GameSpot editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 11/06/2007
- Released on: 03/11/2008
- Originally published on GameSpot: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PlayStation 2) Review
UK REVIEW--Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is something of a puzzle in its 2008 iteration. The series feels at home on the PlayStation 2 at a time when it's completely failing to take advantage of the PlayStation 3. Where technological resources are lower, the game offers more features and better playability, and it's the definitive console version of the game. It features noticeably smoother player animations and substantially more game modes than the other console versions, as well as a fluid, polished game engine. However, the game just hasn't changed enough to warrant an upgrade, while the online mode lags too much to be playable at this stage.
If you're a newcomer to the series, you'll be impressed at how well Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 plays on the PlayStation 2. It captures the realism of the sport almost perfectly, but most importantly, it remains eminently playable. Thanks to a combination of exquisite control, superb animation, and worthy artificial intelligence, it's highly replayable in single-player, but it really comes into its own in multiplayer. With that said, series veterans may wonder what exactly Konami has done to improve the gameplay in the past year. Aside from making minor tweaks to the animation and AI, it's fundamentally unchanged from Pro Evolution Soccer 6.
One of the more noticeable changes is that the game feels slightly faster, taking it more into the realms of an arcade game than ever before. Animation has been tweaked to give the players more physicality, notably in the way they tussle with each other, as well as the independent movement of the ball. It's also harder than before because the AI recognises common attacking tactics and sets up counterattacks. More than ever, you feel like you're playing a clever human opponent, forcing you to improve your game as a result.
These tweaks make Pro Evo 2008 a better game than last year's, but not in a dramatic enough way to warrant an upgrade. However, if you are set on buying a console version of the game this year, then the PlayStation 2 is the one to buy. The other console versions offer a new diving ability that allows you to fake fouls in the hope of being awarded free kicks. It's a dirty tactic in an otherwise authentic simulation, and although its omission here is slightly confusing, we applaud it nonetheless. We'd also like to praise the effort that's gone in to banish the slowdown that blighted the 60Hz mode in previous versions. Longtime fans and purists will rejoice at the fact that the game runs perfectly, with no jerkiness or tearing.
Konami has also added a bunch of new game modes that, while not completely revolutionary, do add to the longevity of the game. First up is the world tour, which puts your national or club team in a series of "missions" against the rest of the world. These missions are driven by match conditions that have to be met, such as starting the game at half time and/or winning by a set number of goals. In a nice touch, you can export your world tour to a PlayStation Portable over USB, but only if you're feeling flush enough to buy two different versions of the game.
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