Sony has announced the free PS4 titles coming to PlayStation Plus subscribers in July. These are Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 and Aquiris Game Studio’s Horizon Chase Turbo. There’s still time left to pick up this month’s free games, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection and Sonic Mania, so act now before it’s too late.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is the most recent in Konami’s football series, offering a number of different players and some eye-catching visuals. Modes like Master League and myClub will keep you busy with their career opportunities and local play is supported for up to four players. The next game in the franchise, eFootball PES 2020 is out in September so this is a good way to get into the series.

Horizon Chase Turbo should be familiar to fans of retro classics like Top Gear and Out Run. With a trippy soundtrack, split-screen multiplayer and sleek visuals, the title features a number of environments to race across. Be it snow, sandstorm or volcanic eruptions, you’ll be in for a smooth ride.

Both titles will be available to download from July 2nd to August 5th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=I_45JTEXsFs

Konami have released Data Pack 2.0 for Pro Evolution Soccer 2019, which adds some new things to the game, while also fixing and updating older content. As far as the latter is concerned, the faces of over a hundred players in the game have been updated, so they should match their real life counterparts a bit more closely now, while the kits of a few teams have also been updated.

Legend players that were featured in PES 2018 have been added into the game, along with some new Legend players from Konami’s “partner clubs”. These haven’t yet been added to myClub, but Konami will be making announcements for the same soon. Meanwhile, there are also new player portraits – which is what you see at the beginning of a match while formations are being shown – for a few players.

There are also two new licensed leagues – the Chinese Football Association Super League and the Thai League. On top of that, the update adds two new stadiums to the game, these being AS Monaco’s home ground Stade Louis II, and the eSports stadium, eFootball.Pro Arena. The latest Nike and Puma boot models have also been added to the game.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Read our review of the game here.

Following in the wake of Conan: Exiles taking top spot in the software charts in Japan last week, it’s now time for another PS4 game to top the video game software charts in Japan- Media Create reports that the best selling game in Japan last week was Winning Eleven 2019, better known in the west as Pro Evolution Soccer 2019. Conan: Exiles got knocked down to second place.

Elsewhere in the charts, Nintendo games continue to leg it out, including Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There is one very important and notable exception here, however- Super Mario Odyssey has fallen out of the top 20 (as has Octopath Traveler), giving further credence to the notion that Breath of the Wild is now doing better than Odyssey.

On the hardware front, with a little over 42,000 units sold, the Switch topped charts again, with the PS4 coming in at a week second place, with sales under 20,000 units again. The 3DS, with a slight week-on-week increase, rounded out the top three again.

You can see the full sales charts below.

Media Create Sales: Week 35, 2018 (Aug 27 – Sep 02)

01./00. [PS4] Winning Eleven 2019 <SPT> (Konami) {2018.08.30} (¥7.600) – 73.389 / NEW
02./01. [PS4] Conan Exiles <ACT> (Spike Chunsoft) {2018.08.23} (¥6.800) – 20.509 / 52.626 (-36%)
03./03. [NSW] Minecraft <ADV> (Microsoft Game Studios) {2018.06.21} (¥3.600) – 19.110 / 249.514 (+5%)
04./04. [NSW] Splatoon 2 # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2017.07.21} (¥5.980) – 16.960 / 2.589.842 (+6%)
05./06. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe <RCE> (Nintendo) {2017.04.28} (¥5.980) – 13.259 / 1.735.297 (+1%)
06./00. [NSW] Little Dragons Cafe <SLG> (Marvelous) {2018.08.30} (¥5.800) – 11.860 / NEW
07./00. [PS4] Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.30} (¥7.200) – 10.685 / NEW
08./07. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.07.19} (¥6.100) – 9.766 / 182.614 (-10%)
09./09. [NSW] Mario Tennis Aces <SPT> (Nintendo) {2018.06.22} (¥5.980) – 7.721 / 332.211 (-13%)
10./02. [NSW] My Hero: One’s Justice <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.23} (¥7.600) – 7.669 / 32.294 (-69%)
11./10. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild # <ADV> (Nintendo) {2017.03.03} (¥6.980) – 7.416 / 1.099.210 (-1%)
12./08. [3DS] WarioWare Gold <ETC> (Nintendo) {2018.08.02} (¥4.980) – 6.217 / 85.627 (-31%)
13./11. [NSW] Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker <ADV> (Nintendo) {2018.07.13} (¥3.980) – 5.747 / 114.445 (-11%)
14./13. [3DS] Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2017.11.17} (¥4.980) – 5.693 / 1.715.350 (-4%)
15./00. [PS4] Firewall Zero Hour |PlayStation VR| # <ACT> (Sony Interactive Entertainment) {2018.08.30} (¥4.900) – 5.468 / NEW
16./00. [PS4] Little Dragons Cafe <SLG> (Marvelous) {2018.08.30} (¥5.800) – 5.308 / NEW
17./14. [NSW] Kirby Star Allies <ACT> (Nintendo) {2018.03.16} (¥5.980) – 5.203 / 606.779 (-3%)
18./05. [PS4] My Hero: One’s Justice <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.23} (¥7.600) – 5.192 / 21.218 (-68%)
19./00. [PSV] Pioneer no Banshou # <ADV> (Idea Factory) {2018.08.30} (¥6.300) – 5.153 / NEW
20./12. [NSW] Pro Baseball Famista Evolution <SPT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2018.08.02} (¥6.100) – 4.830 / 82.581 (-19%)

Hardware

1. Switch – 42,151 (46,259)
2. PlayStation 4 – 12,189 (14,122)
3. New 2DS LL – 5,670 (5,015)
4. PlayStation 4 Pro – 4,402 (8,716)
5. PlayStation Vita – 2,452 (2,540)
6. New 3DS LL – 2,126 (2,420)
7. 2DS – 496 (362)
8. Xbox One X – 45 (58)
9. Xbox One – 24 (53)

The Tokyo Game Show is set to take place in just a couple of weeks and Konami have now revealed their official line-up of games and their primary stage schedule for this event. The event is set to take place between September 20 and September 23, so make sure you visit if you’re nearby and if you want to try some new games out.

