First PES 2015 details and screenshots look stunning…if you support Manchester United!

PES is back with it’s yearly iteration and this time it looks to be a world beater.

FIFA or PES? FIFA or PES? FIFA or PES? It’s the same question that goes round every year, with FIFA coming out on top for the last few years.

Will the 2015 versions be different? The first screens and details from PES 2015 certainly point that way with the FOX engine looking to bring something remarkable to Xbox One later this year.

But graphics aren’t the be all and end all and this year Konami are raising the stakes with its on-field realism and heart-in-mouth moments and key components.

By looking at three key tenets of the modern game, the PES Productions Team has completely reworked the in-game shooting and goal-keeping mechanics as follows:

• Excitement Of Goals – A new shooting system allows a variety of unrestricted shooting styles with precise control over the direction and power of all strikes. Countering enhanced attacking options, goal keepers intuitively close angles and are capable of an incredible number of ways to react to any situation, including altering centre of gravity.
• Final Pass – Likewise, passing options available to players when delivering a final pass have been expanded, allowing for little knock-ons or searing low passes that use new physics routines to ensure the ball behaves realistically across every situation, providing unique and differing outcomes decided by user actions.
• 1 on 1 – The final key element that has been totally reworked centres around the degree of close control on offer. Positioning is vital, but the ability to dribble into space and beat your marker is now hugely improved and opens up PES 2015 as the definitive on-field experience.

The above will all be supported with:

• Incredible Response Times: Lightning fast controls allow users to instinctively react to every movement when the ball is in play.
• Full Pitch AI: The game engine now features AI that is constantly adjusted covering everything that develops on the pitch, resulting in players making runs, finding space and marking opponents even when off the screen.
• Closest Control: Take on defenders using each player’s bespoke dribbling skills, as opposed to relying on ‘trick’ moves. New skills include jinking runs, responsive sprints and incorporating a much wider range of pace – from walking to sprinting.
• Case for Defence: Users have complete control over when to close down, tackle, or hold up play. Successful defending is based entirely on the decisions the user makes.

And then we see the return of some of the series’ key points along with PES ID:

• PES ID: Teams will be set up to play as they do in real-life, while their star players will work within this framework, but will be instantly recognisable via their runs and playing styles. The world’s greatest teams will not only move and find space like they would in real life, they will also defend or attack like them automatically.
• Balance of Play: Teams will automatically adopt their real-life counterparts’ game plan, whether it is counter-attacking, out wide, or defensively minded.
• Realistic Abilities: While the world’s greatest players are indeed capable of moments of incredible skill, PES 2015 focuses on their abilities as a player and not their flicks and tricks. Beating a man using pace and close control is key to attacking play, and only those that can will get away with rainbow flicks. And, even then, not every time…
• myClub: Extensive Master League Online overhaul allows players and managers to be added using accumulated GP or via micro-transactions within club dealings. Agents now used to meet player requirement criteria, while unhappy players can upset the balance of a side to detrimental effect. Extends to offline play.
• Live Updates: Weekly data updates constantly adjust transfers and team line-ups in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian leagues. Player data is also updated based on current performances every week, so if a player is on a goal-scoring streak, his stats will be boosted accordingly in the update. Applied to all online modes and optional within single-player mode.
• Accurate Player Stats: The player parameter system for PES has been completely rebuilt, working with key community sites across the globe to create the most realistic player stats database.
• Adaptable Match Environments: Does your opponent prefer to play a passing game? Then tell the groundsman not to cut the grass so short. Or have it watered to speed up your team’s passing play. You can tailor any part of your stadia to suit your bespoke needs.

We’ll have more details as and when they emerge from Konami HQ but PES 2015 will be released on Xbox One and additional formats during the autumn/winter of 2014.

Keep an eye out for it!