

Within my first few matches there were at least half a dozen moments I sat back and watched replays of, desperate to share their glory with the world. Some stand out more than others, starting with the new player animations. We’ve heard boasts of countless innovations in 2017, from ‘Player ID’, hundreds of new player animations improving first touch, and even attacking the licensing issue head-on by securing deals with some of the world’s biggest clubs. Konami has been very bullish in the lead-up to PES’s launch.

Off the pitch a minor facelift isn’t enough to match the level of innovation on it, but when the football is this good, it doesn’t really matter. New tactical innovations and added depth only serve to remove barriers further.

This is the best game of football I’ve ever played. The players on the pitch somehow telepathically know what I’m trying to achieve, and at times the it’s simply breathtaking. It’s a shame then that the best game of football is let down by a lack of innovation off it and ongoing online stability problems. Through simple controls and fluid gameplay, PES 2017 removes the disconnect between thought and action for the first time in a football game. Great coaches don’t just pick the team and relax, but make every player better through incremental improvements to get individuals to work as a team. Available on PlayStation 4 (version tested), Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC.