As for their own titles, the company’s line-up will include games like Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 on the  PS4, Super Bomberman R, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, and more. There will also be some of their partners’ games included in the line-up, including games such as The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV – The End of Saga, Mantis Burn Racing, and others. Their stage events will be livestreamed on different websites, but links haven’t been provided yet. Different games will take the stage at different times, with even a concert being held on one day.

You can check out the entire schedule below (via Gematsu).

■ Lineup

Konami Titles

• Dankira!!! Boys, Be Dancing! (iOS, Android) – Stage- Novelty
• e-Baseball Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu League (e-Sports) – Stage, Tournament
• HinaBita / BanMeshi (Streaming, Music CD)
• Hyper Sports R (Switch) – Playable, Stage, Novelty
• Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu (iOS, Android) – Stage, Tournament, Novelty
• Love Plus Every (iOS, Android) – Playable, Novelty
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 (iOS, Android) – Stage
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 (PS4) – Playable, Stage, Tournament
• Snake Pass (PS4, Switch) – Playable
• Super Bomberman R (PS4, Switch) – Playable, Stage, Tournament, Novelty
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links (iOS, Android, PC) – Playable, Stage, Novelty

Partner Titles

• Fighting EX Layer (PS4) (Arika) – Playable
• Kogado Studio Shimarisu-san Team New Title (PS Vita) (Kogado Studio) – Stage – A new title from Kogado Studio’s Shimarisu-san Team, which is known for Nurse Love Addiciton, will be announced. The announcement stage event will reveal the game’s title, production staff, and a live performance of its theme song. The heroine’s voice actor will also make an appearance.
• La-Mulana 2 (PS4, Switch) (Playism) – Playable, Stage
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV ~The End of Saga (PS4) (Falcom) – Playable, Stage, Novelty
• Mantis Burn Racing (PS4, Switch) (Flyhigh Works) – Playable

■ Schedule

Konami’s schedule of stage events will be live streamed on YouTube, Niconico, and OpenRec.tv. Konami has yet to provide links.

September 20

• 11:00 – Pro Evolution Soccer Series
• 12:30 – Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
• 13:30 – Kogado Studio (Shimarisu-san Team)

September 21

• 12:30 – Powerful Pro Series
• 13:45 – Dankira!!! Boys, Be Dancing!
• 15:00 – La-Mulana 2

September 22

• 11:00 – e-Baseball Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu League
• 12:15 – Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
• 13:40 – Super Bomberman R
• 15:05 – The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV ~The End of Saga Concert
• 16:10 – Powerful Pro Series

September 23

• 10:10 – Pro Evolution Soccer Series
• 12:00 – Kogado Studio (Shimarisu-san Team)
• 12:50 – The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV ~The End of Saga Concert
• 13:45 – Dankira!!! Boys, Be Dancing!
• 14:45 – Super Bomberman R

If you’re ready, then let’s get started!

GENERAL TIPS AND TRICKS

Change The Game Length

PES is a series that has always moved at a slower pace than FIFA. Because of this, the default five-minute length of half-time may end up being too short since it won’t give you enough chances to have those exciting moments you crave for. It would be a good idea to increase the length of half-time to at least six minutes because that extra minute really can make a difference to your experience.

Make Use Of The Training Mode

The game has quite a few complex mechanics that can be hard to get right, and this includes the First Touch. If you’re unable to use such moves correctly, it may end up costing you a match. Make use of the training mode to learn the essential moves and tricks that will help you on the field.

Don’t Always Sprint

While sprinting is a great way to go quickly across the field, you have to be careful when using it. Recklessly sprinting is a surefire way to get tackled. A good idea would be to slow down when you see players from the opponent team getting close as you won’t be able to simply sprint past them.

Watch Out For Free Kicks

In this newest installment in the series, free kicks can be devastating and can easily lead to goals. On the plus side, it also means that you will be able to score goals easier when you get a free kick. So, do your best to avoid conceding free kicks to your opponents.

Be Careful When Defending

When you see an opponent getting closer to your goalpost, your first instinct might be to run straight to him. However,  you will need to be a bit more tactical than that because simply running to the opponent with the ball will end up leaving your defense completely open. Make sure you have enough players behind you to get the ball in case you miss before going in for a tackle.

Make Use Of Advanced Instructions

The Advanced Instructions menu helps you make use of some great tactics to use out in the field. These include tactics such as rotating wingers, deep defensive lines, and more which will help you adapt to any situation you come across in the game.

Don’t Abuse The Sliding Tackle

You might be tempted to keep using the sliding tackle, but you should exercise some restraint. Using the sliding tackle can easily end up in a foul, or if not, the opponent may just avoid the tackle entirely leaving one of your players down for a short bit. Avoid using them especially as the opponents near your goalpost as this could potentially end up in a penalty.

HIGHEST RATED PLAYERS

Some of the biggest arguments regarding the game revolve around who the highest rated players in the game are. If you’re interested to see who these top rated players in the game, you can check out the lists below. We know what you all would want to know right away though: Messi Or Ronaldo? Well, both!

Top Rated Defenders 

• J. Boateng: He is a CB with an overall rating of 87.
• V. Van Dijk: He is a CB for Liverpool  with an overall rating of 87.
• Thiago Silva: He is a CB for PSG with an overall rating of 87.
• Pique: He is a CB for Barcelona with an overall rating of 88.
• S. Umtiti: He is a CB for Barcelona with an overall rating of 87.
• G. Chiellin: He is a CB for PM Black White with an overall rating of 87.
• Marcelo: He is an LB for MD white with an overall rating of 88.
• M. Hummels: He is a CB with an overall rating of 89.
• Sergio Ramos: He is a CB for MD White with an overall rating of 89.

