PES is the acronym for Pro Evolution Soccer, a series of console and computer football games that have enraptured footy fans around the globe for the past one and a half decades. With PES 2013 released in September, it seems that this popularity shows no sign of waning.
Why has PES remained so popular over all these years, especially when you consider that it has had a great rival in FIFA for almost the same amount of time?
FIFA took over the domination of the footy console wars in the late 2005 era and since then it's been Pro Evo and Konami who've had to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way of getting back on top. What makes the fans of Pro Evo stick with the second place franchise?
Playability - this has always been the strength of PES over FIFA, even when Konami have made big changes to the gameplay. They're retained a feel for what football computer games should play like and have often shaken up the AI, so that one year you can slip straight into the new version and the next year it takes you several games to get used to it.
The game has always rewarded learning and perseverance, maybe not what you think you want at first, but PES has a habit of showing you glimpses of what's on offer in each new version and then making you wait until you master the new techniques. Then you really feel like you've earned your reward, just like the first time you win a game on the hardest setting with a screaming half volley.
What we love about the PES games is the clever way Konami teaches you how to play each new iteration. You instinctively start doing things that you didn't in the previous game and you learn the new ways of the new version, almost like your fingers jump onto autopilot, but this doesn't seem to kick in until you've played for a while first.
Realism - where do we start, PES has easily beaten FIFA in this area since time immemorial. Player faces look realistic in PES, not mannequin-esque like FIFA and the ball mechanics are superior. If I want to play football beach ball I'll play FIFA, if I want a proper weighted ball, I'll play Pro Evo.
The player movement in PES seems to be more on the money each year, except in PES 2012 when players fell over awkwardly. This aberration aside, the players move around the pitch like they're running on it, not hovering millimetres above the grass blades. This makes the gameplay feel more solid.
Player likenesses is where PES usually comes up trumps again, thanks in part to detailed facial juxtapositions that are accurate to real life players. We've seen some monstrous visages over the years between these two games and Rooney gets compared to Shrek in real life, so won't appreciate FIFA making it worse.
Speed - this is a setting that gets changed almost every year, as Konami look for an ideal speed in which to create their new AI gameplay. In the past PES has been labelled too fast and therefore arcade like, but the latest version PES 2013 promises to be one of the slowest versions for years, which should enable better player movement and touch.
In the past PES has sometimes blurred the realism line with players flying down the pitch like their shorts are on fire. If you still wish to recreate these days, the development boys have included a handy speed setting which lets you choose your own.
Licenses - PES has never been able to compete with FIFA when it comes to the realism of player names, team names and football strips or stadia, because FIFA has always owned the rights.
What this has done is to create a online community of like minded PES fans who get together and create from scratch, an option file, which after uploading, removes the fake players and teams from the PES rosters and replaces them with real players/teams.
As I've not played FIFA for a while I don't know how good their editing system is, but within Pro Evo you can now create realistic player faces, names, kits and even new stadiums with adverts splashed around the stands.
Innovation - every year Konami tweak the computer AI and things will be no different in PES 2013. They've promised us ultra-realistic top player movements using Player ID and Full Control, so Messi and Ronaldo will move, pass and shoot like they do in real life situations. Whether this will extend to lesser known players remains to be seen.
Two Player - always the most interesting focal point for me personally is the two player battles. Playing against the AI can be good for training, but most people who play PES play against other friends or strangers online.
The above factors all come into play and games feel fairly free to try and do whatever you want with your eleven players. If that means bringing your goalie running out with triangle, only for your mate to chip him with much glee, then so be it.
The longevity of PES games is tied into two player battles and online gaming, much like it is for other computer games. You get the most out of PES and see its strength best against another human player.
Why has PES remained so popular over all these years, especially when you consider that it has had a great rival in FIFA for almost the same amount of time?
FIFA took over the domination of the footy console wars in the late 2005 era and since then it's been Pro Evo and Konami who've had to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way of getting back on top. What makes the fans of Pro Evo stick with the second place franchise?
Playability - this has always been the strength of PES over FIFA, even when Konami have made big changes to the gameplay. They're retained a feel for what football computer games should play like and have often shaken up the AI, so that one year you can slip straight into the new version and the next year it takes you several games to get used to it.
The game has always rewarded learning and perseverance, maybe not what you think you want at first, but PES has a habit of showing you glimpses of what's on offer in each new version and then making you wait until you master the new techniques. Then you really feel like you've earned your reward, just like the first time you win a game on the hardest setting with a screaming half volley.
What we love about the PES games is the clever way Konami teaches you how to play each new iteration. You instinctively start doing things that you didn't in the previous game and you learn the new ways of the new version, almost like your fingers jump onto autopilot, but this doesn't seem to kick in until you've played for a while first.
Realism - where do we start, PES has easily beaten FIFA in this area since time immemorial. Player faces look realistic in PES, not mannequin-esque like FIFA and the ball mechanics are superior. If I want to play football beach ball I'll play FIFA, if I want a proper weighted ball, I'll play Pro Evo.
The player movement in PES seems to be more on the money each year, except in PES 2012 when players fell over awkwardly. This aberration aside, the players move around the pitch like they're running on it, not hovering millimetres above the grass blades. This makes the gameplay feel more solid.
Player likenesses is where PES usually comes up trumps again, thanks in part to detailed facial juxtapositions that are accurate to real life players. We've seen some monstrous visages over the years between these two games and Rooney gets compared to Shrek in real life, so won't appreciate FIFA making it worse.
Speed - this is a setting that gets changed almost every year, as Konami look for an ideal speed in which to create their new AI gameplay. In the past PES has been labelled too fast and therefore arcade like, but the latest version PES 2013 promises to be one of the slowest versions for years, which should enable better player movement and touch.
In the past PES has sometimes blurred the realism line with players flying down the pitch like their shorts are on fire. If you still wish to recreate these days, the development boys have included a handy speed setting which lets you choose your own.
Licenses - PES has never been able to compete with FIFA when it comes to the realism of player names, team names and football strips or stadia, because FIFA has always owned the rights.
What this has done is to create a online community of like minded PES fans who get together and create from scratch, an option file, which after uploading, removes the fake players and teams from the PES rosters and replaces them with real players/teams.
As I've not played FIFA for a while I don't know how good their editing system is, but within Pro Evo you can now create realistic player faces, names, kits and even new stadiums with adverts splashed around the stands.
Innovation - every year Konami tweak the computer AI and things will be no different in PES 2013. They've promised us ultra-realistic top player movements using Player ID and Full Control, so Messi and Ronaldo will move, pass and shoot like they do in real life situations. Whether this will extend to lesser known players remains to be seen.
Two Player - always the most interesting focal point for me personally is the two player battles. Playing against the AI can be good for training, but most people who play PES play against other friends or strangers online.
The above factors all come into play and games feel fairly free to try and do whatever you want with your eleven players. If that means bringing your goalie running out with triangle, only for your mate to chip him with much glee, then so be it.
The longevity of PES games is tied into two player battles and online gaming, much like it is for other computer games. You get the most out of PES and see its strength best against another human player.
About the Author:
Steve Hinds founded www.pes2013.org.uk with the goal of showcasing the history and strengths of Pro Evo. Take a look at the latest Pro Evo videos.. Check here for free reprint license: PES 2013 - Always Better Than FIFA For True Pro Evo Fans.
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