Overall ratings matter, but like real football it’s on you to find individuals that perfectly fit your philosophy, and outmanoeuvre the opposition’s.
The engine does an exceptional job of making every team, and single player, feel unique. True individual speed also really feels like a special trait as a result, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – and, er, Usain Bolt, who was available as a pre-order bonus – truly uncatchable after beating the last man. Soupy central midfield play is eliminated, meanwhile, as you’ve a touch more time to shield the ball and assess options around you. With the action a step slower than last year, that intricate dribbling really can be mastered and used to devastating effect. Pacing is, on paper, PES 2018’s simplest change – yet simultaneously its most profound. In that regard patience is a virtue, and well rewarded. It took us more than 10 games to score more than twice in a match. The sport’s fundamentals are all implemented masterfully, albeit not without a learning curve: that tighter dribbling requires some adjustment time, and shooting feels delicate. It wasn’t quite that simple in FourFourTwo’s eyes – it’s fashionable to knock EA’s game, yet there were plenty of positives found within – but those who opted for Konami’s effort will find this to be a natural evolution. Last season there was a shift in the digital football landscape, as most critics concurred that PES 2018 outplayed rival FIFA 18 on the virtual turf. Passing (similar to last year) and dribbling (more intricate than ever) handle effortlessly on Konami’s pristine pitches, making for a football sim that can once more be considered the purists’ choice for the campaign ahead. That’s the takeaway from our first week with PES 2018: an interpretation of the beautiful game which, at times, feels even more satisfying than the real thing. Like playing football on a perfectly manicured carpet.