Top Rated Forwards

• E. Cavani: He is a CF for PSG with an overall rating of 89.
• H. Kane: He is a CF for North East London with an overall rating of 89.
• L. Suarez: He is a CF for Barcelona with an overall rating of 90.
• M. Salah: He is a RWF for Liverpool with an overall rating of 90.
• E. Hazard: He is a LWF for London FC with an overall rating of 90.
• R. Lewandowski: He is a CF with an overall rating of 90.
• A. Griezmann: He is a CF with KB Red White with an overall rating of 90.
• Neymar: He is a LWF for PSG with an overall rating of 93.
• L. Messi: He is SS for Barcelona with an overall rating of 94.
• C. Ronaldo: He is a CF for MD White with an overall rating of 94.

Top Rated Goalkeepers

• G. Buffon: He is the GK for PM Black White with an overall rating of 86.
• S. Handanovic: He is the GK for Internazional with an overall rating of 86.
• Ederson: He is the GK for Man Blue  with an overall rating of 87.
• Alisson: He is the GK for Roma with an overall rating of 87.
• T. Courtois: He is the GK for London FC with an overall rating of 87.
• H. Lloris: He is the GK for North East London with an overall rating of 87.
• M. Terstegen: He is the GK for Barcelona with an overall rating of 88.
• J. Oblak: He is the GK for KB Red White with an overall rating of 89.
• M. Neuer: He is a GK with an overall rating of 90.
• David De Gea: He is the GK for Man Red with an overall rating of 91.

Top Rated Midfielders

• Thiago A.: He is a CMF with an overall rating of 87.
• C. Eriksen: He is an AMF for North East London with an overall rating of 87.
• A. Vidal: He is a CMF with an overall rating of 87.
• David Silva: He is an AMF for Man Blue with an overall rating of 87.
• M. Ozil: He is an AMF for Arsenal with an overall rating of 87.
• N. Kante: He is a CMF for London FC with an overall rating of 87.
• Iniesta: He is a CMF for Barcelona with an overall rating of 87.
• L. Modric: He is a CMF for MD White with an overall rating of 89.
• K. De Bruyne: He is an AMF for Man Blue with an overall rating of 90.
• T. Kroos: He is a CMF for MD White with an overall rating of 90.

HOW TO INSTALL OPTIONAL FILES ON PS4

If you want to completely licensed leagues and teams in the game, then your best bet is to import them into the game, but it’s quite a long process. The first thing you will have to do is format your USB drive to FAT32. To do so, open Computer and then click Manage, and then select Disk Management. Here you will be able to select your USB drive to format it to FAT32.

Once you’ve done that, create a new folder called WEPES inside the USB drive to store all of the optional files. You can now proceed to download the optional files from the following site (https://www.pes-patch.com/pes-2019). Extract all of the files from the downloaded folder into the WEPES folder on your USB drive. Next, plug the USB drive to your PS4 and go the Extras menu and then select Data Management and then Import/Export and then select Import. Now select all of the files to import and then move on to the Advanced Settings. Here you will be presented a few options, and you should just leave all of the boxes unticked. It will take a few minutes for all the files to get imported and once they’re done, make sure to save the game’s state on the Data Management page.

if you want to import league emblems, the process is a little more long-winded. Just open Data Management again and  then Import/Export and then select Import images and then choose Competition Emblems. Next, you will be presented with options to select which league emblems you want to import. Just tick all of the boxes and wait for them to be imported. Next, just navigate to Edit and then Competitions and then select the League you want to, and then click on Emblem and then Load the emblem you want. Save the changes in the menu and that’s it! You’re done!

HOW TO INSTALL OPTIONAL FILES ON PC

To get licensed leagues and teams in the PC version  of the game is much easier than  for the PS4. First of all, download the optional files from the following site for the PC (https://www.pes-patch.com/pes-2019). Once you’ve downloaded the necessary files, install the  files to the game’s folder location. That’s it! You will now be able to enjoy licensed leagues and teams in the game!

NEW MYCLUB FEATURES

myClub is the online component of PES 2019, and this year’s installment in the series brings a lot of changes to this feature. You can find below a full list of all of the changes to the feature.

Featured Players

You can improve overall rating of players based on and they may also learn new skills if they become Featured Players. Basically, have a player perform well in weekend matches to make them a Featured Player. This feature will also grant a special overall rating to partner club players. This feature is a good way to better your myClub team.

Duplicate Players

You can sign duplicates of players and 3 of these can be traded for another player of the same rarity. Any player you get through trading will start at your club at level 1.

Skill and Position Trainers

Skill trainers are used to focus on improving a particular skill for a player. Position trainers on the other hand are used to increase a player’s suitability to a particular position. Make sure you use both these trainers to improve your squad in the game.

Acquire More Number Of Player

You can now possess more than 1,000 players in total in the game so there won’t be a need to expand slots in the game.

Manager Lists

You will have a greater chance to acquire the particular manager you want since manager lists will update more frequently in this game.

myClub Legends

You will be able to play legends of the past in myClub and the list of legends will be updated when necessary.

Change in Value

It will cost 100 myClub coins to sign a single player, and you can also find an agent to sign three players for just 250 coins. Alternatively, you can also just use GP with some agents.

Acclaim Level

Your Acclaim level in the game is basically your skill in winning 1v1 matches. Win more matches to improve your Acclaim level, and if you win a tournament, you’ll even get a special Acclaim title.

