PES 2015: For a realistic on-field experience

If you're into soccer, you probably know there are mainly two kinds of players - and no, I don't mean good ones and bad ones. I'm talking about the breed known to be single-minded about scoring goals; the other breed are known as the game-makers, that is they set up goals. 

These are two clear styles of play. And in the interactions I've had with gamers (who don't kick the ball on the field, but use their fingers to direct players electronically), I found the same styles of gameplay. Thus, when I started playing Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 or PES 2015 (Rs 2,499 for PS3), I dived in with all my years of experience playing FIFA. And I was stumped. In FIFA, I was used to running with the ball towards the goal, without nary a thought of passing. Try that in PES, and you'll be dispossessed soon.

In this game by Konami, game-makers are the kings. And the artificial intelligence (AI) players, your teammates, are smart enough to score if you set up a goal. PES feels more like a team game than FIFA that way. While defending, however, it doesn't pay to be overtly aggressive, as I was sent off during one of the games. Pressure tactics, along with asking for help from teammates work better. On my PS3 console, the animation and gameplay was good, though FIFA is possibly a bit easier for newbies. PES forced me to formulate a gameplan and stick to it, with provisions for the changing scenarios. While the background score is refreshing, the commentary is repetitive.

One also has game modes such as "Master League" and "Become a Legend", while "myClub" feels somewhat laboured. Another problem is the lack of real teams, especially in the English Premier League.

PES 2015 is recommended for soccer purists who want the most realistic experience on the field. If you're more interested in the off-field bells and whistles, look elsewhere.