Gaming
Games
The new modes that make PES 2018 sing
New year, new game, new modes – we dig in and explore what’s changed.
Soon you’ll be setting up your pal to score in PES
© Konami
It must be difficult for game developers; challenged every few years with inventing new, exciting reasons for us to go out and spend our hard-earned cash on their product. But somehow they achieve it. We get hyped for the latest game in our favourite long-running franchise, we go out and get it, we play it to death – and then we ask for more.
But it must be especially difficult for the people behind sports games. Whether it’s football, basketball, or driving, how can you add to a product that is, at its core, about playing the sport you love? Perhaps spurred on by the new ideas promised in FIFA 18, Konami have made sure that this year’s Pro Evolution Soccer, PES 2018, has added to the raft of features, and we’re here to give you the skinny on what they are, and why they’re so exciting.
Online co-op
Some may argue otherwise, but the new co-op mode is probably the best of the new modes on offer because of how many ways you can actually play it. Whether you want to do 2v2 or 3v3 you can join with your friends and take the action online in an effort to level up your players and make your team the one to beat. There are lots of stats to work towards, as well as your overall co-op level, like your co-op courtesy level, and there are playstyles like “bomber”, “defensive master”, and even a whole host of co-op playing skills to improve.
Better yet, Konami haven’t forgotten that a lot of us still like to play local matches with our pals on the couch, and this mode has support for local guests. That means you can be playing online with your internet friends, while your real-life friend can sit next to you and join in.
A look at the new 2018 Master League
© Konami
Random Selection Match
While this isn’t a new mode, it is one that’s been missing for a while. The easiest way to describe Random Selection Match is that it’s kind of like FIFA’s FUT Draft mode, only PES did it first – for some reason they just stopped doing it.
The idea is that you select teams and leagues and then you’ll get a random mish-mash of all the players put into your squad. This means Barcelona’s Suarez might end up playing up front with Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale on the left, and Dortmund’s Marco Reus on the right side for one match, yet the next random selection lets you play Neymar and Costa up front. The possibilities for fun here are so high and we’re over the moon this mode is finally making its way back into the series.
Real player faces are in the game this time
© Konami
Master League upgrade
Lastly, one of the all time favourite modes in PES, Master League has been upgraded. This year you’re going to be able to really immerse yourself into being the manager who’s running a club, because there will be pre-season tournaments and a better transfer system. We’re hoping that they go deep with this in a Football Manager style, but there are even going to be locker room scenes and pre-match interviews.
Importantly, too, the overall presentation improvements the whole game has will play into Master League. In your head you’re pretending you’re Jose Mourinho, but on the pitch you’re seeing strange graphical overlays that you don’t recognise. Now there will be proper, more real-life looking UI elements which have been a long time coming, not least thanks to the fact there are real player faces in the game this time.
It all adds up to a fuller, more immersive Master League experience, and we can't wait to get started. In fact, since PES had the gameplay nailed so well last year, it seems that these new modes are going to add depth to an already fit to burst package, especially with crazy stuff like Usain Bolt appearing in the game.
On top of all that, PES seems to be doubling down on its eSports commitments, introducing MyClub, Random Select, and co-op categories into the PES League. More info will be coming in the months leading up PES 2018’s release in September 2017, and we’re still hoping for some MyClub improvements and extra licenses. Until then, we’re just very, very excited.
For more gaming coverage, follow @RedBullGames on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
