If FIFA is football’s equivalent of the popular older brother who’s; handsome, gets all the girls and wears the nicest clothes, then Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) is the middle child; smart, gifted but largely forgotten and overlooked by his—and most would say—superior older sibling. However true gamers know that (recently) PES is the only game for those who truly love the beautiful game.
During the PlayStation 2’s heyday it was the far superior football game, PES 5 being the crowning achievement. However the fall was greater than its rise, the quality of its sequels dropped harder than an Ashley Young dive, leaving FIFA to catch up with remarkable pace and assert its dominance on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
However recently, since PES 2015, something started to happen, it started to find its mojo again. Konami (for all their Orwellian shenanigans) reverted to what made the series so popular in the first place, delivering a near-accurate football experience via the gameplay. The latest offering, PES 2017 is the latest indication that they’re finally clipping at FIFA’s heels, when it comes to 'who makes the better game'. While the upcoming FIFA 17 will most likely do record breaking numbers and get more love from the mainstream, there’s no denying that PES will leave you with a fulfilling experience that may lead you to question whether to remain a 'disciple of FIFA' or convert to 'the church of PES'.