  Don't know what this move is...but it is pretty cool.
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I'll admit it. My knowledge of soccer is fleeting at best. Sure, I've played it as a kid and every four years I take a casual interest in the FIFA World Cup but I couldn't tell the difference between a yellow card and a purple card...or is that a white card? I dunno.
Duh is me.
Truth be told, like most Canadian kids, I lived and breathed hockey and growing up in Toronto, soccer broadcasts weren't readily available here until a national sports network launched in 1984 when I was already 15 and beyond caring about sports at that age. So, I come by my ignorance honestly though I have the deepest respect for soccer...or is that football? I dunno.
Duh is me.
You think that is pretty lame, what really takes the cake is I have probably played more soccer games on computer or console than in the "real world". If that isn't sad, I don't know what is. In my experience, the trouble with most soccer games is that they try to mimic hockey games and that isn't a good thing. Although they are connected by commonalities, both games are vastly different and deserve to be treated as such.
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Though passing, shooting and checking are key in both sports, there is more physical finesse in soccer in that the only tool you have at your disposal is your body and nothing more. That is where the 'Winning Eleven' series excels. In the latest instalment, the game has been taken to a whole new level. You must dribble a lot and in as many ways as you can imagine. You can trap the ball, jump over tackles, make all manner of passes and even execute a wide range of feints. No matter which combination of moves you select, how you progress through the rival defence is totally in your hands. To have that much control in a soccer game is unprecedented. The same approach of course also applies to mounting a successful defence too. There are many tactics to deal with any situation that arises.
Besides playing in the Spanish, English, French, German and International leagues there is the option of vying for the International, European, Africa/America/Asia-Oceania cups as well as challenging for the Konami Cup too. And, no, you cannot add Frogger, Soma Cruz or The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to your team.
For those who want a true-to-life experience, Master League mode is where it's at. Don you best duds and stock up on cigars as you manage your own team right down to the smallest detail and you keep on playing until you are satisfied with your team's success unless you have less than 16 players on your team or you cannot afford to pay them any longer.
The one shortcoming of 'Winning Eleven 9' is there still are not many licenced properties available as one might like. Teams are outfitted with dummy players and names. No worries there though. Die-hards can edit everything and anything to match their distinctive needs.
There is also a new online play option that is split into divisions to encourage fair play. You begin in the Amateur division and then depending on the number of points you accumulate, you can move up in rank and face more experienced players.
Licencing omissions aside, you would be hard-pressed to find a better soccer game on the market that gives you more control or ability to customize the options. While the real-life gameplay might infuriate some who are used to just rushing the defensive zone and peppering the keeper, the developers at Konami have remained true to the game of soccer and in doing so have created another masterwork which will be welcomed by those who do know and care about the difference between a red and yellow card.
WHAM! Rating: |
9 out of 10 |
ESRB Rating: |
E (Everyone) |
Official Web Site: |
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