Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, 2008)

Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer was already looking a little stretched last year, and the 2008 edition takes the series to the breaking point. Instead of improving on last year's game, it offers no noteworthy new features. Some of the smaller gameplay tweaks make the game more enjoyable to play overall, but an equal number are frustrating and feel unnecessary, while the subpar online mode of last year's game has barely been improved. It makes you wonder what Shingo Takatsuka and his team have been doing for the past year. The biggest upgrade for the game is supposedly the new Teamvision artificial intelligence system, although its claims to revolutionise the playing experience prove to be overstated. Computer-controlled opponents are slightly more intelligent when it comes to changing playing styles, although defenders still feel a little bit superhuman in their ability to resist attack. Overall, the game feels more flowing than last year, but rather than feeling revolutionary, the improvement just feels like a return to the earlier glory of the series. In fact, the immediate changes feel so minor that even hardcore fans of the series will have trouble picking them out. The ball feels slightly weightier and players move with more physicality. They also tussle with each other more, pulling shirts and out-muscling each other over the ball. It adds up to a more natural-feeling game this year, and one that still plays an accomplished game of football. Anyone who hasn't played Pro Evolution Soccer will find that this is still a solidly playable game, but long-term fans may wonder what Konami's done this year to deserve the £50 upgrade fee.

Many of the new gameplay tweaks are actually more annoying than they are welcome. Goalkeepers now fumble the ball with infuriating regularity, and the fast pace now makes Pro Evo feel more like an arcade game rather than a simulation. Another new feature that betrays the game's simulation roots is the ability to make your players take a dive. It's something that undoubtedly happens in the real world, but its inclusion in a serious video game could be seen to tarnish an otherwise respectful representation of the sport. Used in the penalty area the dive can win penalties, and while it's only successful in the minority of cases, it could be used to tip the balance of the game. We expect that discerning gamers will shun the new skill out of sportsmanship, but it'll be a real shame if faceless online players manage to win games by effectively employing the tactic. Last year's online offering was fairly lamented by gamers, at first for being unplayable and then for being slow. It's therefore disappointing to see how little things have changed in the new version. Lag still affected many of the games we played, and while it's nowhere nearly as bad as the PlayStation 3 version, the problems still need to be addressed. The only game modes are ranked and player matches. Thus, the complete lack of online leagues and tournaments is restrictive when compared with many other sports games on the market. Aside from the somewhat patchy performance and lack of game modes, Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is also lacking when it comes to overall Internet functionality. There are no real-world score tickers, no news feeds, and no squad updates--features that the rival FIFA series has been offering for two years now.

This game continues the trend of Pro Evolution or Winning Eleven. There are so many new features to this version, however i still feel Winning Eleven 8 is the best one they have created.

PES 2008 is a Fast paced game! Better than FIFA, FIFA's tooo slow. You are able to pass the ball when you say to. Compared to FIFA, it takes forever to pass the ball and their's like no way of winning. If there's one thing I would take from FIFA 08 and put it in PES 2008 is the shooting. In FIFA 08 you can hold the shoot button to determine how hard and high the ball's going to be kicked. But in PES 08 you only tap the shoot button, and even sometimes by tapping the shoot button, the ball can go very high.

This game is great if you are a fan of the series and i would recommend this over fifa o8, The graphics are good, new edit system, online play, and you have great music added to it!! If you need a football game this year i would recommend PES 2008!! it is great and every year i look forward to there titles.

One thing that I really loved about this game was the graphics. The graphics were in my opinion, some of the best there is. The view is good and so is the narration. I hate it when the narrators get annoying. The gameplay is really fun but hard to learn. The one thing that is bad about this game is the tutorial system. It has one, but it does a poor job teaching you the game. You basically have to play the game and learn it yourself. Overall I think this game is worth getting.