FIFA 19 vs PES 2019: whether you’re after the best licences, modes, or gameplay, here’s who wins between the best football games
Every year Konami and EA battle it out to produce the best football game on the market, and every year a similar story unfolds: FIFA has the licences, but PES wins on the gameplay front.
The battle of PES 2019 vs. FIFA 19 takes those differences to new extremes, especially as Konami has now lost the UEFA Champions League licence to FIFA – ouch. To combat this, Konami has doubled down on what has set PES apart from FIFA over the past few years, which is the fidelity of its gameplay.
While both games are great in their own ways, and diehard fans of either game will be hard to sway, most of us only have the time and money to spare for one new football game every year. So, of course, the question is FIFA 19 or PES 2019.
To help make up your mind we’ll compare this year’s new entries across a few key categories – authenticity and presentation, gameplay, and modes – to see which title emerges victorious. Here’s how FIFA 19 compares to PES 2019.
One of the main reasons so many people pick FIFA over PES every year is because it offers official licences for the biggest clubs and leagues in the world, particularly the Premier League. This year, EA has bolstered its offerings with the UEFA Champions League, which is arguably the most sought after piece of silverware in football.
Basically, if you want to play as your favourite club in career mode, or play out iconic derby days like El Clásico or Manchester United against City, then FIFA 19 has the lot – including kits, stats, relevant commentary, and stadiums to really sell the occasion. Want to take Pompey to the Premier League? You can do that in FIFA 19. Want to win the treble with Chelsea? You can do that too.
By contrast, a Manchester derby in PES 2019 will feature Man Red and Man Blue, while a Madrid derby will be a clash between MD White and KB Red White. There are a few officially partnered clubs from each of the big leagues that help tie PES 2019 to real-world football: FC Barcelona, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, FC Schalke 04, AC Milan, Inter, AS Monaco, Celtic, and Rangers are among the some of big clubs available in PES 2019.
PES 2019 does still include a number of real-world players, making it possible to boast a front-three of Sané, Kane, and Higuaín despite none of their clubs being in the game – they’ll even have realistic stats and faces. PES 2019 also made up for the loss of the UEFA licence by grabbing a slew of new franchises, including the Danish Superliga, Portugal’s Liga NOS, Belgium Pro League, Swiss Super League, Scotland’s Ladbrokes Premiership, Superliga Argentine, and Russian Premier Liga (exclusive to PES 2019).
As PES 2019 is available on Steam, you can also mod it to include all of the clubs and kits imaginable, which fans have been doing for years now. It can’t match the visual quality of FIFA 19, and nothing can solve PES 2019’s bland commentary, but if you really want to see your club represented in the game then it’s possible.
So what about the actual football? This is where PES 2019 excels and has done for a few years on the trot. Put simply, PES 2019 delivers a more realistic, fluid, and better paced footballing experience than FIFA 19, one where scoring a goal feels worthy of celebrating rather than something that happens every minute. There’s real toil involved in breaking down an enemy defence, where one wrong pass or poor first touch can open your team to a dangerous counter-attack.
You won’t breeze past opponents with 10-0 scorelines in PES 2019, but you’ll score some of the most breathtaking goals committed to screen thanks to the game’s superior ball physics and improved animations. Strikers contort their bodies in myriad ways depending on where the ball is coming from. From controlled chip shots and rising strikes, to 25-yard curlers that bend their way around a wall of defenders and into the top corner of the goal, you have what feels like limitless freedom in how you take your shots.
Additional passing animations work in tandem with AI that contextually knows what type of pass to play, whether that’s pinging it out wide with the outside of the boot or a measured, side-footed through ball. The increased attention given to animations has had the biggest impact on the quality of PES 2019’s goalkeepers, who no longer flap at easy saves or crab-walk instead of dive. Keepers are still absolutely useless when they come off their line, though, so not everything is perfect.
Ball physics and an increased sense of physicality double down on the series’ trademark sense of weight with the only niggle being that the referees are a bit too keen to award fouls, which can be frustrating when you definitely got the ball.
FIFA 19 has made a few changes this year as well, but it’s still very much an arcade interpretation of the game. As ever, you can ping the ball around the field with laser precision without ever having to take a touch first. This creates games that are always open, frantic, and full of goals, which is fun, but unconvincing when compared to the sport as it’s actually played.
Significant changes to how pace works mean you can no longer ping the ball out to a winger like Bale or Biabiany and rely on them carrying it all the way to the byline uncontested. This slows down the gameplay of FIFA 19 a little, but not much. Likewise, small tweaks have been made to battling for the ball so that more is taken into account than just the strength stats of both players involved.
The last gameplay change comes in the form of the new Active Touch System, which gives you a lot more choice about how you receive the ball and allows for some devious traps, feints, and flicks.
The biggest changes to be found are in the menus where heaps of new tactical tools have been added so that would-be managers can tune their teams to perfection. You can get your fullbacks to invert their runs or loft balls in from the corner, ask your defence to press aggressively whenever an opposition player takes a heavy touch, choose how many players you want to send forward for corner kicks, and manually decide the depth and width of your team across the pitch.
Ultimately, FIFA 19 makes a few small adjustments to its gameplay that refine and improve on last year’s offering, but fans have been asking for substantial changes for years now, so these tweaks may not be enough for some.
FIFA takes the plaudits with ease when it comes to what game modes are available, with a main story, a wealth of online modes, and a bunch of wacky one-off match types that are hit-and-miss.
The key new addition is House Rules, which add rule presets to standard exhibition matches, ranging from a Survival Mode that has you lose a player every time you score a goal, to No Rules where studs-up, two-footer horror tackles are fair game and you’ll never have to bend your run to stay onside.
The Journey, which is FIFA’s story mode, also returns for its third iteration. This time around you can switch between three different characters, each with their own career goals, personality, and story. It’s not an essential mode, but it adds even more ways for FIFA 19 players to extend their enjoyment of the game, it also providing a welcome change in tone. With the Europa and Champions League cups also available in the game, both as separate tournaments you can play with your friends, it’s impressive just how much /footballing/ EA has managed to cram into FIFA 19.
FIFA 19 Ultimate Team still has the edge over PES 2019’s MyClub where presentation, simplicity, and polish are concerned. But MyClub has a few impressive features that are sorely missing from FUT, such as being able to hire skill and position trainers to develop your squad further. MyClub is also finally getting an answer to FIFA’s Team of the Week by having Featured Players with boosted stats and skills based on their recent real-world performances.
While PES 2019 can’t hold a candle to FIFA 19 with regards to how many game modes it has, it does boast a career mode that could give Football Manager a run for its money when it comes to simulations and stats. It might take some time to get used to the obtuse UI, but spend some time managing a club in PES 2019 and you won’t be left wanting for ways to monitor, track, and develop your team. Charts and reports are available for everything from player development to wage breakdowns, making it easy to identify shortfalls in your system or budget. The addition of proper transfer negotiations rounds off the whole package, letting you conjure up the perfect contract, which is a lot more exciting than it has any right to be.
So, should you buy FIFA 19 or PES 2019? Konami takes the crown this year despite losing the UEFA licence. PC players can patch in the clubs with ease, meaning the only real difference between the two is the presentation, gameplay, and modes on offer. FIFA 19 certainly wins on the presentation front, with slick and clean menus, authentic broadcasting overlays, and realistic cinematics.
PES 2019 has more detail and and features in its MyClub and career modes, but it can’t match the sheer number of ways you can sit down and play FIFA 19, be it through hilarious new rule sets, customisable tournaments, or The Journey story mode.
That’s two in favour of FIFA 19, but the reason PES 2019 wins overall is because its gameplay is as close to the real deal as football games have ever got. Even if some of the club names are risible, PES 2019 just feels so much more like football when you’re playing it, and by adding to its package in meaningful ways off the pitch, PES 2019 has managed to outwit rather than outgun EA’s behemoth.
So what about the actual football? This is where PES 2019 excels and has done for a few years on the trot. Put simply, PES 2019 delivers a more realistic, fluid, and better paced footballing experience than FIFA 19, one where scoring a goal feels worthy of celebrating rather than something that happens every minute. There’s real toil involved in breaking down an enemy defence, where one wrong pass or poor first touch can open your team to a dangerous counter-attack.
