World Soccer Winning Eleven 8

by Konami

Product Features

• The world's biggest soccer stars are brought to life, through photorealistic graphics and features & individual playing styles
• Wild new moves and tricks - New free kick and penalty kick techniques, an innovative indirect free kick move and a new dribbling system that offers more control
• Choose to play 136 club teams and 57 national teams - over 4,500 of the world's greatest players in all
• Advanced referee AI reacts like a real ref - He runs up & down the field, reacting to fouls, giving advantage for minor infringements and even stepping in to break up a fight
• Enhanced Training Mode helps beginners learn soccer basics and master the depth of this game

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00076OMRO
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: February 2, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,635 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com

This series has collected accolades as the best soccer game out there, and I don't dispute that. As an almost haughty acknowledgement of the near-perfect action on the field, there isn't much that's different for this year's installment. Instead, Konami has turned its attention to solidifying some of the sim aspects of its franchise. It's not a quantum leap, but it's the kind of adjustments that will only endear the faithful to this already beloved series even more.

Gameplay wise, it's very hard to see much that's different from last year. That sounds like laziness on Konami's part, but it already runs as smooth as the bald head of "Kojak" Collina. Positioning is very important in this iteration, as players jostle and interact better when it comes to dribbling and steals. I also like how teams play with different strategies, making you adjust your offense and defense accordingly.

Although Winning Eleven's coup of getting to feature the Italian, Spanish, and Dutch leagues is cool in the face of EA's ownership of the FIFA license, the real allure of this new game is the revamping done to the Master League. Players will now age and retire. Their myriad attribute stats will decline as they get older. Moreover, everyone's skills will fluctuate from match to match, and each player is built based upon one of three attribute curves. Some will find their talents blossom early, while others might be able to be at their peak for most of their career. This close attention paid to the players means you have to be more aware of substitutions, spreading the ball around so everyone gets a touch (thereby keeping their skills up), and taking care of transfers and the Negotiations phase of the Master League. There is also a mid-week training option. However it's pretty boring, though I'd enjoy it if it were more like Madden's training camp.

I doubt that the new additions to this Winning Eleven are going to convince anyone who hasn't already taken the plunge to buy this game (nor is the conspicuous lack of online), but its small steps forward are more than baby steps to the many fans it has around the world.

Concept:
The franchise bolsters itself behind the scenes to its continued betterment

Graphics:
It looks crisp as always, and all your favorite players are recognizable

Sound:
: If the commentary has changed any, I certainly haven't noticed

Playability:
As always, the franchise gives you the freedom to attack the goal in many ways

Entertainment:
Master League improvements make the game stronger, but on the field it's basically the same

Replay:
Moderately High

Rated: 8.75 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
One word comes to mind with the new Winning Eleven – definitive. This is the quintessential adaptation of the world's biggest game. Boasting an exhaustive set of controls that gives you unprecedented control over the actions of your players, it's hard to fault anything but the learning curve in the gameplay department. There could still be a few improvements in the graphics, selection of announcer sound bites, and variety of music, even if those elements on the whole are quite excellent. If you like to watch soccer, by all means go play the gorgeous fields of FIFA's popular franchise. But to play a real game of football, the better choice by far is Winning Eleven.

Rated: 8.75 out of 10
Editor: Matt Miller


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Product Description

World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International brings the spirit of international soccer to your game system. Play the world's best players and teams and combine their individual strengths to create a Winning Eleven. New free kick and penalty techniques can now be used, while an innovative indirect free kick has been implemented to add further variety to set pieces. The new realism of the game captures the dynamic ebba nd flow of real-life soccer action. Save your greatest teams with the My Best Eleven option

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a soccer fan, but I'm hooked., February 7, 2005

By 

John M Spangler (Bryan, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 (Video Game)

No official licensed teams or players and no online. Hmm, sounds like a gutter ball from the start, but alas, when it comes to fun factor and just the joy of a quality video game, I couldn't put it down. Up front and to the point, I'm not a soccer fan and probably never will be, but I'm amazed how a video soccer game sucked me in like a tractor beam. As most fans know, Konami gave up on basketball and it seems they put all their time and energy into their only sports title for 2005, Soccer. Yeah, the name "Winning Eleven" is a stupid name for any game, but don't let the dullness of the name steer you away. The game plays brillianty, I don't know the rules or even the strategy for playing soccer, but I had a blast playing it. The graphics are stunning and this uses some of the XBOX muscle! My buddies came downstairs one night at my home and poked their head around the corner and asked why I was watching Soccer on TV, it really looks that good. The replays look like they were drained from sport center on ESPN, I've never seen so many seamless motion captured moves by the players in my life, players getting tripped up, gettin laid out, incredible kicks, dives, jumps, head butts, all amazing and stunningly realistic from start to finish. The staidums look amazing too, although the crowds still look like cardboard cutouts from the old Playstation days. If there was a bit of a downer, the game does not support widescreen TV's to the fullest, I want my 720dpi mode, but doesn't offer it. Darn. But on regular and HD TV's, most will be 100% satisfied with the offerings. As a single player game, you'll rejoice with the tons of mode offerings, but if you want to get the most out of it, find a friend and get hooked on one of the best multiplayer games ever. My friends were hooked from start to finish and will definitely be back for more.

