Pro Evolution Soccer 17 review: The most beautiful version of the beautiful game ever created… and a real rival to Fifa 17

FOR around ten-years Fifa has dominated the football game scene from what once was the best in Pro Evolution Soccer.

But guess whose back, and better than ever? That’s right, PES is here, and it wants its crown back.

Konami

Pro Evo 17 is 35-yard belter of a footie title, and makes everything before it look like a Sunday league match down the park.

This is simply the most complete simulator of the beautiful game ever created.

It’s such a huge advancement on its predecessors visually, it’s frightening.

PES has ultra-realistic player faces, motions and jaw-dropping stadiums, especially the incredible Nou Camp.

Gameplay-wise it flows like a perfect Arsenal attack (during the Invincible years).

It’s slick, seamless and most importantly fun to play and watch.

The players you control are near-perfect representations of the real-life stars.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is rather ponderous, but good in the air. Mesut Ozil dictates play and threads needle-like passes through the defence.

Like in the real world, Hector Bellerin is the Gunners best player, constantly improving through PES’s natural advancement system in Master League.

And Petr Cech still keeps Arsene Wenger’s side in games, along with Granit Xhaka who is as solid as a rock in midfield.

Passing is fluid, with moves feeling instinctive and not premeditated.

And scoring is hard and feels like an achievement, with goals coming at a premium on the higher difficulties.

Multiplayer modes should feel more competitive this year for everyone, and PES could be a major player on the E-Sports scene

There are some frame-rate issues which I found, and conceded a goal off the only time it happened, which was annoying.

And like every year, it’s frustrating they don’t have the licensing for players and club names, which isn’t their fault.

But ultimately this is a near-masterpiece of a football video game.

It’s special that Konami love this franchise so much they’ve fought against the odds to come back from a near impossible deficit to create PES 17. Your move EA.

4.5/5