Pro Evolution Soccer

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is the eighth edition of Konami's world class soccer sim and features improve playability compared to the previous version.

The game was launched on Windows as well as a number of games consoles in October 2007 so it is quite dated now, but that's not to say it does not provide hours of fun, particularly if you are playing with friends.

In its day, the PES series certainly had the edge on its bitter rival FIFA. While EA has greatly improved its offering in recent years, back in the late 2000s, PES led the way for gamers who wanted a realistic soccer experience with fast gameplay, solid ball control and intricate set-pieces.

PES 2008 was the first version of the franchise to feature the year in its title. This was a deliberate ploy from Konami to gain more of the market from FIFA, but what really made it stand out was its new 'Teamvision' feature.

'Teamvision' is an artificial intelligence system that allows the computer to alter its game style during a match. This prevents the game from become stale due to the player being able to figure out exactly what the computer will do (as was the case with previous footy sims).

Animation has also been improved, with the players being more detailed as well as more physical. If you believe in winning at all costs, then you'll love PES 2008 as it features the ability to dive in the box in order to get a penalty. It's far from moral, but it just might be the difference between winning the league and not.

Commentary is something of a let down, though, with extremely general phrases which are very repetitive.

Licensing is a big thing for soccer gamers and PES 2008 has most international teams playing in the correct kits with real life players. In terms of leagues, Spain's La Liga, France's Ligue 1, the Dutch Eredivisie and Italy's Serie A are all fully licenced, but Konami was only able to get a partial licence for England's Premier League (Tottenham and Newcastle), while Germany's Bundesliga remains unlicensed.

A series of new game modes have been added, though. These include a World Tour which allows you to pit your team against clubs from around the globe. Pro Evo leagues and cups are also available and you are able to create your own custom tournaments in order to compete with friends.

When released, it received a rating of 78.50 per cent out of 100 from GameRankings. That is far from ground breaking but still solid.