The Journey, which is FIFA’s story mode, also returns for its third iteration. This time around you can switch between three different characters, each with their own career goals, personality, and story. It’s not an essential mode, but it adds even more ways for FIFA 19 players to extend their enjoyment of the game, it also providing a welcome change in tone. With the Europa and Champions League cups also available in the game, both as separate tournaments you can play with your friends, it’s impressive just how much /footballing/ EA has managed to cram into FIFA 19. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. 
Борьба между футбольными симуляторами FIFA и PES началась еще со времен первой PlayStation. За более чем два десятка лет каждая из этих серий сколотила вокруг себя огромное число фанатов. Однако многих до сих пор волнует вопрос: что же лучше — PES или FIFA? Если вы не знаете, что выбрать, в этой статье мы постараемся объяснить, какая из этих игр кому подойдет. Советуем также ознакомиться с нашими отдельными обзорами FIFA 19 и PES 2019.
Если говорить о реалистичности футбола, то здесь первенство уже долгое время удерживает серия PES. В 2018 году ничего не изменилось. PES 2019 действительно позволяет ощутить всю красоту футбола.
Каждая команда и даже футболист играют совершенно по-разному, имеют свои тактики, плюсы и минусы. В FIFA 19 же с этим все более аркадно. Зачастую матчи однотипны и не имеют такого огромного разнообразия в непредсказуемости ситуаций как в PES.
Для начала стоит определиться с тем, что для вас атмосфера. Если вам важна именно игра в футбол в том виде, в котором его придумали, PES 2019 — более интересная. Если же вы хотите услышать реалистичные звуки трибун и любите, чтобы эмблемы топовых клубов вроде мадридского Реала были точными копиями своих аналогов, тогда вам в FIFA.
К тому же в FIFA 19 есть русские комментаторы, которые существенно прибавляют атмосферности во время матчей, рассказывая о достижениях и проблемах футболистов и выкрикивая протяжное «Гооооол». В PES 2019 русской озвучки нет, да и английские комментаторы не блещут красноречием.
Здесь лидерство достается FIFA. В ней больше интересных режимов, есть сюжет с интересной историей о футболе, но самое главное, в FIFA 19 лицензированы почти все известные клубы и стадионы. Реал Мадрид здесь — Реал Мадрид, а не какое-то выдуманное название как в PES.
К тому же в FIFA 19 появились Лига чемпионов и Лига Европы, в то время как в PES 2019 их больше нет. Зато в футболе от Konami с недавних пор можно поиграть за РФПЛ, в то время как из FIFA эту лигу решили убрать.
Научиться играть можно быстрее в PES, но научиться побеждать сильных соперников легче, как ни странно, в FIFA. Дело в том, что PES гораздо глубже в плане тактики, финтов и индивидуальных характеристик, чем FIFA. Это в свою очередь и плюс, и минус.
Если вам не лень часами сидеть и изучать один финт, в надежде постичь всю его пользу, то вам точно в симулятор от Konami. Если же вы хотите играть в футбол без танцев с бубном и постоянного чтения мануала, FIFA — ваш выбор.
Перед тем, как писать обзоры FIFA 19 и PES 2019 мы наиграли по 25-30 часов в каждой из этих игр на PS4 Pro. Честно говоря, серьезных проблем с серверами в обеих играх замечено не было, но неприятные косяки все же встречались. В PES 2019 — это долгий поиск соперников и тормоза во время матчей. Случается редко, но все же.
В FIFA 19 проблема встречалась больше в интерфейсе. К примеру, купили какого-то игрока, потом хотим его принять в команду, а тут нам сразу вылетает сообщение, что мол подождите, пока EA решит свои проблемы с серверами. Эх, сколько лет прошло, а избавиться от этих косяков все еще не смогли.
Что касается именно онлайн-режимов, в PES 2019 главным является MyClub, в то время как в FIFA 19 — Ultimate Team. Честно говоря, Konami так и не удалось дотянуться до уровня EA в этом вопросе. Чего стоит одно только трансферное меню в FIFA 19, в котором можно потратить десятки часов на выгодные сделки и заработок монет.
Профессионалам будет интереснее играть именно в FIFA, поскольку по ней чаще проводятся киберспортивные турниры и официальные чемпионаты. В PES 2019 всего этого гораздо меньше, а те режимы, что есть — быстро приедаются. Один только кооператив может немного развеселить при игре с друзьями. В остальном же онлайн у этой игры сильно уступает конкуренту.
Несмотря на то, что мы нашли больше положительных сторон именно в FIFA 19, мы не можем однозначно утверждать, что этот футбольный симулятор стопроцентно лучше. Кому-то важен геймплей, а поэтому он будет смотреть в сторону PES. Кто-то хочет получить максимум контента, включая сюжет, Лигу чемпионов, трансферов и интереснейший онлайн. В этом случае FIFA 19 более актуальна. Как бы то ни было, обе игры хороши и понравятся любителям виртуального футбола.
Хотим обратить ваше внимание, что статья напичкана личным мнением автора, а поэтому в некоторых моментах оно может не совпадать с вашим.
Каждая команда и даже футболист играют совершенно по-разному, имеют свои тактики, плюсы и минусы. В FIFA 19 же с этим все более аркадно. Зачастую матчи однотипны и не имеют такого огромного разнообразия в непредсказуемости ситуаций как в PES.
Для начала стоит определиться с тем, что для вас атмосфера. Если вам важна именно игра в футбол в том виде, в котором его придумали, PES 2019 — более интересная. Если же вы хотите услышать реалистичные звуки трибун и любите, чтобы эмблемы топовых клубов вроде мадридского Реала были точными копиями своих аналогов, тогда вам в FIFA. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. 
Comparing this year's football games.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
The last two years, you'll find a number of hardcore fans who preferred PES over FIFA. To EA's credit, the development team working on FIFA hasn't rested on its licenses. This year's game is strong, but which one is the best football game available?
I've broken this battle on the virtual pitch down to 21 key categories.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
Both games do an excellent job recreating near photorealistic versions of prominent players in the football world. However, FIFA's licensing power gives EA access to more clubs, and that leads to an increased amount of super-accurate face scans.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
I don't want to attribute FIFA's superiority over PES in this category exclusively to access. The art team for FIFA finds the back of the net with so many players, it's really impressive. Even their depiction of non-scanned players is still miles ahead of PES' free-hand footballers.
FIFA is clearly superior here based as much on volume as it is on consistency.
Player Models
The body styles are very similar in both games. Konami and EA have come a long way in creating realistic looking soccer players for their games.
There isn't a ton of variance between player body types in either game, but football may have the most similar frames of any sport. Because of that, there is no visual disconnect or major advantage on either side.
Both games feature some beautifully rendered stadiums. However, if I had to choose one that captures the atmosphere of the beautiful game inside one of the sport's most historic stadiums, I'd go with PES 2019. However, it's hard for me to give Konami the edge here because it only has 19 fully-rendered and licensed grounds.
Camp Nou is exclusive to PES 2019, and it looks great, but there aren't enough unique grounds in the game.
Credit: Brian Mazique - PES 2019
FIFA has more than 70 fully licensed stadiums from 13 countries, and it isn't as if the fields and stands look shabby in EA's game. Again, volume + quality gives FIFA a little bit of an edge.
Foot Planting
This is a tough one because both games do a pretty decent job in this area, but as you'll see in the Twitter videos below, there is a bit of a slide at the end of some of the stop and go movements in PES 2019. The plants and changes of direction are a little more true in FIFA 19.
Doing a little comparison of the foot-planting in the football games - first up #FIFA19 pic. twitter. com/5nEr4VxSoI
Doing a little comparison of the foot-planting in the football games - next up #PES2019 pic. twitter. com/lizoGs1g7S
Running animations are so important in soccer games, well because the players spend so much time darting back and forth that it's obviously the predominant animation. I like the overall movement in both games, but for me, FIFA's sprints look a little more natural. Also, the change in pace is more accurately reflected on the player's facial expressions.