Compare Squads

You can now compare squads to check out the squads of players you come across often and also that of the top ranking players. This will allow you some insight  into what their strategies are and how to deal with them.

Weekly Rankings

Any match that you play will impact what your rank is, and this will then determine your division standing. There will be Group Rankings in the game here users of similar skill levels will play against each other, and at the end of each week, the top players in these groups will receive some special rewards. You can make use of the new WHAT’S ON feature to keep up with any online tournaments that are going on.

ML REAL SEASON

There are quite a few improvements and changes to the ML Real Season this time around. This includes re-sell and clean sheet options so you’l have to manage your club wisely. There will also be an improved budget management and negotiation system. You can find details regarding all of the changes below.

Realistic Player Development

There are 11 new skill traits for players and player development is more realistic than it’s ever  been in the series. You can choose how much exactly to focus on the different skills that you’re training.

Team Role

Players can have one of any four personality traits and this will determine what their Team Role will be. Team roles can be different things such as Hero, Playmaker, Superstar, and more. There will also be new team role effects such as Rising Star, Bad Boy, and Superstar.

News Feed

There will now be a news feed in the game that will bring videos of press conferences,  winning awards, titles, and other such important information related to your club.

Transfer Negotiations

You will now be able to know in advance the terms/conditions related to transfer negotiations from the start.

Crash Bandicoot’s reign at the top of the UK charts was ended last week by F1 2018, which usurped it to claim the top spot; this week, F1 continues to hold on to the top spot in the latest UK charts, with Konami’s PES 2019 taking second place.

Crash doesn’t get third place either, with Rockstar’s freak of nature Grand Theft Auto 5 taking up that spot instead. Crash instead comes in at fourth place, with the newly launched Yakuza Kiwami 2 taking up fifth place. Yes, we live in a world where a Yakuza game charts in the top five in the U.K. Truly, this is the best timeline.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes up the sixth spot, while Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate debuts in ninth place. Most of the typical Nintendo evergreens chart outside the top 10 this time around, with Super Mario Odyssey showing up at number 15.

You can check out the full charts for yourself below.

1. (1) F1 2018
2. (New) PES 2019
3. (4) Grand Theft Auto V
4. (3) Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy 
5. (New) Yakuza Kiwami 2
6. (5) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
7. (11) PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
8. (6) God of War
9. (New) Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
10. (10) FIFA 18
11. (New) Firewall Zero Hour
12. (7) LEGO The Incredibles 
13. (24) PlayStation VR Worlds
14. (8) Call of Duty: WW2
15. (13) Super Mario Odyssey
16. (New) Strange Brigade
17. (31) The Sims 4
18. (15) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
19. (12) Far Cry 5
20. (14) Minecraft

"PES 2019 a game that will satisfy your every need if just playing football is all you really care about, but if you are looking for Konami’s game to match EA Sports’ levels of pomp, panache, and presentational brilliance, you’ll be sorely disappointed."

In any other game or in any other genre, one would look at such aspects and simply wave them away with the most cursory of looks, calling them mere window dressing that ultimately couldn’t matter less if it tried. And were this any other genre we were talking about, that is what I would do too. But in a sports simulation game that is trying to imitate and simulate not just the on-pitch action itself, but everything surrounding it as well, such deficiencies end up mattering a lot. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019’s archaic UI, boring commentary, and its lack of important licenses hurt the game quite a bit. Such things go a long way towards creating a sense of atmosphere, which is very important for this kind of an experience, even though the most veteran PES fans might refuse to accept that.

It’s not that PES 2019 doesn’t even try to make improvements in these areas- it certainly does. The visuals, for one, are far crisper and far more beautiful than anything I’ve seen from Konami in the past, which automatically adds more sheen and detail to everything you could look at. Players’ faces and bodies are scanned in and presented with great accuracy, while the stadiums that PES 2019 does have licenses for are recreated with such care and love, you can’t help but stare at them with appreciation the moment the game first shows them off (Barcelona’s Camp Nou is especially a delight). Even the crowd sounds more enthusiastic than it ever has before, and critics of PES would know that a flat and lifeless crowd has been one of the series’ most major sticking points for some time now.

But while the crowd is louder and more reactive, it still feels clearly manufactured, like you can almost pinpoint tracks of audio being triggered by a specific moment in the game- especially in the unlicensed stadiums. It doesn’t feel natural, and it doesn’t evoke the kind of excitement that it should. The commentary is slightly improved over last year with some new lines peppered in here and there, but it still sounds choppy, lifeless, and boring. Navigating the menus isn’t a pain, of course, but even though they are more or less serviceable, they look cluttered and positively ancient, almost entirely unchanged through the series’ history over the last few years. Similarly, ignoring the licenses – or there lack thereof – is easy while you’re actually playing football, but there are moments when you look at the scoreline, or the advertisement boards, and you look at all the players that are wearing plain, unadorned jerseys, all of which clearly looks very different from how it’s supposed to, and upon looking at these things, you can’t help but feel like there’s something just not quite right. It pulls you out of the experience a little bit. It breaks the illusion- all these things come together to significantly impact PES 2019’s atmosphere, and in a game such as this one, that matters a great deal. This isn’t a new problem with PES 2019, of course. It’s been true for a long time, and it’s true this year as well.

But if you’re the sort of person that can look past that stuff and only cares about what happens on the pitch, PES 2019 is going to be an absolute delight (for the most part). It continues to do what PES games have always been known for doing- offering an experience that is truly a simulation, with a slowed down pace of gameplay that allows you to formulate free-flowing and beautiful attacks on the fly and then put them into practice with perfect execution. That particular element of the game becomes even more emphasized because of PES 2019’s overhauled animations system, which determines what kind of pass you’ll be sending over to the next player, how successful it will be, or, in some cases, whether or not you’ll even be able to connect with the ball. It all depends on the way the player is moving, what angle he’s receiving a ball at, as well as the trajectory of the ball itself.

