Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007

Rating ESRB: Everyone Genre sports Publisher Konami External Links Winning Eleven: Pro Soccer Revolution 2007

The Winning soccer series has proven to be one of the most consistently good sports games on the market. But sadly, because it is a soccer game, after all, most gamers largely ignore it. The newest incarnation of the Konami series, Winning Eleven: Pro Soccer Revolution 2007, tries to stand out, but in my eyes it only ends up struggling in the end.

One thing that Winning Eleven can easily boast would be its phenomenal graphics. With some of the most realistic graphics to hit any console to date, gamers can watch as sweat pours from their players' head. Performing a sloppy slide tackle and injuring a player will result in a good cut shot of the attacked player limping off of the field. The realism in shots like this could catch a casual viewer of the game off-guard in to thinking that they are watching a real-life soccer match up.

The options for gameplay are standard for most sports titles. You have the option of playing a one-off match against who you want in any arena you'd like. But additional game play modes add more depth to Winning Eleven. The League and Master League modes allow you to take your favorite through tournaments and cup match-ups. There are an unlimited amount of seasons you can play through these modes, which means you could build your favorite team in to a formidable dynasty. The Master League mode sees players also having to worry about their team's fitness and their financial success. While it can be tedious to juggle all of this along with trying to win games, it can make for a very rewarding game.

While I really do like Winning Eleven, I believe it is not for the casual gamer. Winning in this game requires you to really know soccer. When I initially sat down with Winning Eleven, I figured out the SHORT PASS, LONG PASS, and KICK. But after looking through the manual for the game, I discovered dozens of kicks. Learning them all, as someone who barely knows soccer, was a difficult and daunting challenge. Winning Eleven shows great promise as to what a sports series should have. It is a game with a great grasp on realism and depth. But the learning curve for newbies hinders this game a lot more than most sports games.