FIFA 19 offers more fluid action while PES 2019 feels a little too stop-and-go, especially when it comes to rapid passing on offense.
Ball Physics
The bounce of the ball is critical in any simulation of this sport. With FIFA's new Active Touch, their ball physics have taken a noticeable leap. In previous years, I've like PES more in this area, but I'd have to call it even in this year's contest.
Player-to-Player Physics
Soccer is a contact sport. The bumps, pulls and every other collision needs to be properly represented. EA has done an excellent job with its collision detection and it's much easier to find instances of clipping in PES.
Clipping is a slight issue in PES 2019
Credit: Brian Mazique - PES 2019
This was a major win for FIFA 19 this year–at least on offense. Your teammates will continue to run even after delivering a pass or in anticipation of receiving one. This action creates angles for through-balls and other rapid passing opportunities.
So many times playing PES 2019, I wondered aloud, "why would you stop running?" On defense, I haven't noticed a ton of issues on either side, although I will say FIFA's default mode is far easier than PES', but both have enough variety in the difficulty settings to allow you to find your sweet spot.
Offense/Defense Balance
FIFA's gameplay leans a bit more to the offense and PES is more of a defensive gaming experience. Which one you value kind of depends on what you prefer. This is really too close to call, and it would be unfair to give one game the edge over the other here.
Fun-Tech Balance
Without a question, FIFA 19 is the most fun to play of the two. Many will stop reading at this point, and that's understandable because that's ultimately what it all boils down to. The game is just more free-flowing and intense, especially when you're playing against another human opponent.
Rating Adherence
Stars feel more like elite players in FIFA with the controller in my hands. As soon as you take control of a top-notch player in FIFA, there's this extra juice that you can feel. If you weren't aware of who your cursor was on, the feel will make you look up at the top of the screen to check for the name of the player.
That doesn't happen as much in PES 2019.
In an absolute landslide, FIFA 19 has the better commentary. There is a second announce team for UEFA contests, plus Martin Tyler and Allan Smith's commentary is more conversational. Perhaps the worst aspect of PES 2019 is its commentary.
At first, I didn't like either soundtrack, but the more I played FIFA, the tracks started to grow on me. Truthfully, the same would likely happen with PES after a while, so this one has to be considered a draw too because neither stood out initially. Also, this is purely a matter of preference when it comes to artist and music genres.
Intermission Highlights
I'm not sure why other sports games don't adopt FIFA's approach to intermission highlights. It shows the most important plays from the half from different angles, but the key is their usage of the audio from the call in the game. It comes off brilliantly, and it far exceeds what PES does.
The only other sports game with a halftime show anywhere as good is NBA Live.
From a presentation standpoint, FIFA 19 does a better job than every sports game on the market. The special UEFA, La Liga, and English Premier League package only drive this home even more. Unfortunately, PES 2019 has nothing that is quite on par with this level of presentation.
Replay Suite
Both games have good replay suites, although I wish you could focus on a specific area of the pitch rather than the ball or one of the players.
Still, if you're searching for the answer as to how a goal was scored or missed, or simply want a closer look at a great sequence, both games have the proper setup. I'll give PES 2019 the edge because of the ability to save replays in the gallery.
Customization
While FIFA 19's customization suite is decent, it is nothing compared to the one in PES 2019. Konami has smartly provided its community with the tools to create clubs and players that they haven't been able to secure the rights to use.
FIFA used to have an app similar to the one EA used for the NCAA Football franchise, but it doesn't exist anymore. For years, EA games have simply abandoned customization options almost across the board. This category is easily in favor of PES 2019.
Feature Set
Both games have a number of game modes available, but the biggest difference makers in this category are The Journey and FUT Draft. PES 2019 doesn't have a story like the Journey and their collector mode, MyClub doesn't have a draft option.
It makes the decision pretty simple here.
Beyond having a few more modes to offer, FIFA 19 also has more depth. Online team play is deeper, and FUT has more layers than MyClub. Career mode is bigger and better than Master League and Be A Legend.
It's easy to see FIFA's edge here as well. However, I still believe PES has the best player unveils in a collector's mode–for whatever that's worth.
Single-Player Experience
On the strength of the Journey alone, FIFA offers more for the single-player experience. When you add in superior career modes, it's another rout.
Multiplayer Experience
I like the options online and offline in multiplayer for both games. Both PES and FIFA give you a number of couch play options as well as online co-op and competitive. You won't be disappointed in either game's multiplayer options.
The Final Tally
I have 14 for FIFA, 2 for PES and 5 even. Many of the categories were close to me, but FIFA 19 is clearly the best football available this year.
For years, it was easy to decide which football game to purchase. You went to the closest retailer and you bought FIFA X-year, and that was that. However, over the past four years, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series has come on strong.
Comparing this year's football games.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
The last two years, you'll find a number of hardcore fans who preferred PES over FIFA. To EA's credit, the development team working on FIFA hasn't rested on its licenses. This year's game is strong, but which one is the best football game available?
I've broken this battle on the virtual pitch down to 21 key categories.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
Both games do an excellent job recreating near photorealistic versions of prominent players in the football world. However, FIFA's licensing power gives EA access to more clubs, and that leads to an increased amount of super-accurate face scans.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
I don't want to attribute FIFA's superiority over PES in this category exclusively to access. The art team for FIFA finds the back of the net with so many players, it's really impressive. Even their depiction of non-scanned players is still miles ahead of PES' free-hand footballers.
FIFA is clearly superior here based as much on volume as it is on consistency.
Player Models
The body styles are very similar in both games. Konami and EA have come a long way in creating realistic looking soccer players for their games.
There isn't a ton of variance between player body types in either game, but football may have the most similar frames of any sport. Because of that, there is no visual disconnect or major advantage on either side.
Both games feature some beautifully rendered stadiums. However, if I had to choose one that captures the atmosphere of the beautiful game inside one of the sport's most historic stadiums, I'd go with PES 2019. However, it's hard for me to give Konami the edge here because it only has 19 fully-rendered and licensed grounds.
Camp Nou is exclusive to PES 2019, and it looks great, but there aren't enough unique grounds in the game.
Credit: Brian Mazique - PES 2019
FIFA has more than 70 fully licensed stadiums from 13 countries, and it isn't as if the fields and stands look shabby in EA's game. Again, volume + quality gives FIFA a little bit of an edge.
Foot Planting
This is a tough one because both games do a pretty decent job in this area, but as you'll see in the Twitter videos below, there is a bit of a slide at the end of some of the stop and go movements in PES 2019. The plants and changes of direction are a little more true in FIFA 19.
Doing a little comparison of the foot-planting in the football games - first up #FIFA19 pic. twitter. com/5nEr4VxSoI
Doing a little comparison of the foot-planting in the football games - next up #PES2019 pic. twitter. com/lizoGs1g7S
Running animations are so important in soccer games, well because the players spend so much time darting back and forth that it's obviously the predominant animation. I like the overall movement in both games, but for me, FIFA's sprints look a little more natural. Also, the change in pace is more accurately reflected on the player's facial expressions.
FIFA 19 offers more fluid action while PES 2019 feels a little too stop-and-go, especially when it comes to rapid passing on offense.
Ball Physics
The bounce of the ball is critical in any simulation of this sport. With FIFA's new Active Touch, their ball physics have taken a noticeable leap. In previous years, I've like PES more in this area, but I'd have to call it even in this year's contest.
Player-to-Player Physics
Soccer is a contact sport. The bumps, pulls and every other collision needs to be properly represented. EA has done an excellent job with its collision detection and it's much easier to find instances of clipping in PES.
Clipping is a slight issue in PES 2019
Credit: Brian Mazique - PES 2019
This was a major win for FIFA 19 this year–at least on offense. Your teammates will continue to run even after delivering a pass or in anticipation of receiving one. This action creates angles for through-balls and other rapid passing opportunities.
So many times playing PES 2019, I wondered aloud, "why would you stop running?" On defense, I haven't noticed a ton of issues on either side, although I will say FIFA's default mode is far easier than PES', but both have enough variety in the difficulty settings to allow you to find your sweet spot.
