Fans all over the world were eagerly awaiting the release of PES 2019 this week. And it was well worth the wait.
The finished product is the highest quality soccer video game ever created. Why? It’s quite simple. PES 2019 takes realism to a whole new level. It looks and feels like the beautiful game, and more importantly, plays like it too. Overall it’s a great game.
It is hard to argue with Pro Evo on a visual front. It looks absolutely amazing. The graphics are world-class: players, crowds, and the stadia all look like the real thing. Messi looks like Messi. The Ultras look like Ultras. Anfield looks like Anfield. And the game actually supports 4K HDR on all platforms, which allows you to get the most out of your high-end TV.
Gameplay is awesome as was the case in previous editions. The lifelike players move incredibly smooth, accurately replicating the real speed of play in the global game. It is incredibly fluid and your players will act (and react) and play like their real-life counterparts. A new feature called Magic Moments makes it possible for Beckham to pass like Beckham and Suarez to score at will like Suarez. Coutinho is just as amazing in the game as he is on the pitch at Camp Nou.
Simply put, PES 2019 is worth the purchase on gameplay alone.
Master League and MyClub are still there, complimenting a plethora of online, multiplayer, and single player/co-op options available to those who are lucky enough to purchase this one.
Yet there are the haters out there that complain about Konami’s well-known struggles with licensing, but this adds charm to the game in our opinion. Getting to play in events and leagues unavailable anywhere else more than makes up for it. We all love the International Champions Cup because it brings the world’s top teams to the U.S. and it’s part of the game this year.
The game also features exciting leagues like the Russian Premier League, which is an exclusive to PES. You also get top-flight leagues in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, and Turkey to name a few. So you’ll be able to play the big games (Celtic vs. Rangers, Arsenal vs. Liverpool, AC Milan vs. Inter) in all of their licensed glory.
And Konami has brought in the big guns. Beckham, Coutinho, Falcao, Paredes, and Benedetto are among the ambassadors and partners that add great credibility to the entire Pro Evo series.
The stadium environments found in the game are also quite magical. The chanting crowds, the walkouts, the tunnels, and the beautiful surroundings add another layer to the game’s depth.
Konami made yet another smart choice, pushing out their Pro Evolution Soccer offering ahead of the latest in the EA Sports’ FIFA series. This allows fans to get almost a full month to enjoy PES 2019 before FIFA 19 even comes out. The David Beckham edition (which we reviewed) is really special and certainly worth the slightly higher cost as it comes with a beautiful steel book and plenty of extra goodies for the ultimate Pro Evo fan.
PES 2019 uses the tagline of “The Power of Football” and this is certainly a powerful title. This is the most authentic soccer game you’ll ever encounter on any platform and that is where Konami wins hands down.
