It's like Wayne Rooney really is looking back at you. Many of the players resemble and act like their real-life counterparts. There are plenty of realistic bits in PES 2017, though. The mass market buyers, the younger crowd, will find it hard to ignore the appeal of their favorite clubs looking like their favorite clubs, with real kits and real stadiums. It'll be considered shallow by some, absolutely, but the fact that you're playing 'Manchester Red' and not 'Manchester United' will put off plenty and send them running to FIFA. The weak point of PES, however, is the thing that it's going to struggle to overcome. It's a fluid, genuine experience that rewards its players in the best way it can by making you feel like you're playing the real thing. It builds upon everything that has made it so popular over the many years of its existence. It's hard to fault the gameplay in PES 2017. You can just tap to play it where you hope your team mate will run, but you can also get more involved and decide on the direction and weighting of the pass should you wish. Set piece control is excellent, with much more interaction than just 'point and hoof,' and a particular personal favorite is the added control over through passes. You have to work to break down the defense in Pro Evo.

The adaptive AI that analyses the play to decide how best to counter adds a distinct challenge. There is a learning curve, especially if you're a first timer to the series, but being able to customize the controls helps get over that. PES 2017 is easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master.

Pes 17 licenses