Offense/Defense Balance
FIFA's gameplay leans a bit more to the offense and PES is more of a defensive gaming experience. Which one you value kind of depends on what you prefer. This is really too close to call, and it would be unfair to give one game the edge over the other here.
Fun-Tech Balance
Without a question, FIFA 19 is the most fun to play of the two. Many will stop reading at this point, and that's understandable because that's ultimately what it all boils down to. The game is just more free-flowing and intense, especially when you're playing against another human opponent.
Rating Adherence
Stars feel more like elite players in FIFA with the controller in my hands. As soon as you take control of a top-notch player in FIFA, there's this extra juice that you can feel. If you weren't aware of who your cursor was on, the feel will make you look up at the top of the screen to check for the name of the player.
That doesn't happen as much in PES 2019.
In an absolute landslide, FIFA 19 has the better commentary. There is a second announce team for UEFA contests, plus Martin Tyler and Allan Smith's commentary is more conversational. Perhaps the worst aspect of PES 2019 is its commentary.
At first, I didn't like either soundtrack, but the more I played FIFA, the tracks started to grow on me. Truthfully, the same would likely happen with PES after a while, so this one has to be considered a draw too because neither stood out initially. Also, this is purely a matter of preference when it comes to artist and music genres.
Intermission Highlights
I'm not sure why other sports games don't adopt FIFA's approach to intermission highlights. It shows the most important plays from the half from different angles, but the key is their usage of the audio from the call in the game. It comes off brilliantly, and it far exceeds what PES does.
The only other sports game with a halftime show anywhere as good is NBA Live.
From a presentation standpoint, FIFA 19 does a better job than every sports game on the market. The special UEFA, La Liga, and English Premier League package only drive this home even more. Unfortunately, PES 2019 has nothing that is quite on par with this level of presentation.
Replay Suite
Both games have good replay suites, although I wish you could focus on a specific area of the pitch rather than the ball or one of the players.
Still, if you're searching for the answer as to how a goal was scored or missed, or simply want a closer look at a great sequence, both games have the proper setup. I'll give PES 2019 the edge because of the ability to save replays in the gallery.
Customization
While FIFA 19's customization suite is decent, it is nothing compared to the one in PES 2019. Konami has smartly provided its community with the tools to create clubs and players that they haven't been able to secure the rights to use.
FIFA used to have an app similar to the one EA used for the NCAA Football franchise, but it doesn't exist anymore. For years, EA games have simply abandoned customization options almost across the board. This category is easily in favor of PES 2019.
Feature Set
Both games have a number of game modes available, but the biggest difference makers in this category are The Journey and FUT Draft. PES 2019 doesn't have a story like the Journey and their collector mode, MyClub doesn't have a draft option.
It makes the decision pretty simple here.
Beyond having a few more modes to offer, FIFA 19 also has more depth. Online team play is deeper, and FUT has more layers than MyClub. Career mode is bigger and better than Master League and Be A Legend.
It's easy to see FIFA's edge here as well. However, I still believe PES has the best player unveils in a collector's mode–for whatever that's worth.
Single-Player Experience
On the strength of the Journey alone, FIFA offers more for the single-player experience. When you add in superior career modes, it's another rout.
Multiplayer Experience
I like the options online and offline in multiplayer for both games. Both PES and FIFA give you a number of couch play options as well as online co-op and competitive. You won't be disappointed in either game's multiplayer options.
The Final Tally
I have 14 for FIFA, 2 for PES and 5 even. Many of the categories were close to me, but FIFA 19 is clearly the best football available this year.
I write about sports and video games. I began my career with Bleacher Report in 2010 and I'm now a Forbes Contributor as well as a YouTuber. I've been blessed to make a.
Credit: Brian Mazique - FIFA 19 and PES 2019
Both games have a number of game modes available, but the biggest difference makers in this category are The Journey and FUT Draft. PES 2019 doesn't have a story like the Journey and their collector mode, MyClub doesn't have a draft option. 
FIFA 19 and PES 2019 are two excellent games, offering stellar interpretations of the beautiful game. But which game is the best? Is FIFA 19 good enough to persuade long-standing PES fans to jump ship? Or is PES 2019 able to lead FIFA fans to shun the need for licenses and Ultimate Team and join the team over at Konami? It’s been a slow year, with both PES and FIFA delivering iterative releases that have parked the bus, shrugging off big improvements for
Trusted Reviews has compared the two games and come together with what we think is the verdict on this year’s best game. Disagree? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.
A football game can be packed with loads of modes, shiny licenses and all the snazzy visuals it wants – but it won’t cut the mustard unless the gameplay is great.
Thankfully, both these titles really impress with the game of football they offer. However, each is quite different in their approach.
PES 2019 doesn’t alter the formula set by its predecessors. This isn’t a huge reinvention for the series, nor does it boast any huge advances. Yet, the multitude of smaller tweaks and changes make for the most realistic football we’ve ever seen on a console.
First touches are now more natural with a bevy of new animations and this adds an extra fluidity to the game. FIFA 19 works on its first touches too, with a new feature called ‘Active Touch System’. Flick the left stick when the ball is coming towards you and you’ll bring it down and move on quickly, letting you start a counter-attack without too much faff.
Passing is smooth in both games, but in PES 2019 there’s a bigger focus on build-up play. With FIFA, we’re always expecting players to get into the obvious positions and they never really seem to. Start a run in PES and you’ll also find something well placed to play the ball to.
We have also found that in FIFA you have have to learn so many more buttons combos than in PES. Curling a shot requires a combo, as does one-twos, but that’s not the case in PES 2019.
There are a couple of other new additions to FIFA 19. You can now quickly double-tap the shoot button to take a risk and have a shot perform better – more often than not though, in our experience, it makes things a lot more difficult. You can also use that Active Touch System we mentioned previously to flick the ball up and attempt an audacious volley from anywhere.
In our opinion, PES 2019 plays the better game of football. That’s taking nothing anything away from FIFA 19, which remains great. It’s just the slightly slower, more thought out play and marginally more realistic animations win us over.
PES 2019 continues to use the FOX Engine and there hasn’t been any massive upgrades over last year. Like the improvements to gameplay, small tweaks to the visuals are spread throughout.
You’ll notice there’s a huge divide between officially licensed players and teams – Messi or Coutinho, for example – and those that are not. The creative duo from Barcelona both look fantastic and the Camp Nou is rendered in stunning detail. Compare that to, say, Leicester’s team and the difference is monumental.
Lighting, however, does look very nice in PES 2019 – especially if you have an HDR TV and compatible consoles. There’s also 4K visuals available.
While we’re talking graphics, we have to talk presentation too. Like in previous years PES’ menus and UI are truly awful. This is same basic user interface we’ve had for years and it remains slow, ugly and frustrating.
FIFA 19 suffers in a similar way to PES 2019 and you’ll notice that some players look a lot worse than others. In our opinion, facial details look better in FIFA and there’s more realism in expressions. Players in PES 2019 can often look a bit dead behind the eyes.
FIFA 19 also has PES 19 thoroughly beaten in terms of presentation. Everything is cleaner and quicker in FIFA, with a much more modern look.
It might play an excellent game of football, but unfortunately Konami has failed to innovate in other areas. Actually, PES 2019 lacks some of the modes even offered by its predecessor.
Master League continues to be a nice idea, but one that falls short in many ways. The transfer system is ludicrously borked – Harry Maguire for 7m? Wilf Zaha for 19m? – and there’s no immersion thanks to terrible interactions with players. It at times feels like it was developed by someone who has never played, or even watched, football.
MyClub is still here and minor improvements do add something to the FIFA Ultimate Team rival. Featured Players – this is when real-life stars have a strong week in real-life leagues – are a nice touch and add some variety week-to-week.
The elephant in the room is, of course, the UEFA Europa League and Champions League license. Once a stalwart of the PES series, this year sees them move across to EA. This means all the references to the greatest club champions tournament (and the less illustrious sibling) are gone. This is a massive loss to PES 2019 and means it lacks even more big licenses. To make up for this loss, Konami has added extended licenses from the Scottish, German and Dutch leagues, along with marquee clubs likes Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona. You’ll still be deciphering EPL clubs from their geographical locations, though.
