eFootball PES 2021 Review Stellar Soccer Simulation

eFootball PES 2021 Review: Stellar Soccer Simulation

eFootball PES 2021 is the series’ best effort out of its current-gen offerings, but not enough change means it’s a better foundation than finale.

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eFootball PES 2021 Review Stellar Soccer Simulation

What’s being done with eFootball PES 2021 is a pretty bold decision from developer Konami – instead of a full-on overhaul and a new entry into the franchise, the game is being billed as an update to PES 2020. Essentially, PES 2021 is largely the same experience fans had with the prior year’s game with some minor improvements and the usual player shuffles and roster updates that keep these sorts of sports simulations up to date with their real-world counterparts.

As such, PES 2021 is by no means a significant change from its last iteration in PES 2020, but where change has been made, it’s noticeable. Having played through the last three iterations, the leap between PES 2019 and PES 2020 felt much more pronounced, while the differences in PES 2020 and PES 2021 might only be noticed by those who consider soccer simulators among their favorite games of each generation of consoles. That’s not a bad thing for PES 2021, though, which has often catered a bit more to entrenched fans rather than casual viewers, and the improvements made in gameplay and to Master League at least offer some steps forward, however small.

Of course, the biggest draw to the PES series is its gameplay, and that’s where the focus will be from fans and critics alike with each entry into the series. PES 2021 is almost identical to its predecessor in every way – character models haven’t been upgraded much, selection remains essentially the same, and there aren’t any new modes worth a look from seasoned fans. The actual execution of soccer strategy in PES 2021, however, has changed somewhat – it feels like passing in particular has become better, with players more able to control their range and pepper through timed strikes that create some gorgeous moments.

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eFootball PES 2021 Review Stellar Soccer Simulation

It’s also worth noting that, in PES 2020, it felt like the AI almost never made a mistake. Regardless of the quality of the side, players all took the pitch like clones of Messi, with even B-league strikers netting superb goals as though it were a commonplace occurrence in all levels of the sport. In PES 2021, whatever tweaks have been made to the way the CPU operates is appreciated, as they’re much more human in their approaches to the game. Now, players will actually miss passes, or mess up a strike, even when they’re being controlled by AI. As the difficulty level scales, it feels more appropriate to the level its on, which is especially great for competitors who simply aren’t as good at soccer sims as others.

Still, the way the game is played in PES 2021 remains a different flavor from FIFA, for better and worse. It just doesn’t feel as eye-popping or cinematic as FIFA, and that’s fine when the AI and the tight controls are firing on all cylinders, but exposed when a player makes a head-scratching decision or another team hunkers down for an attempt at a draw.

Off the pitch, there are some slight changes made to Master League that make it a more palatable experience. Manager models have been updated and there are some new matches to be played, but the mode is largely the same as it was – not that that’s a bad thing. Master League was already one of the best parts of PES 2020, and it remains as deep and fun as it was prior, even if the UI could seriously use some work to bring itself back out of the early 2000s.

One thing that occurred in the transition from PES 2019 to PES 2020 is that a lack of crucial game modes was covered up by some of the other major steps forward the series had taken. Now that PES 2021 is a much more muted progression for the franchise, it’s become abundantly clear that it still lacks a good single player story. There’s just nothing here that’s even close to the athletic stories told by other games, and it really hurts the title. Not everyone wants to play as an upstart and navigate their career, but enough consumers do that it should essentially be a requirement for these sorts of sports sims moving forward.

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That lack of change and some shortcomings that really shouldn’t exist at this point in the genre don’t fully detract from what remains a beautifully executed game for what it is. PES 2021 also benefits from a refreshing honesty on the part of Konami that sees it priced below a full-fledged video game release and treated more like the update it is, so that needs to be considered when evaluating it as a standalone title. It really is more of a top-up on the PES 2020 formula rather than an earnest attempt at pushing Konami’s soccer sim to the next level.

Where that approach leaves PES 2021 is, ultimately, exactly where PES 2020 was last year. PES 2021 still has the same qualities that make it alluring – its realistic approach to soccer, its deep and rewarding Master League system, and its MyClub system’s accessibility – and they aren’t going anywhere. The same can be said for its issues, though, including the licensing that has plagued the series for several iterations and results in some chuckle-worthy team names. All things considered, PES 2021 is a perfect point of entry for those who missed out on PES 2020 and a valuable update to the game for those who already own it, but it’s not different enough to cover up its flaws in the same way its predecessor did, making it an arguable tier lower than FIFA as sports fans turn their eyes towards what next-gen simulations can offer.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/efootball-pes-2021-game-review/

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