The game does not have acutal licensed teams, uniforms or players, which means no famous names. But does anyone in this world really know the full roster for Brazil or Kenya? But don't think the game is unrealstic, every statistic and rating for the actual boys are all in tact here, just rub off the names and their actual uniforms. I think there is a customizable uniform option, so be sure to get some red while and blue for the good guys.

Flaws in the game? No online is a bummer, not sure why Konami would not offer that, but oh well, multiplayer still rocks and it's the best 2-player game I've seen come along in a long time now. The sound is just ok, the commentary is a bit repetitive and the music is atrocious, but the grunts and sfx on the field are great and the crowd roars like there is no tomorrow. Everything else is spot on, and this game puts E.A.s' FIFA series to the test. Thanks Konami.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly a game that deserves a gold medal., February 4, 2005

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 (Video Game)

I am not much of a soccer fan but the fact remaings that anything that has to do with sports games I must play. Football games are my passion but I had to try this game that everybody claims to be great. Let me tell you that the game was great and more, it has the best gameplay I have seen in any sports game period. You never cheal cheated by the cpu and when you score a goal you feel like you really did score in real life. Goals dont come easy like other games out there, you must work for them and be on point with your passes and kicks. I have scored a total of 5 goals in 5 games which is not great but I am getting better and the strategy of the game. By the way I am 27 years old but for some reason I could not write on the adult section of the reviews. This game will hold me over till MVP 2005 and Espn baseball come out next month but I will still play this game due to the fact that it rewards you for playing smart and punishes you when you play dumb. The only negative i have with the game and I am stretching here is that there is no o-line support and the players do run a bit funny but thats minor. If you love sports period go out and get this game because it will satisfy all the true sim fans out there.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Winning Eleven series to date, February 11, 2005

By 

J. Vistan (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 (Video Game)

I have played all of the North American W.E. games since WE 6 and I have to say that I am impressed with the consistent improvements that Konami has done with this series. Below is my review based off the PS2 version:

The Winning Eleven games have all had one thing in common: tremendous and realistic gameplay. Not only does WE 8 continue this tradition, but the game also adds on welcomed new features that compensate for the lack of online play and club licenses that is synonymous with the FIFA series:

- On the pitch referee
When fouls are committed, you'll witness a referee run up to the play to either warn the player or toss out a yellow card. What makes this neat is that you have the option to select which referee will be the decision maker for your game. One ref that is not made available is Pierluigi Collina, who is heralded as being the best ref in the sport. That's a bit of a bummer but doesn't really do much to affect the game

- Free kicks now involve two kickers
Yep, that's right. By using the select button (on the PS2), you have the option of using two kickers from the spot. This now only adds to realism, but strategy as well since you have more than one person at getting around the wall during free kicks.

- Advanced moves
In previous versions of W.E. you had to be real adept in using the buttons to get around your opponent. Although you still need to be pretty skillful in maneuvering your man, you can use the R2 button to perform stutter steps and more fakes to get around the defender. Playing against the computer on the highest difficulty will show you how hard covering the AI has really gotten.

- Improved AI
As great as WE 6 was, the AI wasn't overly difficult. WE7 was better at working on this but now, WE 8 has really added to this department. You'll find that if you play the same two teams 3 times, you'd be pressed to win all 3 games in a row. The defense of the AI has hard to get around unless you really are adept in passing well. As I said earlier, offensive AI is hard in its own right in that the addition of trick moves makes it hard to cover your opponents one on one, especially if the opposing player is a star such as Ronaldo, Zidane, Henry, etc. You'll also never score the same goal twice (unless it's a penalty kick). The AI is just too good in this game.

- Improved graphics
This is easily the best looking WE game in the series. Although FIFA has been renowned for their graphics, I really think WE is not that far behind anymore. You can easily make out players such as Beckham, Schevchenko, Figo, etc. Heck, you can even witness Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United along with his huge earrings. Animations are numerous in this game as well. Players complaining, goal keepers trying to motivate teammates, players pushing each other after a hard foul was committed all add to the fun factor in this game. You'll even see dirt stains on players' jerseys after a few minutes have passed in the game.

- Deeper Master's League
Although I have yet to try this part of the game, I have been told that this is the bread and butter of the game. Basically this is the part of the game where you take a team over the course of several seasons and try to build a dynastry (similar to franchise mode on other games like Madden). You can keep track of your players during the course of a season with player ratings fluctuating. Old players will retire at season's end and young players, with added playing time, will improve right before your very eyes. Previous W.E. Master League's have kept me busy so I'm expecting this year's iteration to do the same to me once I get to it.

Here are the few cons I found (PS2)
- Commentary/Sound
Not horrible, but not great. However, once youre knee deep in games (which will happen once you play the hardest level), you won't be concentraing on the sound as much.

- A bit of slowdown
If you have several players in the box, there's occasional slowdown but not bad enough to take away from the gameplay.

- No online play. Probably the most "glaring" deficit of this game according to some. True, online play adds fun to games, but I always felt that playing a sports game with more than one person is best when you play your friends directly instead of over a broadband connection.



Overall, this is probably one of the best sports games I have ever played (Madden 2003, NBA 2K series, and SSX I think are on this level). Even if you're not a soccer fan you'll enjoy how much of a challenge this game will provide for you. If you are a soccer fan like myself, you'll be blown away by the realism this game serves up. And if you're a Winning Eleven fan, you'll be flat out impressed with the new features this game adds over previous editions.