PES 2017 recently revealed Barcelona as an official partner at the Camp Nou, and while we were there Gamereactor caught up with Producer Manorito Hosoda and Brand Manager Adam Bhatti to talk about the game and what gameplay improvements fans can expect.
"The ball control is the most important part", Hosoda responded when asked, "when it comes to passing and definitely making a score, so by improving that area that will make a really big game changer and it really changes how you take to the game".
Brand Manager Adam Bhatti also weighed in on the gameplay changes. "The first touch and the movement, we've completely redone that relationship with the ball, so it's a brand new animation not only when you pass but when you dribble, when you shoot, when you run as well. So that's the fundamental change and it completely changes how the game plays.
"We had a lot of feedback from PES 16. People loved it but felt it was too fast, a little bit too frantic, not enough player individuality, those kinds of things. We've sort of taken a step back and made it more of a simulation, made it a little bit more real, really bringing out the realism of the plays. It's that player to ball relationship and I think one of the key features is the real touch, and I think when you play the game it's the start of everything that happens in the game, you've got to think about how you touch the ball and shoot and things like that".
"It might not be the most flashy advancement really", Hosoda added, "but it really makes you think about how you control the ball". Another thing to mention is that "the pace has completely changed so you can really think when you control the ball and how you want to control it".
PES 2017 is set to dribble its way onto PC and console on September 15.