This loss to PES is a huge gain to FIFA. In FIFA 19, the Champions League license is baked in everywhere: Ultimate Team, Kick-off, tournaments and online.
You can even go straight into playing the Champions League final – a really nice touch.
Kick-off might seem like a mode you’ll never touch, but that’s not the case in FIFA 19. EA has added a load of new ways to play and some are ridiculously fun. You can play a game where only heads and volleys count, or another option where you lose a player every time you score.
Aside from including nods to the Europa and Champions League, almost nothing else has changed in career mode. And that’s a shame. You’ve still got those clever real-time contract and transfer negotiations, which sees players and managers walk into your office and you engage in a dialogue to try and seal that deal, but even these become tedious after you’ve done a few.
‘The Journey: Champions’ is the final instalment in EA’s surprisingly successful single-player story and it’s the first to allow you to play as more than one character. Alex Hunter remains the hero, but you can switch to his friend Danny or sister Kim throughout. As you can probably imagine, the Champions League plays a big role in this year’s story.
The final part of the puzzle for FIFA is Ultimate Team. This card-based online and offline mode is hugely popular and equally as addictive. The only real updates to this are some UI tweaks, but you do benefit from Champions League updates and the gameplay benefits. If you weren’t an Ultimate Team fan before this likely won’t sway.
Neither FIFA 19 nor PES 2019 are huge step-forwards. Instead they make smaller tweaks to the already familiar formula.
Both games feel more fluid than their predecessors and as a result offer up a more realistic game of football. FIFA’s new Active Touch System is arguably the biggest gameplay tweak across both games, and is a welcome addition.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend. We use industry standard tests to evaluate products in order to assess them properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.
The final part of the puzzle for FIFA is Ultimate Team. This card-based online and offline mode is hugely popular and equally as addictive. The only real updates to this are some UI tweaks, but you do benefit from Champions League updates and the gameplay benefits. If you weren’t an Ultimate Team fan before this likely won’t sway.
It might play an excellent game of football, but unfortunately Konami has failed to innovate in other areas. Actually, PES 2019 lacks some of the modes even offered by its predecessor. Two huge games, only one winner. or is there?
FIFA 19 is finally here – but is it any good? And more importantly, does it fare better than Konami’s PES 2019?
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for PES this year. Having lost the Champions League licence, the Japanese developer needed to use every trick in the book to give PES a fighting chance.
Konami moved the launch window to late August, in an attempt to pick up early sales. They acquired the licence rights to a number of smaller clubs. They even got David Beckham involved.
But come launch week, physical sales were down 40 per cent on last year. The writing could well be on the wall – more on that later.
Having acquired the rights to the Champions League and built a huge user-base of loyal fans – FIFA 19 represents a honing rather than a FIFA 17-style overhaul.
Frostbite returns, Alex Hunter’s Journey is back for its final chapter, while daring House Rules aims to attract a new legion of ‘super causal’ fans – more interested in fun min-games than football proper.
Which brings us nicely to our review.
Here we’ll discuss graphics, gameplay, general presentation as well as add-ons. In essence, we’re interested in two things – is the game fun to play? And value for money.
Konami’s game is once again powered by the Fox Engine. However, unlike last year, there’s no last-gen version – so the developer has channelled all its energy into getting the most from current gen.
The result is crystal clear 4K HDR on Xbox One X and PS4 Pro – with a level of detail that remains consistent no matter what camera angle or zoom you opt for.
Should you choose to take a closer look you’ll notice just how much attention has been paid to some player faces this year.
We must stress some – there are many teams that boast generic faces that lack detail. When placed next to face-scanned stars such as Leo Messi, it makes for an unflattering comparison.
The same goes for stadiums. Walking out on to the Camp Nou feels every bit as epic as it should do. The same can’t be said for some of the fictional stadia – often exposing poorly detailed crowd models and flat lighting.
Real time ‘Global Illumination’ lighting and shadows, not to mention revised grass texture, help keep everything looking crisp for the most part – especially during replays.
EA brings Frostbite back for its third year in FIFA 19 – and third time’s a charm.
While a lot of attention has been placed on gameplay this year, graphics have had a noticeable boost.
Crowd detail has improved – look closely and you’ll see individual members waving flags – while player animation makes last year’s version look animatronic.
Player faces are, for the most part, incredibly detailed – and far more consistent than the likes of PES. They do boast an unrealistic shine under some lighting, though.
Elsewhere, the stadium and match environment has been given a much needed spit and polish, too.
There’s more stuff going on on the sidelines, while new cut-scenes and match presentation helping games feel indistinguishable from the real thing
Animation is where the game has really improved – and while it’s still prone to the odd glitch, it’s far smoother across the board.
WINNER: FIFA 19
Konami has kept gameplay largely the same this year – and why wouldn’t they? PES 2018 was a nearly perfect execution of how football should feel.
This year, they’ve added 11 new skills, including the cross-over turn, no-look pass, controlled chip, dipping shot and rising shot.
Players also show Visible Fatigue, which impacts performance and behaviour.
Elsewhere, new shooting mechanics take into account improved ball physics, player and ball position, and player skills and shot styles.
This all helps make PES 2019 feel absolutely fantastic to play.
There’s little - to-no input delay, dribbling is exhilarating and responsive, while banging in goals from outside the area is an absolute joy.
Goalkeepers have improved this year, so won’t leak goals from corners – meaning scoring feels every bit as rewarding as it should do.
EA’s game has come on leaps and bounds this year – and is far more fluid and enjoyable than FIFA 18.
It definitely feels easier to score worldies this time, while passing and through balls have been tweaked to allow for more player control. A large part of this is down to the new Active Touch system.
But it’s actually more subtle changes that make the biggest difference here. For one, there’a timed shooting mechanic.
If you tap Circle or B just as your foot hits the ball, you massively increase the chance of striking it into the top corner.
It’s all about timing, so get it wrong and you’ll be punished with a scuffed shot.
Game plans have also been introduced this year – which are set up before a match.
Here, you can set what tactics your team has depending on certain situations – such as if they’re 1-0 up or losing a match.
Once you have made the plans, simply assign to a D-pad press and you’re good to go.
A revised mini-map now displays one team with triangle icons, the other with circles – so it’s easier to see who’s who. While 50/50 battles now take into account how you have played within that game, as well as player traits.
WINNER: PES 2019
This is where Konami’s game begins to fall apart.
Master League returns – pretty much unchanged apart from Team Roles. There are 22 to be exact – ranging from Hero to Legend, which affect your club’s finances.
It forces you to think about players not just as professional footballers, but as financial assets, which adds an interesting mix. Kind of.
Other than that, there’s MyClub, which is where you essentially build a team and play through a number of leagues.
There’s an online season mode, where you pick a side and battle up 12 or so divisions (good luck getting past Division 9).
In fairness, the servers hold up well – and you’ll nearly always find a game, so that’s a plus.
Away from online and there’s skill games, a decent training section and, well, that’s about it.
The menu is simple enough to navigate but looks uninspired, while the soundtrack features songs that are now a couple of years old. Fitting, as the whole presentation feels dated.
And don’t get us started on ‘Man Red’ et al. Just don’t.
EA has crammed this year’s game with a host of new features.
There’s The Journey, which we’re still yet to complete, but sees off Alex Hunter in style. Ultimate Team speaks for itself, while Career Mode’s back albeit with minimal changes.
Then there’s the new House Rules section – featuring Survival Mode, headers and volleys, no ref and much more. And yes, they’re all as fun as they sound – especially Survival Mode.
You’re able to jump in and play a Champions League match at any time, and hundreds of teams are fully licensed and look the part. There’s licensed balls, stadiums… the list goes on.
There’s simply so much crammed into this game that it’s impossible to fit it all in.
WINNER: FIFA 19
I love PES – I really do. But it missed one fundamental trick when it launched this year. It should have cut its price to £20.
That’s what I would be willing to pay for a game that doesn’t offer much more than incredible gameplay and serviceable online modes.
