Despite the very strange new name, eFootball PES 2020 is still a game I was interested in playing. I am a huge football fan and back in the days of PES 3-5, there was no contest in what was the best football series. These days though, I must admit that I am more of a FIFA fan, but I still always enjoy checking out the latest offering from PES.
How to Download eFootball PES 2020
You can get the game from Microsoft Store if you need an Xbox One version or from PlayStation Store for your PS4. Windows users can get a copy from Steam. Click on the Download button at the end of the review. You should know that there is also a free demo of the game for you to try before you buy.
You are welcome also to read our review of the previous version of the game.
The Game Review
Let me start by stating that on the pitch eFootball PES 2020 is the best the series has been in a few years. Last year’s game launched in an unfinished state, but this year, Konami have made sure that the core football action is just right and it is a ton of fun.
Last years game refined the actual striking of the ball and that feels even better this year. Connecting with the ball just right feels fantastic and it is the kind of thing that you really have to experience for yourself to know fully what I am talking about. It makes scoring a great looking goal feel even more spectacular.
To go along with this, Konami has refined the dribbling controls in a way that is very clever. You can use the right analog stick to pull off trick moves. The thing about this is that even a new player to the series can use this to have fun but in the hands of a skilled player. This new dribbling skill set can be a game-changer. It makes having a skillful player on your team with a high dribbling stat a truly devastating thing!
In all from a gameplay point of view, eFootball PES 2020 is an absolute blast to play. Even against the AI, you will be having a lot of fun, but it is playing against a friend where it really shines. The few tweaks that Konami has made to the gameplay are all steps in the right direction and in terms of gameplay I must say that while I only played the beat, I prefer this over FIFA 20.
While the gameplay is great the game modes are kind of lacking. Master League is back, but it has had some refinements, most notably in the more realistic way transfers happen. This is the mode I will probably spend most of my time with. Do not get me wrong, it is great and I like the little bits of cinematic flair, but I just feel that this mode needs something new.
MyClub is the PES version of FIFA’s MyTeam and it is what it is. I find that it is far fairer with allowing you to compete without spending a ton of real money. The mode is actually fine, but as of launch, they have not added many tournaments or really anything for you to do. This along with the much-hyped Matchday mod need some work going forward, but I am sure it is coming.
Speaking of coming, it has been revealed that next year the game will get a huge update for the Euro 2020 tournament which sounds pretty cool. While I feel the game did launch far better than last years game. It is good to hear that Konami have some interesting plans for improvements going forward.
The presentation of the game is pretty good too. I like the big matchday feel, but, the lack of a FIFA license does hurt the presentation. Konami has managed to secure some rights to teams and lower leagues and that is cool. However, I have always wondered if the contest between PES and FIFA would be closer if PES had the same licenses as FIFA.
Overall, I think that eFootball PES 2020 is the best entry in the series in a few years. The actual game modes I will admit are nothing to shout about, but on the pitch it is awesome. I can see this being a game that I and my friends play for months to come. If you wanted to get back into PES this is the year to do it.
