Am I in love, or are you just really good looking?
PlayStation 3
Released in 2014 by Konami
Grade: A
Pro Evo 2015 is a fine game of soccer with beautiful graphics, pinpoint controls, realistic gameplay, and vastly improved physics.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the eighth of 11 installments on PS3, coinciding with its first release on PS4.
Praises and gripes
Konami’s previous soccer games are all pretty damn good. They are soccer simulations that still have a slightly mechanical feel. It’s part of their charm.
This game takes it up a notch, with genuine physics that feel organic. The ball soars through the air like a real ball. It takes unpredictable bounces as players try to corral it. Passes aren’t always perfect, especially if you’re off balance. You need to pay attention to your player’s positioning and ball control to master your timing, which is aided by the crystal clear graphics. You need finesse (and sometimes luck) to score.
The action is guided by solid AI and expansive tactical options. Soccer purists won’t be too disappointed, although I found the coaching menus a bit confusing. One very minor gripe is that CPU-controlled defenders might seem robotic in some situations.
As usual with modern soccer games, the control scheme is fantastic. The basics are straightforward. The more advanced controls make sense (like double-tapping Circle for a low cross, or pressing R2 to receive a pass softly). And there’s a very long list of expert controls to explore. Everything is responsive and dynamic.
And meanwhile, the game pulls off the magic trick of great soccer sims: It feels realistic as it plays out, but you don’t need 90 minutes to get a realistic final score. Playing 20-25 minutes seems right.
Did I mention this game looks great? The first time I played it, my eyes were so pleased. There’s a unique smoothness to it. The animations look good and the atmosphere puts you in the game, with various fields, stadiums, and weather conditions fitting nicely.
Although the game is lacking licenses for the majority of teams, the knock-off logos and uniforms are sufficient, at least for me. (I like soccer, but I’m not a scarf-wearing soccer hipster who claims loyalty to a team in a European city I’ve never been to.)