"All these things come together to significantly impact PES 2019’s atmosphere, and in a game such as this one, that matters a great deal. This isn’t a new problem with PES 2019, of course. It’s been true for a long time, and it’s true this year as well."

That ties in with ball physics, which is another one of PES 2019’s major overhauls. The football itself feels appropriately weighty, reacting to impact from shots and bounces in ways that are at the same time utterly realistic and completely unpredictable. The ball feels like a real thing, and watching it swivel in the air to land at the foot of a player after a long, lofted through pass, or to see it dip and curve and rifle into the back of the net at the end of a powerful shot from outside the box, is never not fun. Together, the ball physics and the reworked animations add extra layers onto PES’ already solid moment-to-moment gameplay. Passing moves feel much more fluid and realistic when they are properly pulled off, while pulling them off requires work too, for you to make sure your players are in a position to receive and release the ball in the right manner, so they also feel rewarding. The play gets slowed down a bit thanks to this, but that actually works in PES 2019’s favour, rather than against it.

Goalkeepers have also been improved quite noticeably. If you read my review of PES 2018 last year, you’d remember that the goalkeepers were one of the things that bugged me in that game the most. Blockbuster shots were a major new addition to last year’s game, aiming to create moments of theatricality and drama, with shots that people in the rafters on a Friday night might call a “banger, mate”. However, the goalkeepers’ complete inability to save shots that went past even within inches of them dampened the impact of the whole thing, and games, as a result often felt too easy. While the ‘keepers haven’t been perfected, their reactions and their abilities to stop shots is significantly improved, to the point where when you curve in a beautiful inch-perfect shot into the top corner of the goal from 30 yards away, it feels suitably rewarding and gratifying.

Some aspects of the on-pitch action, though, are less successful in what they attempt. PES 2019 made a big deal of having actual, meaningful fatigue mechanics prior to its launch, and I’ve really struggled to see that materialize. It’s not like fatigue isn’t a thing- a football simulation game simply wouldn’t be able to work without that, after all. It’s just as much a thing as it has always been. While my players did often get so tired that their performances during the final minutes of a match would suffer greatly, or that they would even on very rare occasions sustain injuries, that was really the extent of it. I had to do some swapping of players before matches during weeks in my schedule that were particularly crowded with fixtures, but that’s something that’s bread and butter to any fooball simulation game. If there is any difference in PES 2019’s fatigue mechanics that goes beyond that, it’s one that was so insignificant, I couldn’t even notice it.

Master League is another area that’s in need of heavy improvements, which have sadly still not been included in PES 2019. There is, to be fair, the addition of the pre-season friendlies tournament called the International Champions Cup, while transfers have also been improved slightly, giving you the ability to add sell-on clauses and the like, but both these changes are minute, and don’t really make much of a difference. The ICC is a pre-season tournament, and I doubt many people will care that it’s been fully licensed, while transfers are, despite the additions, still not very realistic. For my very first transfer, I purchased Toni Kroos for just about £35 million pounds, which is dirt cheap by today’s standards- and that is just one example. Incremental changes on the pitch are perfectly acceptable- they are, in fact, the norm in yearly simulation franchises, and when clubbed together, they actually make a meaningful difference. But the Master League is in need of more than just incremental changes. It has been more or less the exact same experience for a decade now, with a few minor additions made every year, and PES’ refusal to expand and change in this area just seems lazy at this point.

"Together, the ball physics and the reworked animations add extra layers onto PES’ already solid moment-to-moment gameplay."

For years, Pro Evolution Soccer has been in a pattern where it continues to improve its on-pitch action year over year, while remaining frustratingly backward in all other areas. PES 2019 follows that same pattern, and as such, the final verdict on it, in an isolated scenario, would be pretty much the same as its last two or three predecessors. The issue, however, is that every year, tolerance for its lack of improvements grows shorter, where now it’s just gotten to a point where they’ve become a bit too grating to ignore. The loss of the Champions League and the larger UEFA license certainly does PES 2019 no favours either. On the pitch itself, PES 2019 remains exceptionally strong, stronger than the series has ever been, and by extension, stronger than this genre has ever been. But all that panache and flair and flash that many PES fans choose to call stage dressing, which is so painfully missing once again in this year’s game, is quite important to the experience, and its absence is starting to become increasingly glaring with each new instalment. Konami have proven themselves to be absolute masters of delivering excellent on-pitch football- but perhaps with PES 2020 next year, it’ll be time to work on their weaknesses, rather than improving on their strengths.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Dead Cells

Motion Twin’s rogue-like, semi-procedurally generated Metroidvania title has a lot of buzz going for it. Throw in dodge rolls and punishing yet satisfying combat with a gorgeous pixel art style and you have something truly extraordinary. In early access since 2017, Dead Cells has already garnered acclaim for its level design, pacing and enemies, not to mention the sheer selection of weapons and combat possibilities. Each run is tempered by an intriguing build and with the full release on August 7^th, we finally get to see the entire story come together. Dead Cells will be available for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Dead Cells

When Dead Cells first entered Steam Early Access in 2017, it was described as a “rogue-like Metroidvania” with procedural generation. Being wary of “Metroidvania” and “procedural generation” is understandable especially when Thunder Lotus Games’ Sundered failed to really ignite many players’ interest.

Dead Cells is an altogether different beast though, one that’s undergone phenomenal changes throughout its development. Each area has its share of explorable nooks and rooms but it’s also possible to beeline to the next area quickly. Different abilities gained throughout playthroughs can help unlock secret rooms when playing afresh.

However, the combat is a big focus, combining block timing and dodging with build crafting for absurd damage stacking. The variety of weapons to utilize, Mutators and unlockable items are pretty exceptional as well, and the art style is just plain gorgeous. It may not be to everyone’s taste but Dead Cells is worth checking out when it releases on August 7^th for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and PS4.

