every year, I can see some gamers being unhappy with Konami not having the rights to certain clubs and opting for the more widely played FIFA, at least here in the United States. But there are so many clubs and game modes that it’ll keep casual and hardcore soccer fans busy for quite some time, and you’d better believe the updates will keep coming into 2018. Hopefully that includes the commentary, which is pretty good but sounds like they’ve been using the same track since 2015. Graphically, I give PES an 8.5. I wouldn’t put it on the level of Forza or Ryse: Son of Rome aesthetically, but it’s a very nice-looking game with a tremendous sports presentation. No frame rate issues for me, though I’d like to see a more normal-looking computer-generated crowd next year. Gameplay, I give it a 9. Getting good takes practice, practice, more practice and a whole lot of patience, but when you get that elusive goal or epic save, it’s a great feeling. I just wish the overall experience were a bit more user-friendly, because every gamer should give PES a try. Overall, TSC Gaming gives Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 on Xbox One a 9 out of 10. Until next time, everybody, as always, enjoy the games.