PES 2016 Pro Evolution Soccer

After refining its craft on the PlayStation 2, the PES series has been in the wilderness the past few years – including a transition to the new systems that more or less happened a year early and hampered the last game on the PS3. Done with dithering, last year the series found a way forward, stabilizing and refining its control scheme and feature set, making PES 2016 the first entry in a while that can propel the series upward.

The game boasts many new animations that are noticeable all over the pitch. PES 2016 is a more physical title thanks to its new collision system, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel like outcomes are predetermined or that you can’t retain possession. Developer PES Productions has prided itself on its feints system of dekes (which are still there), but being smart enough to anticipate trouble and deftly dribble aside has a place amidst physical challenges. Expect to see new animations appear in contesting headers as well, where players truly jostle for position instead of statically waiting for the ball to descend.

Soccer is a team game, so thankfully your teammates on the pitch do their part with some smartly timed runs and a new automatic give-and-go system. The PES series has been knocked for the complexity of its controls, and while some of that still remains, it’s nice that the A.I. is smart enough to recognize when it’s advantageous to pass the ball and move into space for the return.

This gameplay backbone is augmented by the further development of the Master League and myClub modes. Both are receiving a visual overhaul to take them from serviceable menus to downright appealing (including the return of cutscenes for the Master League). The Master League career mode also has a new transfer system, among other additions. MyClub – the build-a-team online mode – gets stronger in its second year with a player leveling system based on your performance on the pitch as well as the sacrificing of surplus players to improve the rest of the squad.

Even with its newfound confidence, plenty of questions still surround the franchise. Can myClub be a standout mode? Will the Master League give players the full flavor of being a manager? Have keepers improved? Can the gameplay controls be fluid, responsive, and realistic? These questions are significant, but PES Productions finally looks to be taking its challenges head on.

Developed by PES Productions and published by Konami Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is a football simulation game. The general consensus on football games is that everything is the same each year, the only thing that really gets altered are the team uniforms; this time it's different. There is nearly a whole new look and feel to this title, looking back and thinking that the last game was good and then playing this one will change your mind on exactly what good is. Let’s break it down.

Gameplay

The most important aspect of these games is the controls. How well does it handle? How do the players move? I can reassure you here that the it handles beautifully. The controls are smooth and responsive, everyone moves with a satisfying weight to their actions and it comes through as believable and enjoyable. There’s a delightful physicality to the dynamic controls and it really can't be overstated.

Something I noticed and found interesting is that the referees in this title seem rather relaxed compared to those in other games like FIFA 16 or other sports games like Madden NFL 16. Although some would worry that this would cause for a lacklustre and frustrating experience, it actually makes for astoundingly satisfying gameplay. You can afford to be a little heavier handed, going in for some far more dangerous tackles but face far fewer consequences. I found that to be incredibly fun and far less punishing.

This game feels like it was made by people who actually wanted to make a good game, not pump out another half-cooked title by the end of the year.

Commentary

The commentary is always a huge part of these games. In this edition, the commentators are Peter Drury and Jim Beglin. There is an odd dynamic between the two where one always feels like he’s woken up from a nap and the other is having a full-on panic attack. This is very, very funny and the commentary is actually very praiseworthy. Always remember that you can turn it off if it gets repetitive.

Downloadable Content

Theres a considerable amount of downloadable content for this title. You got new boot styles, new jerseys for some teams, updated player likeness, new ball designs and 8 new teams. That’s just from Data Pack 1 and 2. By the end of Pack 4, when PES got the full licensing to officially produce UEFA stuff, the game really comes into its stride as a fully supported game. One thing to note is that the commentary does not change to reflect the official teams being put in but that’s easy enough to ignore.

Pros:

• More relaxed refs make for far more fun
• Looks amazing
• Controls are dynamic and satisfying

Cons:

• Repetitive commentary