Phantom Doctrine

Phantom Doctrine from CreativeForge Games isn’t your typical XCOM-style turn-based strategy title. It’s actually set during the Cold War and sees The Cabal, a mysterious organization, working to stop a conspiracy that could spell trouble for the world’s leaders. Along with carrying out secret missions, players can send undercover operatives who will have their own traps ready when needed.

Playing out in a 40 hour plus campaign, Phantom Doctrine allows for numerous tactical options like sneaking, silent takedowns, Overwatch modes in combat and even the ability to Breach. It’s also possible to bring in allies to help during battle, though keep in mind that your enemy can do the same thing (and even call in air support). Phantom Doctrine is out on August 14th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Overcooked 2

The sequel to everyone’s favourite cooking game…if they play solo, that is. Playing with friends and/or loved ones often resulted in chaos and going to bed angry. Overcooked 2 plans to ramp that up further, allowing teams of four players to handle ingredients, cook dishes and send them to hungry customers.

Bumping into someone else isn’t the only danger this time as levels can have portals and moving floors to impede progress. That may sound tame but stages will also have transitions where players move from hot air balloons to crash-landing into sushi kitchens. Passive aggressive jokes aside, it sounds like crazy fun. Overcooked 2 is out on August 7^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Madden NFL 19

EA Sports’ Madden series has its share of fans and detractors, especially given the ups and downs in quality over the years. Madden NFL 19 is still leaning hard on the realism with “real player motions” and it’s possible to take part in touchdown celebrations, a feature which was last seen in Madden NFL 09.

Other changes include 3 vs 3 match-ups for Ultimate Team Mode, a “Solo Battles” game mode, a reward system dependent on leaderboards and your success in daily challenges, and so on. If that weren’t enough, Longshot, last year’s story-driven campaign, will receive a continuation with more NFL events tying into the actual plot this time around.

Madden NFL 19 is out August 10th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

We Happy Few

Compulsion Games’ We Happy Few has spent a long time in development. From its promising Kickstarter in June 2015 to its publishing deal with Gearbox – which raised the price and irked supporters – to the studio’s eventual acquisition by Microsoft, the journey has been long and fraught with controversy. It’s finally out on August 10^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC but does this dystopian fantasy inspired by the likes of Brazil and George Orwell’s 1984 actually hold any merit?

We Happy Few takes place in an alternate history Great Britain where the citizens of Wellington Wells face contamination as a result of an experiment. In order to survive, something terrible is done and in order to suppress memories of the same, citizens take Joy, a drug that suppresses any and all anguish. Of course, as a result, authoritarian government rules, manipulating its citizens with Joy and ostracising those who stay off the pill.

Along with Arthur Hastings, who works as a censor for the government before going off the Joy, there are two additional characters: Sally Boyle, an experimental chemist who assisted the creator of Joy, and Ollie Starkey, an explosives expert who’s been off of Joy for a long time. It’s an interesting story but will its survival mechanics, rogue-like mechanics and procedurally generated environments hold player interest? We’ll find out in the coming week.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 1

Telltale’s The Walking Dead series is where it all began for the developer. It’s the franchise that escalated the studio into mainstream popularity and success. Even with all the years of strife and development woes, The Walking Dead is still here if only for a little while longer. That’s because the first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season premieres on August 14^th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. Clementine’s journey, for better or worse, is finally coming to an end.

The first episode will see Clementine travelling with AJ, avoiding the undead. Along with taking choices from previous games into account, The Final Season will incorporate the same quick-time events that have defined the Telltale series. Given this is the last game utilizing the Telltale Tool engine, The Walking Dead: The Final Season has a lot to live up to.

World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth

If you’ve been following World of Warcraft for the past several weeks, then Blizzard’s recent squishing of stats has happened in a less than ideal fashion. The levelling process has become absurd. Enemies seemingly take forever to kill, even if you’re armed to the teeth. It’s kind of a mess, punctuated by the fact that Blizzard doesn’t know what is causing the problem.

That being said, how could any player not be excited about Battle for Azeroth? The Alliance and Horde are warring again, reflected in the game’s new 20 player PvE Warfronts and new allied races that can be recruited. Kul Tiras and Zandalar are available as new continents while a number of dungeons and a new raid are also en route. Artifact Weapons are going away but there’s the Heart of Azeroth which affects all specializations when upgraded.

Honestly, along with the increased level cap, PvP ruleset changes, island expeditions and so on, there’s quite a lot to go through. Hopefully, everything else about the game starts working before Battle for Azeroth launches on August 14^th.

F1 2018

The classic F1 racing series from Codemasters Birmingham returns for another lap with F1 2018. Developed on EGO Engine 4.0 and releasing on August 24th for a wide variety of platforms from PC, Xbox One and PS4 to iOS and Android, F1 2018 will follow the 2018 Formula One World Championship season.

That means 21 circuits, 20 drivers and 10 teams competing for supremacy. Along with an improved progression system, Codemasters also promises classic cars like the McLaren M23 and Ferrari 312T. Essentially, every classic car from F1 2017 will be returning and circuits like Circuit Paul Ricard will be featured. More free practice programs, the option to bank development points and much more are also coming. Suffice to say that if realistic F1 racing is your thing, then F1 2018 shouldn’t be missed.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2019

So Konami doesn’t have the UEFA license to fall back on this time around. That’s fine because Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 includes the Scottish Premiership and Russian Premier League as part of eight total leagues. Improved realism will be the name of the game with reworked lighting and sharper looking environments.

Fans can also look forward to a better negotiation and budget management system along with the International Champions Cup. Eleven new skill traits have also been added to allow for more unique play styles so expect to see individual player strengths have a stronger impact on games. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 arrives on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC in North America while Europe gets it on August 30^th.

