The PC versions of Pro Evolution Soccer have for the last few years been an absolute disaster. So it’s a relief to see that with PES 2018, Konami have finally got their shit together.
To recap: PES has for a while now been running on Konami’s Fox Engine, which also powered Metal Gear Solid V. On PS4 and Xbox One it has looked and played amazing, but for whatever reason, the last few PC versions of PES have shared code with the cruddier PS3 and Xbox 360 editions, not the shinier current-gen editions.
It was an embarrassment, for both Konami and football fans.
That ends now. PES 2018 on PC finally looks and plays just as well as the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, if not better.
The grass has gone from being one of the worst parts of the game to one of the best.
I’m not going to go into the merits of the game itself — I’ll save that for this year’s showdown against FIFA — but I can at least say that when it comes to both visuals and physics anyone picking up the PC version will be getting every bell and whistle that PS4 and Xbox One gamers are experiencing.
To give you an idea of just how far things have progressed since last year’s game, check out this comparison video by Candyland, showcasing how the game’s lifeless textures and dull lighting have been transformed:
The nicest thing about this for me is that I can already tell I’ll be playing a lot of this on the PC, and since I’m big into the editing scene in PES, it’s great I can play the game on a platform where importing the correct kits (that users have had to design to get around PES’ lack of licenses) is a lot faster and easier than it is on console.
Of course, this being PES, we couldn’t be talking about positives without also touching on some frustrating downsides, in this case the fact the game’s online is completely broken at launch.
I’ve been getting 3-4 connectivity errors just between Steam and an exhibition match (with the game failing to even fetch its own patch notes) against the AI, so God help anyone trying to actually play this online at the moment.
Hopefully that’s something that Konami can fix ASAP. If only so they can update the game’s title screen, which six weeks after his transfer to PSG still has Neymar in a Barcelona kit.
Comments
7 responses to “Congratulations, Konami, On Not Screwing This One Up”
#fuckkonami
Good to know, will maybe pick up the PC version later when cheaper if there are any good mods etc – they’ve already had my full price money for the xbox version. I wanted to get the PS4 version for the edits/logos etc but ironically – given I started playing the series back in the day on playstation like everyone else – I just can’t get used to it on the dual shock after all this time playing on xbox controllers.
Yeah, reckon I’ll pick it up on PC too this year given they’ve brought it in line with console releases. Better than Fifa despite a lack of licenses IMO.
BTW so many #fuckkonami edgelords around.
Got any of the licences yet Konami?
Oh you dont?
Ill stick with FIFA then thanks
#Fuckkonami
Just a heads up about a small ‘thing’ in master league that is still present in 2018 – you still can’t offset money between transfer funds and salary which is disappointing/irritating, i’m having to miss out/hold off/juggle on signing a (free transfer) player because I apparently can’t meet the extra 3k a year he wants despite having 7 million in transfer funds sat doing squat.
I like that they introduced more stringent salary budgeting, but this is one area of massive oversight they fixed in Fifa a long time ago. Maybe the PC version will solve this with a mod etc
Hopefully. Master League is my favourite game mode of any sports game. They should all have it.
Man the graphics on these pachinko games look great
#fuckkonami
The hate is strong.
#fuckkonami