It's that time of year where the football games are released and we all get drawn into the PES vs FIFA debates, which we are sure as hell going to be addressing in relative detail, but for this one, we're simply going to get into the new PES 2020 game and how it feels after getting hands-on.
Presentation
The game certainly looks better in key areas than its predecessors, most notably in the main menu and in various modes. The purple overlay actually does wonders for the visuals, even in the areas where, structurally, it's the same as last year.
PES Menus have pretty much always made sense from a purely logical standpoint and that's largely the same this year, although, with a few new tweaks, there will be a couple of new paths to get used to.
The Master League menus have been adjusted too, which I'm not the biggest fan of at the moment, but it'll take some getting used to, no doubt. We'll get onto that later though.
All in all, the presentation has certainly improved on last year and whilst I was initially massively sceptical, I'm largely enjoying it now.
7/10
Gameplay
The gameplay is always a big talking point in these reviews, and rightfully so. This year doesn't disappoint, but some of the changes will be awkward for new and returning players in the attacking third. Dribbling has been remapped to allow for more fluidity between directional changes and skill moves, but as with almost all games that seek to add this dynamic, if the player doesn't get it right, the end result can often look and feel more broken and disjointed than if they hadn't bothered in the first place. But get it right and you can get stuck into some really free-flowing, creative football.
Defensively, however, the game has some real issues. Defenders often go into challenges half-heartedly and whilst slide tackles draw fouls way too often, staying on your feet reaps little when it comes to defensive reward. Goalkeeper positioning is often terrible, and whilst they've addressed the issues of onrushing keepers not clearing the ball, there are still some major glaring issues when it comes to decision-making, and they seem to have regressed this year.
But when it all comes together nicely and the stars align for your club, the gameplay can be phenomenal, but as always, it has equal ability to frustrate as it does to inspire.
7/10
Master League
Master League has had some much-needed improvements made, albeit a couple of years behind schedule. Transfers are now considerably more realistic both from a cost and negotiation standpoint. The percentages are gone, which is a welcome removal as they made gaming the system way too easy, as well as a behind-the-scenes feature that is designed to stop clubs selling to certain key rivals.
Some players are even willing to leave a bigger club to join one where they think they'll get more playing time, but also being shrewd in the process and leaving pretty low release clauses in their initial contracts in order to give themselves the opportunity of a stepping stone.
The board's expectations at the start of the season have been reworked after plenty of community feedback suggesting they were too harsh last year. This time around, you can accept the board's suggestion or go higher or lower instead, depending on the level of challenge you feel capable of meeting. However, failing to meet these targets, or the adjusted targets that are given to you mid-season, will certainly land you the sack and you'll need to find a new club before you can progress.
However, the sack won't feel as personal as in previous iterations as you can no longer have your own face in the game. You're given a choice of over a dozen pre-built faces ranging from Barcelona legends to generic individuals. A strange omission which only begins to make sense when you see your manager acting out animations on the touchline and in the boardroom, but a strange one nonetheless and a real disappointment.
Having gone through a season, it's clear that there are definitely some improvements, but there is still a way to go. At the very least, it's an improvement on last year and will give players a different experience than what they've experienced in recent times.
7/10
myClub
Take this with a pinch of salt, because I haven't enjoyed myClub for a while and I've been pretty open about that fact. That said, I've gone into this year with an open mind and it's very much the same as in previous years. However, I'm going to keep this section short because the real strength of myClub will be in its content which isn't fully here yet. But beyond some small quality of life updates, you'll likely feel the same way about it as you always have done. If you liked it before, you'll like it a little bit more.
6.5/10
The overall take away from this is that PES 2020 is a good game, and whilst it has the potential to be an amazing game in moments, those moments are too few and far between to give it that amazing game title.
To compare it to a footballer, it's very much a 2013 Jack Wilshere. Had the world at his feet a few years back but never really carried that on as things fell apart. Showing signs of promise and gradual improvement and occasionally reminds us of why we loved him with a moment of brilliance.
Just keep an eye on (EA)aron Ramsey, because he's really starting to deliver a well-rounded offering with a lot of end product. Take that as you will.
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