Pro Evolution Soccer 3

Pro Evolution Soccer 3 is the part with which the series finally moved into the status of a serious simulator. Matches have become slower and deeper: passing depends on the position of the partner and the force of pressure, dribbling requires meaningful movements, and defense requires patience. The winning schemes from the previous parts stopped working, and this was for the better. Special attention was paid to the physics of the ball and the behavior of the players: the ball bounces off the body and the bar in a lively manner, and collisions look convincing. Artificial intelligence learned to keep in shape and adapt during the match, which is why even friendly matches against the computer turned into a real struggle. The game features Master League with club development, cups and tournaments, including licensed European competitions. The commentary and presentation of the matches tried to copy the television presentation, which looked impressive for 2003. Separately, it is worth noting that in this part the role of team play has noticeably increased: without meaningful passes, attacks fade away, and individual passes almost do not work. The commentary and sound from the stands corresponds to the level of big matches, and the weather conditions change the behavior of the ball. The game looked very solid for its year and is still remembered as a transitional milestone. For its time, the PES 3 was a significant step forward, and its influence was felt in subsequent releases. Today it is retro, but respected retro: it was from this part that many players stopped perceiving football simulators as arcade games.