Over the past few years, Konami's
Winning Eleven Soccer series has developed a stellar reputation amongst
gamers and have set the standard in terms of gameplay. The latest
installment takes the franchise forward in some key areas. Winning Eleven
Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 features more than a hundred unique teams and
players have some interesting selections this time around. While there are
fewer licensed teams and players than in last year's installment, the
biggest club in the world, Manchester United is now included. Since you
can edit the player names and stats, the lack of real teams and leagues is
somewhat mitigated. Generic teams and kits are also included, which makes
for a decent tradeoff if you're not a hardcore soccer fan. However, if you
do follow the sport closely, it's obviously frustrating that such an
excellent playable title lacks the full licensing of leagues, teams and
players as its competition. The good news is that once you get beyond
this, Winning Eleven 2007's solid gameplay remains as fluid and enjoyable
as ever. A key reason for this lies in the game's interface and play
mechanics which remain the best on console. WE 2007's basic approach to
its controls and play mechanics haven't changed much from last year's
edition, but there have been some key refinements made this time around
that make for a smoother and more playable soccer experience. The Xbox 360
controller is well utilized, and you can control your players using either
the analog or digital pad. Passing, shooting and keeping are assigned to
the face buttons and you can make the player sprint by pressing down on
the right shift button while the left lets you shift which player you
control. This interface is fairly straightforward and players are quite
maneuverable as well, making turning and shooting fairly easy to perform.
You can also make some set pieces quite easily thanks to the radar and
player selection mechanics. When you reach the net, setting up your kick
and shooting for the net is a bit harder than in previous games, but this
adds to the game's realism.
The
game also offers a number of impressive under the hood options that you
can change and adjust. At the start of each match, you select which
formations you want to use and what players will play in which position.
You can set up their level of aggressiveness and tactics to help you
during the match. You can also manage your roster and substitute players
on the fly as well. Winning Eleven also lets you choose between a player
controlled or auto goalie and gives you additional options such as match
length, ending with extra time or penalty kicks plus the aggression of
refs. Players can also change the time of day, weather and adjust the
level of fan support at the stadium, too. Players can edit the individual
stats and attributes of some players but can't change their kits or
appearance, which is somewhat disappointing. Players can then choose to
play in a single match or practice their moves as well. In addition to
these standard modes, you can also choose to play either a single match, a
tournament and in the Master League mode. In the Master League, you go
through an entire season with your team and can make changes to the roster
via transfers and trades, which adds a level of depth to the game that
extends its longevity.
You'll find that while the game doesn't
have the team names and logos, it definitely has the feel and pacing of a
real soccer match down pat. The ball physics are significantly better,
with a more unpredictable and fluid motion to the balls which make them
react and move even more realistically. This makes passing and shooting a
more difficult task but adds to the overall sensation of controlling the
soccer ball. From a gameplay standpoint, players will find that the
opposing teams are smarter than in previous installments and react quicker
to your moves. They are certainly more aggressive this time around than in
previous titles. This makes the matches much harder to win and players
will find themselves on the defense more than they are used to. Another
key change this time around is the referees who are much stricter, tackles
are much more likely to result in a yellow or even a red card. It can be
frustrating to try and use these moves in practice, but the timing and
nuance delivered here makes you focus on trying to grab the ball by more
honest means. You can still perform tackles, but you need to be in front
and at a safe distance from the attacking player to avoid a penalty, which
is something that takes getting used to. Aside from this, Winning Eleven
does an excellent job in recreating the flow and pacing of an actual
soccer match, with its excellent simulation of the momentum and strategies
that occur on the field making it feel authentic and realistic. You can
set different match lengths ranging from 5 to 30 minutes which lets you
play either for short bursts or longer more intense matches.
The
biggest problem most players will have with the game are its visuals,
which haven't really undergone a full next-generation makeover on Xbox
360. While the game now has a widescreen presentation and some of the
textures and player models appear a bit smoother, the game's look is less
polished than it should be. It's not as problematic on the field, where
everything looks fine, but the engine really feels a bit dated during the
close-ups, where the players look more like mechanical robots than actual
soccer players. On the upside, the game still features more camera angles
than FIFA which lets you get a better view of the action. Winning Eleven's
commentary has also always been top notch and this installment is no
exception, which lends the game an even better sound. The soundtrack also
features fans chanting and music playing, which helps to add to the
excitement. Its menus are still a little bit sparse and the in-game music
is more annoying than anything else, but the game still offers enough to
make it a decent looking title. We hope that Konami can put a bit more
effort into next year's aesthetics, because they're passable now, but are
in serious need of an upgrade to current HD standards. That said, Winning
Eleven Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 is still the best playing and most
accessible soccer title on the market. While the Xbox 360 is a bit
disappointing on the visuals, it more than compensates with solid play
action and intuitive controls making for an addicting, challenging and
enjoyable sports title that's definitely worth the money.
Grade:
B+
- Michael Palisano
