Kick to the next generation — Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 E3 2018 hands-on

Konami has returned to the stadium once again with a new Pro Evolution Soccer. This time, it will be the first PES title to be held exclusively on next-gen consoles. At E3 2018, I had a chance to play a match to discover what the future of Pro Evolution Soccer is like.

After a brief presentation on the new features in the game, we were thrown out into the wild to play a match against others eager to get their hands, or feet, on Pro Evolution Soccer 2019. This time around, there is a unique stamina system where athletes will become visibly “worn out” if they are used for too long in the game. This becomes obvious if they start to pant, or their stamina meter is low. This adds a new level of strategy to the game by expecting players to switch out other athletes.

Switching out your team is very quick. Any time we had a break in playing, be it a penalty or otherwise, we had the chance to switch players on the fly by tapping the PlayStation 4’s touchpad. This was incredibly responsive and I was able to change my team quickly without worrying about any of my players getting too tired. These actions are formally called “quicksubs.”

Returning to PES as well is snow. When playing in the snow, the ball slides around more on the field as well as players sliding more when they go for a kick. However, in action, this change was more subtle than a dramatic game-changer. Each player has more skills and strengths as well, making them unique individuals rather than generic teammates.

PES 2019 looks beautiful. It’s getting closer to Konami’s goal of mirroring real life visuals with their Fox Engine. The lighting has been evolved and it definitely takes advantage of the 4K technology available. For this entry, they’ve managed to successfully capture David Beckham’s entire body in a 3D scan including his tattoos. Several other legends will appear on the field as well such as Romário, and more will be announced as the game inches closer to release date.

The full game will feature more licenses than before in the series with teams from Scotland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Russian Premier league. There will also be 40+ stadiums including Camp Nou and Allianz Parque.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 will be released on August 28th, 2018 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Stay tuned to Gaming Trend for more hands-on coverage from E3 2018.

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