Should Konami do that, it would make PES ar far more attractive proposition.
Gone would be a ‘FIFA or PES’ argument – at £20 it would allow gamers to enjoy both games for what they really are, without having to choose.
As things stand, though, that scenario is some way off.
For now, even though gameplay isn’t as refined as Konami’s game, EA’s FIFA 19 represents a better, more sensible purchase in nearly every other aspect.
There’s simply something for everyone – be that fun mini games, an engaging single-player story or Ultimate Team.
There can only be one winner – and this year that’s FIFA.
You’re able to jump in and play a Champions League match at any time, and hundreds of teams are fully licensed and look the part. There’s licensed balls, stadiums… the list goes on.
And don’t get us started on ‘Man Red’ et al. Just don’t. Every yr Konami and EA battle it out to supply one of the best soccer game available on the market, and yearly the same story unfolds: FIFA has the licences, however PES wins on the gameplay entrance.
The battle of PES 2019 vs. FIFA 19 takes these variations to new extremes, particularly as Konami has now misplaced the UEFA Champions League licence to FIFA – ouch. To fight this, Konami has doubled down on what has set PES other than FIFA over the previous few years, which is the constancy of its gameplay.
While each games are nice in their very own methods, and diehard followers of both game will probably be exhausting to sway, most of us solely have the money and time to spare for one new soccer game yearly. So, in fact, the query is FIFA 19 or PES 2019.
To assist make up your thoughts we’ll examine this yr’s new entries throughout a number of key classes – authenticity and presentation, gameplay, and modes – to see which title emerges victorious. Here’s how FIFA 19 compares to PES 2019.
One of the primary causes so many individuals choose FIFA over PES yearly is as a result of it provides official licences for the most important golf equipment and leagues on the earth, notably the Premier League. This yr, EA has bolstered its choices with the UEFA Champions League, which is arguably probably the most wanted piece of silverware in soccer.
Basically, if you wish to play as your favorite membership in profession mode, or play out iconic derby days like El Clásico or Manchester United in opposition to City, then FIFA 19 has the lot – together with kits, stats, related commentary, and stadiums to essentially promote the event. Want to take Pompey to the Premier League? You can try this in FIFA 19. Want to win the treble with Chelsea? You can try this too.
By distinction, a Manchester derby in PES 2019 will function Man Red and Man Blue, whereas a Madrid derby will probably be a conflict between MD White and KB Red White. There are a number of formally partnered golf equipment from every of the large leagues that assist tie PES 2019 to real-world soccer: FC Barcelona, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, FC Schalke 04, AC Milan, Inter, AS Monaco, Celtic, and Rangers are among the many a few of huge golf equipment out there in PES 2019.
PES 2019 does nonetheless embrace a variety of real-world gamers, making it potential to boast a front-three of Sané, Kane, and Higuaín regardless of none of their golf equipment being within the game – they’ll even have sensible stats and faces. PES 2019 additionally made up for the lack of the UEFA licence by grabbing a slew of recent franchises, together with the Danish Superliga, Portugal’s Liga NOS, Belgium Pro League, Swiss Super League, Scotland’s Ladbrokes Premiership, Superliga Argentine, and Russian Premier Liga (unique to PES 2019).
As PES 2019 is offered on Steam, you can too mod it to incorporate the entire golf equipment and kits conceivable, which followers have been doing for years now. It can’t match the visible high quality of FIFA 19, and nothing can resolve PES 2019’s bland commentary, however for those who actually wish to see your membership represented within the game then it’s potential.
So what in regards to the precise soccer? This is the place PES 2019 excels and has achieved for a number of years on the trot. Put merely, PES 2019 delivers a extra sensible, fluid, and higher paced footballing expertise than FIFA 19, one the place scoring a objective feels worthy of celebrating relatively than one thing that occurs each minute. There’s actual toil concerned in breaking down an enemy defence, the place one fallacious move or poor first contact can open your group to a harmful counter-attack.
You received’t breeze previous opponents with 10-Zero scorelines in PES 2019, however you’ll rating a few of the most breathtaking targets dedicated to display screen because of the game’s superior ball physics and improved animations. Strikers contort their our bodies in myriad methods relying on the place the ball is coming from. From managed chip photographs and rising strikes, to 25-yard curlers that bend their manner round a wall of defenders and into the highest nook of the objective, you have got what appears like limitless freedom in how you’re taking your photographs.
Additional passing animations work in tandem with AI that contextually is aware of what kind of move to play, whether or not that’s pinging it out extensive with the surface of the boot or a measured, side-footed by ball. The elevated consideration given to animations has had the most important influence on the standard of PES 2019’s goalkeepers, who not flap at simple saves or crab-walk as an alternative of dive. Keepers are nonetheless completely ineffective after they come off their line, although, so not every little thing is ideal.
Ball physics and an elevated sense of physicality double down on the sequence’ trademark sense of weight with the one niggle being that the referees are a bit too eager to award fouls, which might be irritating if you undoubtedly obtained the ball.
FIFA 19 has made a number of adjustments this yr as nicely, but it surely’s nonetheless very a lot an arcade interpretation of the game. As ever, you possibly can ping the ball across the area with laser precision with out ever having to take a contact first. This creates games which might be all the time open, frantic, and stuffed with targets, which is enjoyable, however unconvincing when in comparison with the sport because it’s truly performed.
Significant adjustments to how tempo works imply you possibly can not ping the ball out to a winger like Bale or Biabiany and depend on them carrying all of it the way in which to the byline uncontested. This slows down the gameplay of FIFA 19 a bit of, however not a lot. Likewise, small tweaks have been made to battling for the ball in order that extra is taken into consideration than simply the power stats of each gamers concerned.
The final gameplay change comes within the type of the brand new Active Touch System, which supplies you much more alternative about the way you obtain the ball and permits for some devious traps, feints, and flicks.
The greatest adjustments to be discovered are within the menus the place heaps of recent tactical instruments have been added in order that would-be managers can tune their groups to perfection. You can get your fullbacks to invert their runs or loft balls in from the nook, ask your defence to press aggressively every time an opposition participant takes a heavy contact, select what number of gamers you wish to ship ahead for nook kicks, and manually determine the depth and width of your group throughout the pitch.
Ultimately, FIFA 19 makes a number of small changes to its gameplay that refine and enhance on final yr’s providing, however followers have been asking for substantial adjustments for years now, so these tweaks is probably not sufficient for some.
FIFA takes the plaudits with ease on the subject of what game modes can be found, with a principal story, a wealth of on-line modes, and a bunch of wacky one-off match varieties which might be hit-and-miss.
The key new addition is House Rules, which add rule presets to straightforward exhibition matches, starting from a Survival Mode that has you lose a participant each time you rating a objective, to No Rules the place studs-up, two-footer horror tackles are honest game and also you’ll by no means should bend your run to remain onside.
The Journey, which is FIFA’s story mode, additionally returns for its third iteration. This time round you possibly can swap between three completely different characters, every with their very own profession targets, persona, and story. It’s not a vital mode, but it surely provides much more methods for FIFA 19 gamers to increase their enjoyment of the game, it additionally offering a welcome change in tone. With the Europa and Champions League cups additionally out there within the game, each as separate tournaments you possibly can play with your mates, it’s spectacular simply how a lot /footballing/ EA has managed to cram into FIFA 19.
FIFA 19 Ultimate Team nonetheless has the sting over PES 2019’s MyClub the place presentation, simplicity, and polish are involved. But MyClub has a number of spectacular options which might be sorely lacking from FUT, similar to having the ability to rent talent and place trainers to develop your squad additional. MyClub can be lastly getting a solution to FIFA’s Team of the Week by having Featured Players with boosted stats and abilities based mostly on their current real-world performances.
While PES 2019 can’t maintain a candle to FIFA 19 close to what number of game modes it has, it does boast a profession mode that would give Football Manager a run for its cash on the subject of simulations and stats. It would possibly take a while to get used to the obtuse UI, however spend a while managing a membership in PES 2019 and also you received’t be left wanting for tactics to observe, observe, and develop your group. Charts and reviews can be found for every little thing from participant improvement to wage breakdowns, making it simple to determine shortfalls in your system or funds. The addition of correct switch negotiations rounds off the entire bundle, letting you conjure up the right contract, which is much more thrilling than it has any proper to be.