Yakuza Kiwami 2

If you’ve played any of the Yakuza games till now, then you don’t need me to sell you on Yakuza Kiwami 2. A remake of Yakuza 2 which originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2006, this is more of a follow-up to Yakuza Kiwami due to new gameplay features and the Dragon Engine’s revamped visuals. Kazuma Kiryu is back once again and must prevent a clan war from erupting. This time around though, it’s Dragon vs. Dragon as Kiryu battles Ryuji Goda, the “Dragon of Kansai”.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 features the same open-world environment spanning Kamurocho and Sotenbori with various side stories and improved combat. A number of new story elements have been added to help sort out the original release’s plot holes and there’s even an additional story scenario called “The Truth of Goro Majima”. In this, everyone’s favourite psychopath becomes a playable character and we explore how he left the Tojo Clan to form “Majima Construction”.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is out on August 28^th for PlayStation 4.

Monster Hunter World PC

Monster Hunter World has been an unprecedented success for Capcom, selling 8.3 million copies since launch and providing a solid foray for the series onto consoles. Ever since the game was announced, many of us waited with bated breath for news on the PC release. It’s finally coming on August 9^th, even if there are a few hiccups along the way.

Said hiccups include the lack of post-launch monsters like Deviljho, Lunastra and Behemoth. Furthermore, reports indicate that crashing is an issue that PC players are dealing with, though Capcom has promised a fix. That being said, Monster Hunter World on PC looks gorgeous. For new players, it offers a taste of the hunting gameplay that handheld players have been raving about for years. For current players, it means 1080p resolution and 60 FPS gameplay. Regardless, it’s worth checking out on PC.

Death’s Gambit

The Dark Souls aesthetic is strong with Death’s Gambit. The pixel-art style is gritty and brutal as players control a servant of Death who must investigate Siradon, battling various guardians along the way. Along with an enormous 2D world to explore, Death’s Gambit features numerous, towering bosses and seven playable classes along with more than 10 weapon types. To offer a further challenge, players can battle bosses again in Heroic Mode or embark on a New Game Plus playthrough.

While the non-linear exploration and punishing nature of the combat may evoke From Software’s best, Death’s Gambit is decidedly more of an action platformer. Execute enemies with finesse and speed or plan encounters carefully, choosing talents from a skill tree and doing your best to survive. Death’s Gambit is out on August 14^th for PS4 and PC.

Shenmue 1 and 2 HD

At this stage, Shenmue 1 and 2 don’t really need any introduction. Created by Yu Suzuki, the man behind Virtua Fighter, both games follow Ryo Hazuki on his quest to avenge his father’s murder. Travelling from Japan to Hong Kong, Ryo will confront various characters, both friendly and hostile, en route to finding the mysterious Lan Di.

Though it may not seem like much according to today’s standards, Shenmue was ground-breaking in its depiction of NPCs with schedules and a realistic world full of small details. Its usage of quick-time events was unparalleled at the time in the industry along with its stellar production values. The remastered ports of Shenmue 1 and 2 will feature improved visuals, new control options, better user interfaces and – at long last – an option between English and Japanese voices. They’re out on August 21^st for Xbox One, PC and PS4.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Imagine a Monster Hunter title where you can’t move while healing, Scoutflies don’t exist, the aesthetic is more heavily anime-like and gathering resources is a thing you have to go out and do. Doesn’t sound like much fun, right? Wrong. Despite not having a number of quality-of-life changes seen in Monster Hunter World, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is still one of the most content-rich titles in the franchise. It’s also tons of fun.

As the “definitive” package for Monster Hunter Generations, Generations Ultimate packs over 60 large monsters to fight. That means tons of armour and weapons to craft and the beauty of Generations Ultimate is that you can pretty much use whatever you feel like. Hunting Arts and Styles imbue special abilities into each of the 14 weapon types, changing things up for veterans.

And of course, there are the Deviant Monsters, G-Rank quests and Charm farming to embrace. Did we mention playing as Felynes? Because that’s also a thing. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate arrives on August 28^th for Nintendo Switch.

Strange Brigade

Better known for its Sniper Elite series, Rebellion Developments’ Strange Brigade is…different. As a co-op third-person shooter, players control the Strange Brigade, a cavalcade of Secret Service operatives who travel to Sahara Africa to take down Seteki the Witch Queen after an archaeologist accidentally releases her spirit.

Styled with 1930s aesthetics, mythical beings like mummies and minotaurs will oppose players. Each of the four playable characters offers different abilities and weapons along with an upgrade system for further killing potential. Traps, branching levels, puzzles and much more will be available during escapades, and it’s also possible to unlock Amulet Powers to even the odds.

Strange Brigade is out on August 28^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

ACTIVE TOUCH SYSTEM (FIFA 19)

Year on year, EA Sports continues to makes small but vital changes to the moment-to-moment on-pitch action in FIFA, and that trend carries on this year as well. FIFA 19 will introduce something known as the Active Touch System, which is being touted as a complete rewrite of the systems that govern how a player approaches and receives a ball. The system changes how every player on the pitch receives or strikes a ball, and promises to result in more fluid movements.

50/50 BATTLES (FIFA 19)

50/50 battles is another new improvement that is being added to FIFA 19, and it’s going to determine how successful players are going to be during on-pitch physical battles for possession of the ball, or if they’re even going to be successful at all. This will be based on the specific attributes of a player and their movement at the time on the pitch. It promises to change things up interestingly, because where previous FIFA games often devolved to holding down a button during physical battles until you got the ball, with this new system working behind the scenes, possession battles between players should hopefully be more realistic and dynamic.

