"FIFA 19" vs "PES 2019" - which football game is better?
Just in time for the start of the new Bundesliga season, the next big duel in the gaming world will begin- "FIFA 19" against "Pro Evolution Soccer 2019". And as every year, fans passionately discuss which football game is better.
I have mixed opinions about these 2 games. Over the years, both versions have changed considerably and the annual updates are now in the starting blocks: "PES 2019" will be released on 20 August, "FIFA 19" will follow on 25 September.
Who is ahead this year? Here is my first impressions of the Gamescom games fair, where I played a few multiplayer matches of each game.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
As with "FIFA", the same applies to the annual "PES" update: the changes are in the details. In 2014, Konami completely changed the graphics engine to make stadiums and player faces look more realistic. The whole game system was radically redesigned, it took some version numbers until the game feeling was round again.
Even though some fans suffered from the rebuilding and switched to "FIFA": The 2019 version of "PES" shows that the switch to Konami's Fox Engine has paid off: The ball physics are great, the animations are as soft as butter and the stadiums with their light effects and shadows are a feast for the eyes.
Is the game too slow? Nope - it's just more realistic and "FIFA" in my eyes is a bit too fast, compared to a real football match. Realism looks different. I also accept the criticism that many situations in "PES" are too dependent on chance only to a limited extent: Yes, there are often curious situations in the penalty area - but there are also curious situations in real football.
There is also a plus in realism with the now clearly more visible exhaustion of the players towards the end of a match. Simple passports don't sit exactly or shots on goal from a good position pass the box after all.
There is an understandable criticism of the defence system: With the push of a button, the opponent can quickly swindle the ball, similar to earlier "FIFA" parts. Here the EA competitor shows that it can also be more demanding.
And in terms of licenses, "PES" is slowly falling into the third division: the Bundesliga still doesn't exist, even from the English Premier League there are only a few teams like Liverpool or Arsenal in complete outfit. Also missing now are the licenses for the Champions and Europa League and from the cover no Ronaldo yells at me, but Barcas Philippe Coutinho or alternatively football pensioner David Beckham.
Conclusion
Compared to its predecessor, "PES 2019" uses a magnifying glass to look for innovations. But it doesn't matter: Last year Konami's football sim played itself much softer in my eyes than the wooden "FIFA" kickers, which also look even worse. But I think it's questionable whether you'll have to pay another 60 euros for it: "FIFA's killer argument with the many licences may still justify a new purchase every year, given the meagre "PES" supply, this argument is hardly justified.
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