So, must you purchase FIFA 19 or PES 2019? Konami takes the crown this yr regardless of shedding the UEFA licence. PC gamers can patch within the golf equipment with ease, that means the one actual distinction between the 2 is the presentation, gameplay, and modes on supply. FIFA 19 actually wins on the presentation entrance, with slick and clear menus, genuine broadcasting overlays, and sensible cinematics.
PES 2019 has extra element and and options in its MyClub and profession modes, however it may well’t match the sheer variety of methods you possibly can sit down and play FIFA 19, be it by hilarious new rule units, customisable tournaments, or The Journey story mode.
That’s two in favour of FIFA 19, however the motive PES 2019 wins general is as a result of its gameplay is as near the true deal as soccer games have ever obtained. Even if a few of the membership names are risible, PES 2019 simply feels a lot extra like soccer if you’re enjoying it, and by including to its bundle in significant methods off the pitch, PES 2019 has managed to outwit relatively than outgun EA’s behemoth.
Ultimately, FIFA 19 makes a number of small changes to its gameplay that refine and enhance on final yr’s providing, however followers have been asking for substantial adjustments for years now, so these tweaks is probably not sufficient for some.
One of the primary causes so many individuals choose FIFA over PES yearly is as a result of it provides official licences for the most important golf equipment and leagues on the earth, notably the Premier League. This yr, EA has bolstered its choices with the UEFA Champions League, which is arguably probably the most wanted piece of silverware in soccer. Which is best, FIFA or PES? We tackle the much-asked football gaming question in this comparison of FIFA 19 and PES 2019
In the football gaming world only two names remain. Do you prefer FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer (‘PES’ for short)?
FIFA has grown into a well-oiled money-making franchise where PES has become second fiddle – at least in terms of sales. But are the two soccer sims really that different?
Here, we compare FIFA 19 to PES 2019 to see what the differences are and help you decide which game you should buy. For more information on this year's FIFA entry, take a look at our dedicated FIFA 19 review.
FIFA 19 is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC and costs £49.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the US.
There’s also a Nintendo Switch version, but it’s not the full-fat one due to the Switch’s hardware constraints.
PES 2019 has an RRP of £54.99/$59.99 but it’s available for less on Amazon UK. You can get it for PS4 or Xbox One. Amazon US also stocks it here.
While they are similarly priced, FIFA 19 and PES 2019 are very different when it comes to licensing. Basically, FIFA wins this comparison.
EA Sports and FIFA have rights to practically every league in world football – this means team names, kits, stadia and player likenesses are all on FIFA 19. It’s branded well, just like the football you see on TV and at the matches.
Konami has less luck. It means that, for example you can’t play as Manchester United. On PES 2019, it’s Man Red. And you won’t have the official kits.
PES has Barcelona, Liverpool, Inter Milan and a few other teams licensed, but mostly it has to settle for unofficial kits and team names. Want to play an El Clasico? That’ll be Barcelona vs MD White. Yuck.
While you might not care, there’s no doubt that is more fun to have the real names, kits and players represented on FIFA 19.
This year PES has even lost its exclusive Champions League and Europa League branding rights. That’s a FIFA 19 exclusive now.
PES 2019 looks great (when it has the license to use real stadia like the Camp Nou)
Licensing aside, there’s a fiercer debate to be had about which game has the better gameplay. This is of course subjective, and different people will go for different things. But this is what we think.
FIFA 19 is the more streamlined, accessible football game. It’s not easier per se, but it’s easier to get into and feel like you are improving, with a gentler learning curve.
There are intricate controls in there, but you don’t need to master them all in order to win difficult matches. FIFA 19 rewards silky stepovers and tactical flourishes, but it doesn’t demand you know them all during the first match.
By comparison PES 2019’s gameplay is truer to life – i. e., it’s a bit harder to master. The attention to detail is greater too, with passes in particular very polished. A player will play a different style of pass depending on the set up of the surrounding players and adds a surprising feeling of variety and lifelike feel to gameplay.
This isn’t to say FIFA 19 is unrealistic, it’s just a bit more box office. Players will often try to score overhead kicks from corners even when it’s not the best move. PES 2019 is a bit more grounded in realism.
FIFA 19 has improved passing too, though. Ground passes in particular are zippier, making the game feel faster than before. It’s a bit easier to dribble and make passes on FIFA, and with a bit of practice all players are actually quite good, no matter their player ratings.
On PES the gap between player ability is a bit greater and there’s also a more realistic feel to the ball. It doesn’t always do what you want depending on the player ability and weather, and adds a bit of realistic variety to the game.
But where PES is great on the pitch, presentation suffers. It’s not everything, but it makes a difference. Crowds are pretty bland and lifeless, and the commentary is terrible.
FIFA’s crowds are far more advanced rather than being a block of identical people in the same shirt. This added to the real-life stadia are a better illusion of a real match.
The Master League in PES 2019 is decent, but it’s a bit too easy sometimes to get world class players for quite little money. It goes against PES’s usual default of being harder than FIFA.
And while PES 2019’s online modes are as good as ever, FIFA 19’s online community is larger and has broader appeal. FIFA’s live player updates mean you can play online with the real-life current first team of any team in the world. For many fans of the modern game, it’s a no brainer against the unlicensed realm of PES 2019 – even if the gameplay is less realistic.
FIFA 19 has added some great multiplayer options for offline play too. Modes like survival (lose a player every time you score) and house rules (no fouls, no offsides) inject a fresh feel into multiplayer where often it’s more boring than going online.
FIFA Ultimate Team is also not for everyone, but those who want to invest time (and money) into building a fantasy team and taking on the best in the world online have the option.
Finally, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea but FIFA 19 has The Journey for the third year in a row, it’s single player story mode. You flit between Alex Hunter, Kim Hunter and Danny Williams as you progress through careers, training sessions and important matches, complete with cut scenes. No such mode exits on PES 2019.
Unfortunately, PES 2019 can’t hide behind the few teams it has licensed and put on the box and throughout its menus – FIFA 19 is simply a more rounded experience.
PES 2019 offers more intricate and in some way more rewarding gameplay but FIFA 19 gives you a better representation of the modern game with all the glitz, glamour, kits and team names. This is often the main reason people buy FIFA, and it now even has Champions League rights.
FIFA 19 also has a bigger online community and better one player options, plus some excellent new offline multiplayer modes. PES 2019 is fun, and a great game, but if you have £50/$50 to spend on a football game, we recommend FIFA 19.
FIFA has grown into a well-oiled money-making franchise where PES has become second fiddle – at least in terms of sales. But are the two soccer sims really that different?
FIFA Ultimate Team is also not for everyone, but those who want to invest time (and money) into building a fantasy team and taking on the best in the world online have the option. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. Ребята из GamingBolt посягнули на самую холиварную тему — FIFA и PES. Сегодня внимательно посмотрим на графику свежих футсимов.
На лица и модели игроков футсимы делают упор постоянно и в этом году FIFA и PES привычно выдали свой топчик. Но как и в предыдущих версиях Фифы, некоторые игроки просто не похожи на себя, а в Песе у игроков странный мёртвый взгляд и часто лица без эмоций.
За исключением этих недостатков, разработчики обеих игр проделали хорошую работу. FIFA вероятно справилась лучше, но совсем незначительно. Чего не скажешь о стадионах и про общую картинку. Может, всё дело в количестве лицензий или в том, что презентации всегда были сильной стороной EA.
PES значительно уступает FIFA, когда речь заходит о внешнем виде стадионов — визуально и по атмосфере. Фанаты в Фифе до сих пор выглядят устаревше, но вместе с зарядами, флагами и баннерами создаётся отличная картинка на почти каждом стадионе, что прекрасно воссоздаёт атмосферу матча.
Но если взять стадионы, на которые у PES есть лицензия, они выглядят впечатляюще натурально, и пусть даже фаны звучат относительно безжизненно, стадионы сами по себе выглядят очень красиво.
