World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 International

"As Close to Perfect as We Could Ever Have Hoped"

KCET's Pro Evolution Soccer, based on the ISS engine (also by Konami) managed to be not only the best recreation of football available on the market, but also one of the most complete multiplayer experiences money can buy.

So, Konami had a winning formula. They had two options:

- Make like EA and release the same game every year with incidental upgrades such as updated rosters and adding very little in terms of depth or gameplay.

Or

- Listen to the fans, and implement all of their ideas into their game's engine. Make huge improvements to crucial areas such as passing, tackling, dribbling, set pieces, expanded training modes and an overhauled Master League mode that creates an even more immersive experience for the solo gamer.

Just to let you know, they chose the latter, which is very good news indeed...

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Upon loading the game for the first time, you are presented with what I would describe as being a slightly worrying sight. The opening sequence is hardly an inspiring sight. Queen's We Will Rock You blares at you whilst a CG movie of unknown players do very little. I know it's an insignificant matter, but having an intro sequence that pumps you full of adrenaline and gets you in the big game atmosphere is something that EA does much better.

The menu screen is very kitsch also, resembling a 1970s World Of Sport backdrop with droning, in-house music that will devour your soul. Oh dear, it seems we have got off to a bit of a bad start. However, worry not, as absolutely everything else in Pro Evolution Soccer 2 is nothing short of wonderful.

Konami claims to have implemented more than 10% more animations for each player, and boy does it show! Players move gracefully about the pitch while passes go exactly where you want them to. Study the replays frame-by-frame and you will not see any jerky movements whatsoever. It's art imitating life on an impressive scale.

The detailing of the players and stadiums are such that you do not feel like you are playing a mere game, but you are affecting the outcome of a sporting event. This is most noticeable when playing with friends, as onlookers holler and yell as if it was the World Cup Final they were watching. Not bad for a game really.

The visuals are to their usual high standard, and everything ticks along nicely. Most of the better-known players' likenesses are very close to real-life, and they all look very life-like in motion (quite unlike the robotic lurching of many of its competitors). They strike the ball very convincingly and the overall effect is as closer to real football than any other football game.

Konami still refuse to cough up the funds to fully licence the use of all the real player names, but most major nations, with the glaring exception of Brazil and Holland Teams, have been licenced and are correct. This doesn't really bother me, but for some people, having Peter Brackley refer to Roberto Carlos as ''Larcos'' takes the yellow stuff.

What did annoy me, however, is the fact that all the club teams have laughably inaccurate pseudonyms. I'm used to Arsenal being referred to as ''London'', but West Ham is called ''The Lake District''. Admittedly, it is a lovely part of the world, but it is about 500+ miles from Upton Park. Good news though (spoiler alert) is that you can unlock closer approximations by fulfilling certain tasks within the game. (If you want to know how, read my FAQ - PLUG!)

The commentary has been completely overhauled, with Peter Brackley and Trevor Brooking taking the reigns in this department. Admittedly, it still has room for improvement (Trev's analysis is a bit light on detail), but it is better than expected after the shambolic performance by Terry Butcher in the previous installment. They keep up with the action quite adequately and it's all mixed very well indeed.

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Do you like football? If so, you really should buy this game. Even if you own the original, this installment refines the experience to a new level. It's difficult to describe the experience when playing, it just feels like the beautiful game. Scoring a goal fills you with elation, fluffing a six-yarder makes you fill stupid even against CPU opponents. A penalty shootout is just as exciting and edgy as watching it on TV.

Catching a pen as it falls off your desk. Finding a fiver in your back pocket just as you're about to put them in the wash. It's these little moments of luck, combined with your judgment or skill that are more satisfying than anything else (apart from you know what :-P). What makes this game so compulsive is those little moments that swing a game. Times when skill is not enough to win, where a stroke of good fortune can be what makes a novice beat an experienced player. The sort of magic that you witness when a non-league team knocks a top Premiership side out of the FA Cup is in here. And the immense feeling of satisfaction is unsurpassed in the world of gaming.

Still not making it clear? Just rent the thing, invite some of your mates round and witness the feeling for yourself. Believe me, a copy of Pro Evolution is much cheaper than a season ticket, and it's almost as good.

As far as modes are concerned, Konami seem to have covered everything. The most obvious addition is the UMBRO Pro Training Challenge. This mode consists of six challenges, some of which are extremely challenging. The Possession challenge, in particular, is the hardest damned task I've ever had to perform in a football game.

Most crucially, however, is the expanded Master League mode. This time around, a three-tiered league system is in place, with a much more complex player transferring system. The changes to the layout provides twice the challenge of the original, and the inclusion of an Extreme difficulty setting will test even the toughest Pro Evo experts to their limits.

Be warned, this game will become a part of your life, which might annoy any ladies in your life. I still play PES2 every day, and I have owned it for several months. Still, the game offers near limitless challenge.

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WHY SHOULD YOU BUY IT?
- You appreciate the finer things in life
- You enjoy things that are fun
- You want the finest football gaming experience available
- You want a lasting challenge

WHY SHOULDN'T YOU BUY IT?
- You hate anything remotely related to football (why are you even reading this?!)
- You hate anything remotely related to enjoyment
- You do not possess a soul

Basically, buy this game. You have no excuse for not buying it. If you can't afford it then save up. There is no better way to spend your cash.

It's not perfect, but to mark it down would be, to coin a phrase, like complaining about a speck of dust in a pool of liquid gold. Full marks!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/16/03, Updated 06/22/03