If you know me, you'll know I've been totally hooked on Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 for the past few months. While I've often enjoyed releases by Konami in its long-running series, the latest entry is the only title that has gripped me like the franchise did in its heyday, back when it was pumping out dominant iterations on a yearly basis for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.

I'm not biased towards PES or FIFA. I've adored both franchises with varying degrees of passion over the past 20 years, and at present, I enjoy them both. That said, I've found myself more enticed by Konami's game over the past few months, and I want to take this opportunity to discuss why PES 2017 emerged as my surprise game of the year.
 

(PES 2010: One of the weakest outings in PES' history.)

Progress

Listen, it's somewhat of a freakin' miracle that we're talking about Pro Evolution Soccer in such high regard these days. Towards the end of the last decade, Pro Evolution Soccer's reputation was on the verge of a downward shift, while EA Sports' FIFA series had mapped out a plan to overhaul its aging formula.

PES' switch to the seventh generation of consoles (PS3/Xbox 360) was anything but a smooth ride, and as its engine failed to make a seamless transition, its gameplay began to falter. Before long, there was little reason for the public to keep investing in a product with fewer licenses, worse presentation and arguably inferior gameplay compared to its flourishing competition.

It's only in recent years that things have begun to swing in Konami's favor once more. The introduction of the Fox engine (also used in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) was one of the catalysts for this, debuting in the series' 2014 edition. The engine has since matured with a host of updates, emerging as a surprisingly perfect choice for a soccer game.

You can point to the franchise's history as a reason why I admire PES 2017 so fondly, as it was only a few years ago that the series had completely lost my interest. Its grand resurgence is nothing short of a minor miracle.

The Beautiful Game

A simulation approach has traditionally been at the heart of Pro Evolution Soccer's gameplay, and considering the series' rich history on the field, it's both surprising and satisfying to say PES 2017 is arguably the best iteration in its history. Why? Let's get into it.

PES 2017 is slower and occasionally less responsive than you might anticipate at first, and it takes time to get used to its style of play. It's an ultimately rewarding style though, as it works to create a sense of measured fluidity that exists in the real game. This is complemented by an outstanding array of animations that adapt to practically any potential in-game scenario.

As a result, you're challenged to play a realistic style of soccer, and you're never afforded allowances in excess speed, strength or space to exploit. If you try to cheat the system, you'll soon pay for it, so it's beneficial to play a strategic game based around well-crafted build-up plays. The sense of achievement you get from pulling off a calculated move is supremely satisfying, purely because it's an authentic, hard-worked luxury.

The game nails the fundamental aspects of the sport, from rigid defensive positioning to the limited amount of time each player is allowed on the ball. This is a team game, and assuming your success because of the presence of one-or-two stars is a surefire path to failure. If you want to get the most out of Ronaldo or Messi, you can't afford to focus all your attention on them alone, akin to real-world soccer. Darting, unstoppable runs are limited in nature, forcing you to think strategically and work on your passing game to achieve success. PES 2017 mirrors this element of the sport to perfection.

In my view, there are two particularly big improvements in PES 2017 that push it way beyond its immediate predecessor. The first is Adaptive AI, which is a feature that allows computer opponents to play with unique traits and adapt to your tactics on the fly, creating an ever-varied experience from game to game. It rarely grows tiresome playing against the CPU as you're never facing the same tactics twice.

The other big upgrade comes in the form of goalkeepers. Konami has traditionally struggled with them over the past decade, but this time around, their highly increased reaction times, shot-stopping abilities and range of animations are a revelation. They're still prone to errors, but these instances are significantly less common.

When you feel like you're playing real soccer, the resulting sense of achievement is an addictive trait that rarely loses its appeal. PES 2017 brings all the right real-world elements together to create a game that feels reminiscent of the series' heyday.
 

Creating A Story

As soccer fans, we don't know how lucky we've got it. EA's FIFA 17 gives us the fantastic story-based mode, The Journey, offering the ability to follow Alex Hunter on his quest for Premier League stardom. Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer can't boast the same luxuries that EA's Frostbite engine provides at present, but still manages to deliver memorable stories through its existing mediums. By that, I mean Master League and Become A Legend.

I'm a particular fan of Master League, which is PES' answer to Career or Franchise Mode. It’s a long-running and much-loved feature that hasn't undergone all that many updates in recent years, but in PES 2017, it doesn't feel particularly stale. The mode flourishes due to the title's enhanced gameplay, and as a result, you feel more compelled than ever to play through multiple seasons.

The best thing about Master League is that it gives you the tools to create your very own story. You can do this in a variety of ways, but arguably the best and most famous of these is to craft a team around the mode's default players. By selecting this option, you're given a team of fake, lower-league members you need to mold a successful club around, training them or signing replacements if you desire.

This concept has existed in the series for years, but when combined with PES 2017's excellent on-the-pitch gameplay, it's particularly easy to get fully immersed in the stars, victories and championship title runs you can generate with it. I myself just got finished up with a multi-year campaign with the Go Ahead Eagles of the Eredivisie, winning the treble after crafting a team of loan players, free agents, and of course, those default players.

To me, it's about immersion. I'm one of those gamers that makes up stories in my head about my virtual teams. I've done it for years with Football Manager, and periodically with FIFA and PES. Whether it's the sign of a disturbing mental issue isn't the point here, it's also the sign of an outstanding soccer game. Master League utilizes the 2017 editions' refined gameplay to excellent effect, and the result is a brilliantly immersive experience.
 

Overlooking The Negatives

We had a great year for sports games in 2016, but PES particularly stood out for me. There are many factors that put it atop my personal list, and despite its faults, I've found myself largely willing to overlook those negative factors.

And that's just me. You might be totally different, seeing things like authentic licenses for every team or an incredible presentation suite as the most crucial element of your soccer gaming experience. To me, it'll always be gameplay above all else, and that's why I can look past the downsides.

But they exist, and they're visible for all to see. The dominant Master League has issues with regenerated players and its poorly-implemented transfer system. Upgrades to the series' presentation features are still a work in progress, despite impressing in certain ways. I'm not naive enough to suggest that even its outstanding gameplay never falters, either. It does, although never to a significantly detrimental effect.

These issues don't bother me enough to affect my lasting impression. It's rare that I can play a game with notable scope for improvement and still enjoy it to the degree I do with PES 2017, but that's a testament to its relentlessly immersive, addictive and realistic on-the-pitch experience.
 

What's Next?

You can argue about PES and FIFA, but those arguments are born out of a healthy rivalry between two historically outstanding franchises. We're the ones that benefit from it, and if it continues, it can only mean good things for us as fans.

I really wasn't expecting to enjoy PES 2017 to the extent that I have. Even the previous version, which received excellent critical acclaim, felt lacking to me, and I wasn't sure PES could ever reach its dizzying heights once again. I'm not sure what to anticipate from Konami's series going forward, but if PES 2017 is anything to go by, its future looks brighter than ever.

What are your thoughts on PES 2017? Was it your GOTY? Let us know in the comments.