PES 3 marks a real leap forward. Realistic ball touch, transformed animations and sharper AI. The duel with FIFA tilts decisively, and the series enters its golden age.
Your verdict
Category
Sports4 players3+
Description
A Konami sequel released in 2003 (Europe, Italy), the third European entry. 2002-2003 rosters and polished TV presentation with recognized European commentators, expanded national league modes and reworked ball physics. Represents PES's major commercial breakthrough outside the United Kingdom.
Pro Evolution Soccer 3 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The art direction bets on the great players' likeness. Lacking full official licenses, Konami concentrates its care on the stars themselves: faces modeled after real celebrities, faithful morphologies, gestures and gait that make a footballer recognizable by his silhouette alone. You identify your idol by his way of running or striking before even reading his name.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A football simulation where the flow of play and freedom of movement come first, offering ball control of rare precision. Chaining a passing combination and finishing with a controlled strike delivers an immediate satisfaction. Accessible yet deep, superb with several players, a football game that rewards game intelligence as much as pure technique.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Building your play pass after pass, feeling the weight of the ball and then finishing with a clean strike turns every match into a tactile pleasure you relaunch without stopping. The Master League mode and a season's progression feed constant objectives. The licenses are missing and the editions resemble one another, but this finesse of gameplay keeps a lasting pull on the pitch.
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Leading a team through the Master League's seasons unfolds a football simulation of recognised finesse, where every match counts. Fine-tuning your tactics, managing your roster and challenging your friends extends the experience relentlessly. That depth, paired with endless replay value, founds a longevity football fans cultivate.
The third European Pro Evolution Soccer, the one behind PES's big commercial breakthrough outside the UK. Its mass distribution and dated content make it a minor collector title, with no scarcity or notable price. The language-less Italian edition, made for a market where football is king, is the only slightly more specific variant to watch for a complete regional set.
Better with friends
A third installment of tactical football, refining pace and animation for multiplayer duels of growing intensity. The competition plays out in midfield control and the science of transitions, where a well-placed burst settles tight matches. Deep yet gratifying, it turns every game into a game of chess at the feet and forges stubborn rivalries you sustain evening after evening.
Is Pro Evolution Soccer 3 still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2003 on PS2, Konami's project is often cited as one of the great vintages of the series, thanks to smoother player animation and a ball physics of remarkable accuracy. The tactical freedom, the diversity of playing styles and the quality of the Master League make for a football of lasting depth that rewards mastery. The fine handling of controls and feints opens a rich technical range. The official licences are still missing. A benchmark of the football video game of its time, recommended for purists of the beautiful game and for those nostalgic about the golden age of the series.
