In 2003, Pro Evolution Soccer 3 was released and included a major update to the game engine, introducing new features such as the lead rule and greatly improved long ball passing techniques. PES games were now starting to get their hands on minor European licenses like the Dutch Eredivisie, but at least this was a start or a step towards FIFA dominance by Konami.

Pro Evo 3 was the first PES game scheduled for PC via Microsoft and was popular, but the lack of the online mode disappointed. Further improvements to the license agreement occurred over subsequent iterations of PES, with many more official teams and players included, but the biggest, the Premier League, always eluded Konami, something FIFA was unwilling to budge on. Master League (career mode) has been expanded and editing options have been improved, making the look-alikes even closer to reality.

In 2005, Pro Evolution Soccer 5 finally cemented Pro Evo online, allowing players to play against other PES players anywhere in the world. Jubilation reigned in the online forums when we finally got real English teams, albeit only two: Arsenal and Chelsea, but again it was a start.

At this point in history, PES was still dominating FIFA and generally getting higher review scores, despite a lack of full licenses throughout the game. PES matched up very well with the FIFA machine due to the excellent two-player experience.

Playing against a computer can only be so good, as the computer’s AI is still no match for another human’s gaming experience. It was this sense of randomness and sheer fun that kept Pro Evo at the top of the soccer charts and this position was further cemented in Pro Evolution Soccer 6, which for many PES fans was Konami’s finest hour.

Pro Evo 6 or Winning Eleven 10 had most of the best items that have survived to the current incarnation. Fast, fluid, attacking football, a combative tackling mechanic, and a host of new tricks and moves. To go along with the ever-present official Japanese jersey, the England national team now donned their official kit, as well as other nations. The Xbox version even had next-gen HD graphics and this would be the last version before Pro Evo transitioned to PS3.

There was no Pro Evo 7, the next installment would arrive in 2007 and the naming convention changed to what remains to this day: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 or PES 2008. This was the first version to debut on PS3, but it still remained on PS2 and the other consoles. High definition graphics improved the gaming experience and PES began to move away from FIFA when it came to player similarity, although at the same time complacency led FIFA to close the gap and it was around these years that FIFA, for the first time, he began to achieve higher results. review scores as ironically he liked the PES game of yesteryear.

Although many things improved, PES games started to have problems during the 2008-2012 versions. Improvements to graphics, the master league, competitions, licenses, and online play were negated by finicky gameplay changes, which made Pro Evo more difficult, but sometimes less fun. It seemed like the game almost had a cheat mode in PvC games at the hardest skill levels, as it could be nearly impossible to get the ball back or keep it against the computer. Goalkeepers would inexplicably parry weak shots straight into unmarked forwards to make touches easier and referees could be incredibly harsh, sending players off for minor offences, while it seemed like computer controlled players could get away with it.

The last few years have seen repeated ‘review’ fixes for PES as they have tried to regain the top spot. Shingo Takatsuka, known as ‘Seabas’, has created multiple buzzwords each year as Pro Evo innovates and pushes the limits of high definition consoles and what PS3 and XBOX 360 can handle. Online play has gotten better in PS3 as it initially struggled to catch up with the online system that XBOX had and now the editing modes, coupled with the skill and efficiency of PES fans means that the lack of licenses is almost irrelevant.

PES games will have their latest blockbuster in October 2012 and according to all the online rumors and playable demos, PES is back. Review scores were close to FIFA’s last year and while the FIFA machine now exudes a high level of polish and excellent gameplay, if PES 2013 brings back any of that mid-2000s magic, it’ll be back. the best this fall.