Konami may not make many games anymore, but it's pumping out some real hits this holiday. Hot on the heels of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's critical success, the publisher has deployed another high scorer in the form of PES 2016: Pro Evolution Soccer. Like an out of form striker, this series really struggled to hit its stride during the PlayStation 3 generation, but it seems like it's back to its PlayStation 2 era best, with some suggestions that this year's edition is the "greatest football game of all time". It's a shame for the Japanese publisher that it'll struggle to sell a tenth of the units that FIFA moves, then, eh?
God Is a Geek - 10/10
Sure, it doesn't have all the licenses, but on the pitch, where it actually matters, PES 2016 is phenomenal. You'll have a day off from playing it and forget, but then return and remember how truly special it feels to just play football. It's the best football game I've played in as long as I can remember (and I've just about played them all), and an utterly essential purchase. PES 2016 is the best there is, and the best there's been in a very long time. How crazy it is to think that Konami has made the two best games of 2015.
GameSpot - 9/10
Yet there's little worth in assessing soccer sims by the weight of their game modes, or indeed, the breadth of their official licences. All that truly matters is what unfolds in those virtual ninety minutes, either against a friend, an online stranger, or the computer. On that test alone, PES 2016 represents the best game in the series since the PlayStation 2 era.
Games Radar - 4.5/5
The improved Master League mode is a godsend, adding substance to the package and complementing the excellent gameplay. With the advanced collision system, Konami has done in a year what EA has been trying to perfect since FIFA 12. The added physicality and increased number of animations has done wonders for the gameplay. The introduction of an excellent edit mode (see 'edit it up' for more details) to the PS4 version even makes the usual lack of licenses a relative non-issue. Only the drop in gameplay visuals and lack of AI fouls really trouble its relentless march towards greatness.
Video Gamer - No Score
None of these problems keep PES 2016 from being the greatest football game of all time. The question is no longer whether PES can catch FIFA, and in truth hasn't been for a while. Instead, it's the other way around, and may well be for years.
Are you shocked by the reception to PES 2016, or has Konami's footy franchise always been top of the league in your eyes? Acrobatically blast it like Benteke in the comments section below.
Comments 18
I may need to get this. North London Reds aren't going to win the Master League without my help, and Oliver Jarood needs his finishing stats developed!
Wow... I saw on some forums that, based on demos, many users were favouring fifa this year.... Maybe just cos it is a more estabilished brand nowaday. I still have to try both demos.
Plus, as a side note, i still have to see God is a geek giving a score below 9 - 10 to any games i was looking for...
@arnoldlayne83 It's true. I wished we got the same access as they did, given we're the bigger site and all...
@get2sammyb I hope you'll get it. This community you made deserve it!
at least, you got your MGS V review copy at last....
PES 2016 has won my money this year. I have played both demo's and the games of PES had me applauding the graphics and animations, the goals or saves (keepers are amazing) whether mine or my rival (brother in-law ). Then there was Fifa... the blasted game (filled with the most annoying AI) looks almost the same as FIFA 15 - they fixed the keepers as they were broken in and put the match speed settings on +2.
I just feel that fifa is not moving forward, Fifa 14 was a good fifa, then 15 came out which was horrendous and now Fifa 16 has hardly moved forward from last years iteration. I think EA need to bring more to the table. Maybe a fall from grace will do the series good - like it has PES ?
I have to agree with @Beaston61.
The demo's of both, plus the usage of Option files to nullify the North London Red and so on, make me side towards PES this year.
Having seen the same poor AI get the ball near their own byline after a throw and then kick it into touch due to pressure ala FIFA 15, just proves how little the AI has been addressed by EA
PES 2014 was great, PES 2015 is PES returning to its old form. I couldn't say anything bout the game till today, but I've easily managed to put 15 hours in already and it is, by far, the best football game I've ever played.
It plays just like the old PES, but with the best animations in the biz, great looks and an AI that is truly magnificent. Playing against teams like Madrid, Barca, Chelsea, Munich, Arsenal or Man U is almost scary because of the tactics they use to perfection; it's just as if you were playing the actual team. Teammates do the most crazy realistic stuff and the times I could blame my team's AI for slipping up can be count on one hand (unfortunately, because I'm the sort of guy that likes to blame the AI for my own incompetence).
This is the new standard on the pitch and FIFA won't come anywhere near it...well, in terms of gameplay then. If you're 13 and have a poster of CR7 hanging above your bed buy FIFA, if you're more interested in football than owning the same pair of shoes as he has: buy PES.
So hyped for this and the PES community have worked wonders with the edit mode. Will be looking forward to taking my beloved Leeds Utd to Champions League glory in master league!
If anyone fancies a game online, feel free to add me.
Is it just me or does Neymar look like a total pansy in the cover art for this game?
Looks like he's dancing salsa or something!
Glad this got good reviews but this won't change anything, people will still buy FIFA more
This is why EA are pushing FUT so much as they know they can't match the gameplay of Evo, but that FUT is a very very powerful drug and alas I can't see Evo making much of a dent on FIFA yet again.
I do not get FUT at all, why would anyone spend real money to do something you can do in the game anyway (make your own teams) it just baffles me.
I hated the last pes let's hope the demo is alright
As good as the game is, Konami every year fail to win me back (ex die hard pro evo fan) they do as little as possible with licenses in the hope some unpaid (or paid) fool does the licensing so they can save some dough.
BT didn't go half hearted into the Sky footy wars so why do we let Konami off? Fed up of looking at the Merseyside blue logo its a frickin joke!!!
I'm with @themcnoisy - though I haven't bought a footy game for a few years now, and although I was a Pro Evo fan, I'd only buy FIFA these days.
I play every Thursday with a mate, using his copy. It plays well enough, and the official licenses just make it so much more authentic. Sure, you can get option files for PES for kits and text names, but you still have the generic stadiums, and all the other issues which arise from a lack of licenses.
Went in to the game store today to pre order PES16 no promotion of PES not even a game case. Asked a member of staff if I can pre order, he had no idea it was out this week. Shame reallyI suppose EA pay game,to promote FIFA it was all over the store
"None of these problems keep PES 2016 from being the greatest football game of all time".
Haven't played the game but I doubt is the greatest football game of all times, that title will forever belong to championship manager 01/02
The thing with Pes for me imo is - Less content,and Extra rubber banding..Hitting the wood work repeatedly ect in a short game isn't good playability.I see Fifa more as a hybrid of a manager game/football playing game.Can't deny Pes 16 feels more silky to actually play in comparison,However -I'm not convinced the gameplay is properly balanced under the hood compared to Fifa.
I got pes 2016 yesterday, and will get fifa 2016 in the next three days, am a fifa fan, but imo pes did a great job this time in the graphics and game play, i find it a bit different because am used to fifa style but even though pes gets u addicted, it felt a bit slow n the players were not that flexible but when i raised the game speed everything was great.
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