FIFA 17 vs. Pro Evolution Soccer 2017: Review, what to know about each game
The two titles are out, so what are the pros and cons of each
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4 min read
For fans of soccer and video games, there is no better time of the year than now. Both Pro Evolution 2017 and FIFA 17 are available, and this year the two games look to be greatly improved than last year's versions. So which one should you get? That's for you to decide, but here are the pros and cons of the two biggest soccer games in the world.
FIFA 17
Pros
1) The Journey is a nice addition
So aside from the popular online modes and career mode, you can now do a story mode, following young soccer prospect Alex Hunter. It's part game, part movie, as you try and build him into a sensational pro in the Premier League. It's different and plenty of fun, allowing you to do something if you want to switch it up and not do match after match. It's detailed and carefully done, as you train to improve your ability, choose what you say in different situations that impact the path of the story and aim to reach stardom by putting on a show on the pitch.
2) Gameplay, graphics, realistic
Past FIFA games have sometimes felt like the movement of the players was predictable, that it wasn't as free-flowing as PES or as some would hope. That seems to be improved in this version, allowing more 360-degree movement and it makes moving the ball movement more fluid.
As for licenses, this is a big one for many. Most of the leagues are there with their teams and real jerseys, though from time to time you will see a little bit missing. Many national teams' official licenses are missing and clubs within licensed leagues like Argentina's Velez Sarsfield, but the majority are there which leads to the game being much more realistic.
Cons
1) Beating a defender one-on-one is still way too tricky
Going one-on-one is simply too hard. Look, I feel like I can dominate most people I play. From back in my college days doing FIFA tournaments with friends until 5 a.m. to just casually playing nowadays, I'm not saying I'm the Lionel Messi of FIFA, but I'm darn good. And despite that, it can be really tricky to beat a defender, even a poor one. Sure, rolling the ball with the bottom of your foot to the left or right works plenty, but some of the other moves are less effective when going up against the computer.
2) Handballs happen way too much
This is a part that bugs me. A long ball over the top or maybe looking to settle a high ball in defense, it inexplicably hits your hand sometimes and gives a free kick to the other team. Sure, you can turn handballs off, but I want them on. Sometimes there are handballs that just don't seem realistic, but it's not enough of a damper on the game to make it that big of a deal.
Pro Evolution 2017
Pros
1) Fun, open gameplay and very realistic.
The gameplay is fantastic and super realistic. It feels authentic, the ball flows well and it's an open, fun game that never seems to feel repetitive. You don't really see the same goal twice and that keeps it fresh. The movement of the players feels free and open, which makes it a pleasing game and hard to put down.
Also, you can do so much when it comes to the formations, roles, tactics, from in the pause menu or on the fly to adapt to the type of players you have or bring in. And the graphics are much improved, especially the player faces. PES 2016 was very good, but this is a big step up.
2) Improved AI
If you play with Barcelona and always go to Lionel Messi on the wing, the defense will take note of that and bring an extra guy to stop you. That is realistic and impressive for a game to have. This makes you think and change things up to break down the opposing defense. It makes the game feel very real, as does the improved reaction of goalkeepers and teammates.
Cons
1) Lack of licenses is enough to turn some away
Some can look past the lack of certain licenses, others can't. While the game has really zeroed in on licenses of big teams like Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, bringing an incredibly in-depth experience, the fact that the only official Premier League licensed teams are Liverpool and Arsenal hurts. Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United aren't in the game, rather masked under the team names London FC, Man Blue and Man Red, which isn't anything new. But in Spain, there is now only Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but no Real Madrid, Valencia, Villarreal or Sevilla. To PES' credit, it really improved South American leagues by having all 30 Argentina teams, the Chilean league, the Brazilian league and more.
2) No Copa Libertadores
The game still has the Champions League rights, but Copa Libertadores, South America's UCL basically, is gone. It was a fun, realistic mode to play but it's no longer in the game due to licensing. Not an overly huge deal for many, but for some big-time South American soccer fans, it's a negative.
Both of these games are much improved and can make a case as the best game out there. If you go and get one (to those who haven't yet), the choice, in the end, is yours. Both are fine choices, and both are extremely fun. But each does certain things better than the other.
Recommendation: Get both if you can!
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