Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

"WHY even release this game!?"

"2 / 10 - Terrible - severe problems prevent any real fun"

I think the above just about says it all...honestly I don't know why this game was even released considering it is almost entirely unplayable both online and offline! Here's how I get to my opinion:

Graphics - good but blocky...facial expressions are accurate and realistic, and the little arguments the players have with each other/ref is quite entertaining

Sound - an improvement on past PES games, but it gets a bit repetitive

Depth - excellent Master League structure with some nice additions such as photos of fans 'gutted' after my last 0-4 loss

Gameplay - absolutely awful! The slowdown on this game makes it completely and utterly unplayable! There are times when the slowdown is so bad that you might as well hang up your controller and accept that you are simply going to concede goal after goal. This wouldn't be too bad (I'm being generous here) but for the fact that you can't tackle, pass, run, shoot etc etc without the game becoming so slow and hung that the ball ends up looking like it is going in random directions...which brings me to the AI...well in a word it's dire! Players make random movements (bumping into each other and sometimes falling over - TEAM MATES!!) they run in circles sometimes, and generally don't go where you want them to. I have played on many occasions, believing I have the computer's next attack covered (the computer runs down the wing and I have 3 covering players), only for the other 2 players of mine to run for the centre circle!! Also when attacking, on many occasions not only do my players simply not run, sometimes the strikers run backwards, and often the stand offside by about 20 yards! I took a freekick earlier today and one of my strikers was on the opposing goalline while the rest of the team were just inside the box! Really, it's ridiculous and I think it is a travesty that this game was even released without these bugs being ironed out...

Overall, this is the least playable and certainly the least enjoyable PES game released (yes worse than ISS 3 on PS2), if you are sceptical about this review, rent the game and give it a good test, but I really wouldn't advise wasting your time and money like I did.

PS before someone calls "FIFA fanboy", PES has always been and surely always will be my choice over the two...

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/08

Game Release: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (EU, 10/26/07)