A gorgeous soccer simulator for a global audience

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 is a realistic soccer simulator developed by Konami for Windows. Players can choose from a wide selection of teams and take to the field to compete solo or against other players online. Though some might consider the PES franchise to be an underdog in the world of soccer sims, PES 2018 is proof that the series is a serious contender for top of the pack.

Going for the goal

With entries spanning almost a decade, the PES franchise has had a long history in the world of soccer. As the 17th entry in the franchise, PES 2018 truly upped the bar for the series. Compared to earlier entries, PES 2018 is in a league of its own.

Though it made some major changes to the series, the core features of PES remain essentially the same in this entry. You’ll be able to select from a roster of global teams and players and take on the competition in a variety of realistic game modes. You can also head online and prove your skills against other players in head-to-head matches.

Because PES is available in 17 different languages, you’ll encounter opponents as diverse as those in real-life stadiums. Pro Evolution Soccer truly manages to capture to feeling of soccer as an international sport.

Upgrades galore

Though PES 2017 was met with a lukewarm reception, PES 2018 took the series to the next level in almost every way imaginable. First and foremost are the graphics. PES 2018 is built on Konami’s Fox Engine, the same game engine used to bring Metal Gear Solid V to life.

As such, players look much more lifelike compared to previous entries, with more expressive faces and animations. Lighting has also been drastically improved, and the game feels more realistic and vibrant than ever before.

The gameplay itself also received a major overhaul. The action is significantly slower and more deliberate. Though it may seem somewhat counterintuitive, slowing down the game’s pace leads to a more realistic (and more fun) experience. A slower pace means paying attention to strategy is more important. You’ll end up feeling more immersed in the experience, which is where PES really shines.

Controls also feel fluid and responsive; despite the slower overall pace, movement itself never feels sluggish or jerky. You’ll be able to pull off elegant maneuvers and pro-level plays with ease.

Missing the mark

For all its improvements, there’s still some glaring shortcomings that prevent PES 2018 from outpacing the competition. As with other entries in the PES series, the major complaint remains Pro Evolution Soccer’s lack of licenses.

Pro Evolution Soccer’s major competitor, the FIFA series, holds the vast majority of soccer licenses for the sports gaming realm. Since PES legally isn’t allowed to use many team names and related content, players only have access to a handful of true to life teams and players.

In many cases, teams are replaced with placeholder names, such as ‘Man Blue’ or ‘London FC.’ It might seem like a minor complaint, but these replacements take away from the sense of realism and pull players out of the fantasy.

In the same vein, the in-game commentators are frustratingly bad. The commentary feels lifeless and canned, and is noticeably less responsive than in other modern sports titles. It’s to the point that it’s almost a better choice to play with the commentary muted; hearing the same phrases repeated over and over again quickly gets tiring.

It’s also worth noting that mouse-and-keyboard players will have a much tougher time playing than their controller-wielding counterparts. Keyboard and mouse support from Konami is almost nonexistent, and it’s apparent that PES 2018 was designed to be played with a controller.

Upgrading to a controller to play this game is almost a necessity; it makes the experience much more enjoyable overall.

Holding their own

Though FIFA 18, FIFA 19, and FIFA 20 still reign supreme in the world of officially licensed soccer content, PES definitely has them beat in terms of gameplay. If you consider yourself a die-hard soccer fan, PES is not a series to overlook. From graphics to gameplay and beyond, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 proved without a doubt that PES is poised to give FIFA a run for its money.

With the recent release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2019, PES 2018 isn’t the latest in the series, but it’s still well worth playing. You should definitely give PES 2018 a try if you’re not yet ready to download PES 19.