С травой оба футсима справились, но у каждой игры свои проколы и плюсы. Поляна от FIFA более детализирована, но в то же время очень статична. Газон же в PES больше изнашивается во время матча.
В плане анимации PES вырывается вперёд. EA каждый год отчитывается, что анимации в FIFA теперь «еще более реалистичны», но до сих пор игроки очень напоминают роботов. Анимации же второстепенных персонажей вроде Моуринью на бровке выглядят вообще смехотворно и до сих пор занимают много экранного времени. Ну и клиппинг из фифы никуда не делся — мячи проходят сквозь тела бедных футболистов, кажется, у PES таких проблем нет.
Итого FIFA получает два балла за моделек игроков и атмосферу на стадионах, PES вырывает баллы за счет качественного газона и очеловеченных анимаций. Вроде бы ничья или берём дополнительное время?
Ребята из GamingBolt посягнули на самую холиварную тему — FIFA и PES. Сегодня внимательно посмотрим на графику свежих футсимов.
В плане анимации PES вырывается вперёд. EA каждый год отчитывается, что анимации в FIFA теперь «еще более реалистичны», но до сих пор игроки очень напоминают роботов. Анимации же второстепенных персонажей вроде Моуринью на бровке выглядят вообще смехотворно и до сих пор занимают много экранного времени. Ну и клиппинг из фифы никуда не делся — мячи проходят сквозь тела бедных футболистов, кажется, у PES таких проблем нет. Регулярные публикации новостей об игре. Two huge games, only one winner. or is there?
FIFA 19 is finally here – but is it any good? And more importantly, does it fare better than Konami’s PES 2019?
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for PES this year. Having lost the Champions League licence, the Japanese developer needed to use every trick in the book to give PES a fighting chance.
Konami moved the launch window to late August, in an attempt to pick up early sales. They acquired the licence rights to a number of smaller clubs. They even got David Beckham involved.
But come launch week, physical sales were down 40 per cent on last year. The writing could well be on the wall – more on that later.
Having acquired the rights to the Champions League and built a huge user-base of loyal fans – FIFA 19 represents a honing rather than a FIFA 17-style overhaul.
Frostbite returns, Alex Hunter’s Journey is back for its final chapter, while daring House Rules aims to attract a new legion of ‘super causal’ fans – more interested in fun min-games than football proper.
Which brings us nicely to our review.
Here we’ll discuss graphics, gameplay, general presentation as well as add-ons. In essence, we’re interested in two things – is the game fun to play? And value for money.
Konami’s game is once again powered by the Fox Engine. However, unlike last year, there’s no last-gen version – so the developer has channelled all its energy into getting the most from current gen.
The result is crystal clear 4K HDR on Xbox One X and PS4 Pro – with a level of detail that remains consistent no matter what camera angle or zoom you opt for.
Should you choose to take a closer look you’ll notice just how much attention has been paid to some player faces this year.
We must stress some – there are many teams that boast generic faces that lack detail. When placed next to face-scanned stars such as Leo Messi, it makes for an unflattering comparison.
The same goes for stadiums. Walking out on to the Camp Nou feels every bit as epic as it should do. The same can’t be said for some of the fictional stadia – often exposing poorly detailed crowd models and flat lighting.
Real time ‘Global Illumination’ lighting and shadows, not to mention revised grass texture, help keep everything looking crisp for the most part – especially during replays.
EA brings Frostbite back for its third year in FIFA 19 – and third time’s a charm.
While a lot of attention has been placed on gameplay this year, graphics have had a noticeable boost.
Crowd detail has improved – look closely and you’ll see individual members waving flags – while player animation makes last year’s version look animatronic.
Player faces are, for the most part, incredibly detailed – and far more consistent than the likes of PES. They do boast an unrealistic shine under some lighting, though.
Elsewhere, the stadium and match environment has been given a much needed spit and polish, too.
There’s more stuff going on on the sidelines, while new cut-scenes and match presentation helping games feel indistinguishable from the real thing
Animation is where the game has really improved – and while it’s still prone to the odd glitch, it’s far smoother across the board.
WINNER: FIFA 19
Konami has kept gameplay largely the same this year – and why wouldn’t they? PES 2018 was a nearly perfect execution of how football should feel.
This year, they’ve added 11 new skills, including the cross-over turn, no-look pass, controlled chip, dipping shot and rising shot.
Players also show Visible Fatigue, which impacts performance and behaviour.
Elsewhere, new shooting mechanics take into account improved ball physics, player and ball position, and player skills and shot styles.
This all helps make PES 2019 feel absolutely fantastic to play.
There’s little - to-no input delay, dribbling is exhilarating and responsive, while banging in goals from outside the area is an absolute joy.
Goalkeepers have improved this year, so won’t leak goals from corners – meaning scoring feels every bit as rewarding as it should do.
EA’s game has come on leaps and bounds this year – and is far more fluid and enjoyable than FIFA 18.
It definitely feels easier to score worldies this time, while passing and through balls have been tweaked to allow for more player control. A large part of this is down to the new Active Touch system.
But it’s actually more subtle changes that make the biggest difference here. For one, there’a timed shooting mechanic.
If you tap Circle or B just as your foot hits the ball, you massively increase the chance of striking it into the top corner.
It’s all about timing, so get it wrong and you’ll be punished with a scuffed shot.
Game plans have also been introduced this year – which are set up before a match.
Here, you can set what tactics your team has depending on certain situations – such as if they’re 1-0 up or losing a match.
Once you have made the plans, simply assign to a D-pad press and you’re good to go.
A revised mini-map now displays one team with triangle icons, the other with circles – so it’s easier to see who’s who. While 50/50 battles now take into account how you have played within that game, as well as player traits.
WINNER: PES 2019
This is where Konami’s game begins to fall apart.
Master League returns – pretty much unchanged apart from Team Roles. There are 22 to be exact – ranging from Hero to Legend, which affect your club’s finances.
It forces you to think about players not just as professional footballers, but as financial assets, which adds an interesting mix. Kind of.
Other than that, there’s MyClub, which is where you essentially build a team and play through a number of leagues.
There’s an online season mode, where you pick a side and battle up 12 or so divisions (good luck getting past Division 9).
In fairness, the servers hold up well – and you’ll nearly always find a game, so that’s a plus.
Away from online and there’s skill games, a decent training section and, well, that’s about it.
The menu is simple enough to navigate but looks uninspired, while the soundtrack features songs that are now a couple of years old. Fitting, as the whole presentation feels dated.
And don’t get us started on ‘Man Red’ et al. Just don’t.
EA has crammed this year’s game with a host of new features.
There’s The Journey, which we’re still yet to complete, but sees off Alex Hunter in style. Ultimate Team speaks for itself, while Career Mode’s back albeit with minimal changes.
Then there’s the new House Rules section – featuring Survival Mode, headers and volleys, no ref and much more. And yes, they’re all as fun as they sound – especially Survival Mode.
You’re able to jump in and play a Champions League match at any time, and hundreds of teams are fully licensed and look the part. There’s licensed balls, stadiums… the list goes on.
There’s simply so much crammed into this game that it’s impossible to fit it all in.
WINNER: FIFA 19
I love PES – I really do. But it missed one fundamental trick when it launched this year. It should have cut its price to £20.
That’s what I would be willing to pay for a game that doesn’t offer much more than incredible gameplay and serviceable online modes.
Should Konami do that, it would make PES ar far more attractive proposition.
Gone would be a ‘FIFA or PES’ argument – at £20 it would allow gamers to enjoy both games for what they really are, without having to choose.
As things stand, though, that scenario is some way off.
For now, even though gameplay isn’t as refined as Konami’s game, EA’s FIFA 19 represents a better, more sensible purchase in nearly every other aspect.
There’s simply something for everyone – be that fun mini games, an engaging single-player story or Ultimate Team.
There can only be one winner – and this year that’s FIFA.
But it’s actually more subtle changes that make the biggest difference here. For one, there’a timed shooting mechanic.
Real time ‘Global Illumination’ lighting and shadows, not to mention revised grass texture, help keep everything looking crisp for the most part – especially during replays.
