Pro Evolution Soccer had a very tough transition from last gen to this. It’s spent several years in FIFA’s shadow trying to get back to former glory. The last few PES games have made huge strides and closed right in on FIFA and this year’s PES makes no exception. More great improvements this year means that FIFA will have to follow suit to stay ahead.

This year Konami continues to work with PES fans to tailor the game to how we want. PES 2013 will concentrate on total freedom. You have full control of what type of ball you want to pass or cross and where to play it. Also you have total freedom of placement and style of shots. So now are gone the fabricated shooting and passing of old and in with “freedom back to the players.” It doesn’t stop there, you have fully manual one-twos, and dynamic first touch where players can choose how to receive the ball and how the player moves on the ball. Dribbling and close control have also been upgraded and the pace adjusted to perfectly replicate a real life game.

PES 2013 also continues to improve on trying to flawlessly mimic the biggest stars in the world by recreating how they run, move both on and off the ball, and how they display their skills. 50 of the world’s best, like Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar, have been studied carefully and brought to life on the pitch.

The AI has also been vastly improved. The defensive system sees teams acting quicker to losing possession and will backtrack and break while keeping a good defensive line. Goalkeepers will recognise dangers more efficiently and act accordingly.

Master League and Become a Legend has also seen changes to improve the experience like giving more information why transfers are breaking down. In Become a Legend you get more information of how to break into the squad. Online is improved in a few areas with the most noticeable being that the community is now split into 240 cities across the globe so you can now see when local players are online.

PES has now completely separated itself from being arcadey and is aiming for complete realism. With massive improvements this year, to an already good game, FIFA better be looking over its shoulder. PES wants its crown back and it’s putting up a good case.