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Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2015

Popping Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 in to my Xbox One, I was immediately reminded of 2K’s NHL 2K series. Why? PES 2015‘s menu structure is beyond ugly. It’s simplistically ugly.

The comparisons stop there.

While NHL 2K — and hey, before you start complaining, you’re supposed to write what you know, eh — was more of an arcade game to EA’s strict simulation, PES 2015 seems to be a more realistic sim of the sport of football as compared to EA’s FIFA 15. The once-supreme, PES as a whole seemed to take a dive a while back, giving up its crown to EA’s FIFA series. Since then, it’s been in a constant struggle to gain back market share.

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I can happily report that with this current-gen installment, PES 2015 is at the very least on par with FIFA 15. I can also confirm that die-hard football fans are going to want both games as they play very differently.

FIFA 15 is about spectacle; it’s about trying to run hard between defenders and come out on top, bicycle kicking your way to glory and goals. PES 2015 is more about tactics and strategy; there’s a constant emphasis on the shape your players maintain whether attacking or defending, and the game’s AI delights in trying to find gaps and holes in said groupings. On average, I was able to score more goals in a game of FIFA than in PES, and I think it’s because the former is about spectacle and the latter functions more as a love letter to the game.

I’m sure it’s at this point that fans of either camp are screaming that I should speak about the license situation — or lack there-of — inside PES 2015. Thankfully for me, I don’t really follow football, so I don’t care much about the teams that I’m able to play in either this of FIFA 15. What I do want to talk about is the way that each player felt different in PES 2015; unlike FIFA 15, where it’s mostly speed that’s noticeable, I could really tell which of my players were good ball-handlers (hehe) or not. Close quarters control is great fun to take advantage of in PES 2015, but engage in it with a weak player and you’re destined to lose the ball.

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Also noticeable are momentum shifts in the game — perhaps because they’re pointed out in loading screens, granted — but as the away team only one goal up in a match, I felt I could honestly see the home team’s chests collectively puff up as if receiving energy from their dedicated fans.

Use of the Fox engine means that everything looks great, from blades of grass on the pitch to players and the way they react to goals, misses and fouls.

In terms of other modes, FIFA and PES seem fairly evenly matched. PES 2015 offers a career mode alongside a decidedly Ultimate Team-like myClub mode. I personally enjoyed Coach mode while simulating games, changing tactics during the match without having to slow down and actually play.

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Granted, I’m not a huge football fan, but I did notice the improvements to PES in this year’s offerings compared to last, where in FIFA they were a little more subtle. The end result is great for gamers — you’ve got two football games, decidedly different in play and on-par with one another. As such, both are essential to the die-hard fan.

PES 2015 was reviewed using a promotional copy of the game on Xbox One, as provided by Mindscape Games.

 

Pro Evolution Soccer 15

The good

  • Great visuals.
  • An authentic and engaging football experience.
  • Fairly thorough tutorial mode.

The bad

  • No real explanation of football rules.
  • No explanation on how to master controls for newcombers.

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About the author

Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.