DYNAMIC TACTICS (FIFA 19)

Speaking of dynamic, the new Dynamic Tactics system looks to be a major new addition to this year’s game. It will allow players to customize and create their own sets of tactics before a match, and if EA Sports’ words up until now are to be believed, there’s going to be a great deal of control and fine-tuning. In the middle of a match, you will then be able to switch between the tactics you’ve created on the fly, making for a greater and deeper control over your strategies during a match.

TIMED FINISHING (FIFA 19)

Timed Finishing is how EA Sports are adding more nuance and greater level of player control to FIFA 19’s shooting. Essentially, after pressing the shoot button, you will now be able to press it once more, right before your player kicks the ball. The catch, of course, is that the timing for this second press of the button needs to be very precise. If you time it correctly, it will lead to a much better shot, with more accuracy, more power, and more curve. Interestingly enough, though, it’s going to be a risk vs reward system, because if you fail to get the timing of the second button press right, it will lead to a disastrously bad shot.

UEFA LICENSE (FIFA 19)

Of course, the biggest addition in FIFA 19, and the one making all the headlines, is that of the Champions League. While licenses for all UEFA competitions have been with Konami’s PES for a long time now, this year, club football’s biggest competition is making the switch. All UEFA competitions – the Champions League, the Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup – are going to be included in FIFA 19, and you can expect them to be recreated with the typical polish and pizazz one usually associates with a FIFA game.

NEW COMMENTATORS (FIFA 19)

With the additional of the UEFA licenses comes the addition of a new commentary team as well. Longtime FIFA mainstays Martin Tyler and Alan Smith aren’t going anywhere, of course- they’re still going to be the commentators during most matches. During continental football though (which means, during UEFA matches), the commentary will now be done by a new duo, comprising of Derek Rae and Lee Dixon.

THE JOURNEY (FIFA 19)

The Journey, FIFA’s latest game mode, was introduced with FIFA 17 and returned for its second season last year, and it’s coming back yet again. Alex Hunter’s story will continue, as he returns, this time to battle for the biggest prize- the Champions League. Not much else is known beyond that at this point, but we do know that this is supposed to be the last chapter in Hunter’s story. Meanwhile, we can also expect Danny Williams, Hunter’s best friends, and Kim, Hunter’s half-sister, to make a return, but whether or not they will be playable like they were last year hasn’t been confirmed yet.

NINTENDO SWITCH VERSION (FIFA 19)

FIFA 18 launched on the Nintendo Switch last year, much to many people’s surprise, and apparently, it did well enough that EA Sports have decided to bring FIFA 19 to the system as well. Just like last year, though, there are going to be some concessions made, owing to the hardware’s lesser capabilities. It will run on the same custom-made engine that was used last year, so still no Frostbite, while we’re still not going to see The Journey on the game’s Switch version. Improvements have been promised though, from visual enhancements, to additions in the multiplayer component of the game.

MORE LEAGUE LICENSES (PES 2019)

Konami may have lost the big, coveted license for the Champions League and other UEFA competitions, but they’re making other, less prominent additions to make up for that. As such, Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is going to include licenses for many official domestic leagues around the world that were not included in its predecessors. These include- the Scottish Premiership, Portugal’s Premiera Liga, Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League, and Sweden’s Raiffeisen Super League.

MORE PLAYER PERSONALITY (PES 2019)

Konami’s yearly strive for realism and authenticity continues with Pro Evolution Soccer 2019, and their focus this year seems to be on making their in-game versions of players more realistic, authentic, and closer to their actual, on-pitch personalities in real life. Konami are looking to give the players more personality to differentiate them from each other and to make them stand out as actual, individual players. How’re they going to do that? Well, they have a couple of things in the pipeline.

IMPROVED MOVEMENTS (PES 2019)

One of those things is a renewed focus on enhancing and improving the way players move in the game during matches. Players are also going to move more fluidly and organically, and improvements have been mode, most of all, to dribbling animations. Part of that is full body touch, a feature that was introduced last year and is going to be built on this year. This is going to govern, among other things, how a player interacts with the ball and how he traps an incoming ball is all based on his positioning, the ball’s speed, and other similar aspects.

NEW SKILL TRAITS (PES 2019)

More personality is also being added by just adding to the list of skills in PES 2019. PES 2019 will include a total of 39 skill traits for players, out of which 11 are going to be new additions. These new skills will be centred on a number of things, from goalkeeper-specific traits, to interceptions, to penalties, to individual aspects of shooting. Some of these, in fact, are even going to be a little fancier, focusing on things such as no-look passes and cross over turns.

QUICK SUBSTITUTIONS (PES 2019)

Quick substitutions was a feature that was added in FIFA by EA Sports with FIFA 17, but Konami weren’t going to let their game lag behind in any area for too long. Quick subs will now be included in Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 as well, and they’ll do pretty much what you expect them to do. Thanks to quick subs, you can now make substitutions during matches while play breaks with just one click of a button, rather than having to pause the action and go into menus.

MASTER LEAGUE IMPROVEMENTS (PES 2019)

Moving on the PES now, the Master League, which is essentially Pro Evo’s single player career mode, is going to boast some neat improvements this year. For starters, the pre-season cup competition known as the International Champions Cup is going to be officially included in the game, and will be part of the pre-season in Master League as well. Additionally, improvements are also being made to negotiations and transfers to make them more interesting and realistic.

XBOX ONE X AND PS4 PRO ENHANCEMENTS (PES 2019)

Konami are looking to make a number of improvements to PES 2019’s visual aspects. While all versions of the games will benefit from things such as better lighting, more realistic modelling, and other things, those with more powerful hardware at their disposal can expect a few bonuses as well. As such, on a PS4 Pro, an Xbox One X, and, of course, a PC, the game will feature support for 4K resolutions. Meanwhile, the game is also going to have HDR support.