[Test] Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 [PS4, XBOX, PC]

At the dawn of a fight that has (almost) no place to be, Pro Evolution Soccer returns to the front of the stage with an episode full of promise. Where is the "PES Project"?

It has been two years since a majority of critics point to a winning comeback from Pro Evolution Soccer. Some see it as a more convincing experience than FIFA, while others believe that it is finally a good alternative, able to satisfy fans willing to buy both titles.

If the juggernaut of Electronic Arts starts to make the place in terms of gameplay (fortunately embellished with new game mode), the margin of PES was largely greater. It remains to be seen if this element is still the most important when choosing.

Right license required?

Once is not custom, Pro Evolution Soccer suffers from a lack of licenses glaring. In a world where advertising and sports have never been so widely broadcast, the lack of official logos and jerseys for the Premier League, La Liga or any part of Serie A is a major problem, especially for young people.

The disappearance of a stable like Bayern Munich is also clearly stained. This visual breach, unfair in terms of the distribution of rights held by FIFA, seems to induce neophytes a lack of overall finish in all other aspects of the title. This is not the case, however.

If this absence is regrettable, it must nevertheless be qualified. The series is indeed driven by teams of talented modders whose work clearly mitigates this setback. If patches have always existed, the ease with which they are applied really fixes the problem.

Five minutes and a USB key are enough to find the jerseys of the major leagues (and many nations, which constitute the bulk of the confrontations).

A formality that we would like to avoid, but which cannot constitute such an important part of the criticism of the saga. Except for Darren Tullet's comments, tiring to stay polite.

Especially since after two years of work on the Fox Engine, Konami gives birth to a well-finished game. As in the previous episode, the faces of the famous players are superbly modeled, even if it is already less the case for the minor championships.

Efforts have however been made for mid-table players, who are easily recognizable. In short, it is more of an evolution than anything else. On the other hand, we appreciate the complete redesign of animations, which have a much greater impact on the game.