PlayStation 2

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Die Playstation 2 Fassung von Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 ist auch trotz schlechterer Technik und dem misslungenen Onlinemodus die erste Wahl, wenn man gegen den Ball treten will. Neuerungen bei den Spielmodi, tolle neue Animationen und neue Stadien runden ein nach wie vor extrem starkes Gameplay ab. Definitiv ein Kaufgrund, vielleicht selbst dann, wenn man den Vorgänger schon besitzt.

It is quite clear that development on the Pro Evolution Soccer series has moved to next-gen systems, but this PS2 version - strangely - still feels the most complete. There are more options, more stadiums and a more complete package. Having said that this game has only minor tweaks and changes to the gameplay from last year and retains pretty much the same quality video and audio. Overall this is a brilliant soccer game that loses a few marks compared to last year due to a lack of innovation. One to add to your PS2 library.

Alors qu'Electronic Arts a définitivement jeté toutes ses forces sur les supports nouvelle génération, Konami n'a pas perdu de vue que la PS2 n'était pas morte et que nombre de joueurs n'ont toujours pas investi dans une PS3 ou une Xbox 360. Du coup, et même sans fournir de gros efforts, le développeur leur assure de jouir d'une simulation toujours aussi plaisante. Et ce, même si ses rides commencent à piquer nos yeux de passionnés.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is a fine title for soccer fans who haven't transitioned to an Xbox 360 or PS3. In fact, compared to the HD versions, this PS2 game has significantly better features, such as great cross-compatibility with the handheld version. Multiplayer, however, isn't really much different from the paltry offerings of years past, and it's a shame that the Konami team built an online infrastructure and did little with it. FIFA 08 might be king on 360 and PS3, but on PS2, PES still reigns supreme, in spite of its aged engine.

It's hard to knock PES 2008 if judged on its own merits. PES is a series with a large hardcore following, though, and for those people this PS2 game will be far too similar to PES 6 and therefore can't be recommended to those players. It's still an excellent football game that is perfect for newcomers to the series, but just don't expect it to be all that different to PES 6.

If you don't have PES6 then you probably don't care about playing online and PES2008 is well worth getting. It's difficult to say for everyone that does own last year's game, and I've had to knock down the score accordingly. It's not bad, it's just that Konami hasn't really tried to move things on at all, and the fact that the PS2 is the least powerful platform out there isn't an excuse to avoid making any gameplay innovations.

Playing Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on the PlayStation 2 reminds you of how great the gameplay can be in the series. The console still feels like the game's natural home, not only because this version is the most fully featured, but also because it feels the best put together. The world tour and community are completely nonexistent in other versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, while the improvement made in player animation is most noticeable on Sony's seven-year-old console. The online mode is broken and not enough has changed to recommend an upgrade for existing players, but the PS2 can currently claim to be the best console version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.

Die Konsole ist spielerisch wie für PES gemacht. Die Figuren verhalten sich allesamt klug, Gegner wie Computer-Mitspieler. Verschiedene Modi und Mannschaften aus aller Welt sorgen für Abwechslung. Die Geräuschkulisse in den Stadien könnte realistischer sein. Die Grafikmöglichkeiten sind begrenzt. Was bleibt ist ein noch „guter“ Gesamteindruck.

Comme on pouvait s'y attendre, Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 sur PS2 se contente de petits ajustements pour ce qui n'est finalement qu'une version légèrement améliorée de Pro Evolution Soccer 6. Etant donné la très bonne tenue du précédent, on ne fera pas trop la fine bouche, même si le prix paraît du coup bien gonflé pour deux modes de jeu sympas (Mode mission, mode Communauté) et quelques nuances dans les réglages. On peut même se demander s'il ne vaut pas mieux rester sur l'ancienne version, dans la mesure où le mode en ligne n'offre pas de lobbys pour jouer à quatre. Un très bon jeu dans le fond, mais pas de quoi justifier un achat au prix fort.