FIFA 18 vs PES 2018
FIFA 18 vs PES 2018: What’s new?
By Brandon-Lee Westraat on 28th September 2017
EA Sports and Konami are delivering yet another entry in their respective football sims this year in the form of FIFA 18 and PES 2018. Both experiences are shaping up nicely, and we’ve compiled all the big differences to help you decide which game is right for you in 2017.
FIFA 18 vs PES 2018 – Graphics
FIFA 17 saw the switch to the Frostbite engine, and it took the game to the next level when it came to graphics. But FIFA 18 turns things up a notch, and a few tweaks have made all the difference. The crowd is no-longer a regimented heard, but a collection of people that all react differently and this really helps the atmosphere in the stadium.
There’s a new lighting system and improved shadows, both of which give more realism to the game, but some players do still feel a bit dead behind the eyes. PES 2017 had excellent player faces and details, but lacked much stadium atmosphere and had a poor general UI. It’ll be interesting to see if it again focuses on a few key players, stadiums and teams rather than giving it a bigger overhaul.
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Licenses
Konami’s football sim is expectantly lacking the major licenses you’ll expect to see in FIFA 18. However, once again they have formed an exclusive partnership with Barcelona FC that extends to both player likenesses and several stadiums.
You can expect to have all the biggest leagues and teams playable in FIFA 18, including the (My Favorite)Premier League and La Liga, along with likenesses of all the players. We’ve already seen FIFA is focusing big on Cristiano Ronaldo, going as far as motion-capturing him into the game. you can see there is a big focus on getting players as accurate as possible, even down to their individual running styles.
PES, on the other hand, has always struggled with licenses, which may or may not be a dealbreaker for you. From the PES 2018 teaser trailer we can see that once again it will focus on Barcelona so expect to see the Nou Camp along with players like Neymar, Messi, and Suarez recreated almost photo-realistically. PES 2018 will also likely benefit from having the exclusive license to the UEFA Champions and Europa League, Which Is no small feat by Konami. for some, that's a dealmaker.
Modes
The biggest new mode we saw in FIFA 2017 was the addition of a single-player campaign, something unheard of in a football game. The Journey, which focused on up-and-coming wonder kid Alex Hunter, was a success and it’s no surprise to see it making a return this year. The Journey: Hunter’s Return adds in a range of customisability options, a deeper story with more reliance on your decisions and the ability to leave England and play for a variety of teams.
We haven’t heard a lot about the other game modes that are coming in FIFA 18, but we know Ultimate Team is making a comeback and of course expect to see the usual array of career and tournament options. In terms of modes, PES 2018 makes further iterations to myClub, Master League, and the career mode. It’s a shame Konami hasn’t chosen to adopt a narrative-driven campaign in the same vein as The Journey.
Online
The only online mode that EA Sports has detailed so far is Ultimate Team, and even specifics are scarce on that at the minute. We do know that Ultimate Team is coming back and the previously Xbox exclusive player legends will now be available on PS4 and PC. PES 2018 now supports an online co-op mode featuring 2v2 and 3v3 variants, meaning you and group of friends can play together on the same team. You can have a one-off competition or form a clan that can play, rank up and aim for the top of leaderboards.
Gameplay
Improved gameplay is a big focus in FIFA 18, A new animation and motion system makes skills and movements much smoother, while dribbling is more fun. Crossing is less floaty, and new ‘Wonder Goals’ add some extra glamour to those special finishes. FIFA 18 feels a much more rounded and enjoyable experience, and certain aspects like the dribbling feel influenced by the free movement in recent PES titles. PES 2018 is likely to continue the focus on gameplay that Konami has pushed recently, and we’d expect it to still be the choice for pure football-sim enthusiasts.
Early impressions
Both FIFA 18 and PES 2018 are shaping up nicely with evident improvements made across the board in terms of visuals, gameplay, and modes. Only time will tell which football sim reigns supreme. And Now that the time has come for FIFA 18 to be released, the fight begins. As a FIFA fan, I'm quite biased and seeing that PES holds the rights to the UEFA Champions and Europa league brings a tear to my eye. But with the new additions coming to FIFA this year I'm definitely not going to be switching anytime soon, At the end of the day, it comes down to a personal choice. But if you are part of the FIFA Fam, I will see you online.
