GOAL, GOAL, GOAL!!! A new year and a new long-ass title, Winning Eleven (WE) brings back the footie gameplay that fans know and love. The Xbox 360 port of the game is a more bare bones version of the PS2 title, but it still does what it is supposed to do - create and immerse players in the most realistic and exciting game of soccer on earth.WE has always had licensing troubles and as long as EA holds the FIFAPro license, Konami is going to have troubles in this department. Gone from last year is the German Bundesliga although Bayern Munich is still around and licensed. There is full licensing for the French Ligue 1, Dutch Eredivisie, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A, as well as most national teams and a handful of other clubs. Noted absences in the unlicensed department include the German and USA national teams as well as the English Premier League. The EPL has the correct player models and names but not the correct team names or kits. Unfortunately you cannot edit these items either so your stuck with what you get. Konami did get the licenses for Manchester United and Liverpool which is at least something I suppose.
Graphics have been bumped up a bit for the first release on the next-gen market. The lighting on players give them a nice shine but their hair and jersey's are still stiff as a board. This release seems like a quick spit out and hopefully next year WE will get a whole new engine reworking for the next-gen versions. Another cut in the 360 version is in amount of stadiums available. Only 8 are on the 360 compared to the 27 stadiums on the PS2. Yes 27, a HUGE difference.
Luckily, WE has never been about the graphics but instead for its amazing gameplay. Ball physics have been made even more realistic and this translates into some intense loose ball situations in the box. Ball physics also play a big part in the middle of the field as sometimes players recieve lucky bounces and can get through multiple defenders. This can be annoying on defense but it is realistic and does happen in real life so I guess we cannot complain. Once again player animations have been expanded and are phenomenal. My favorite thing about WE is that you can play 100 matches and still see something new. Each situation is unique in every single game. Not for beginners, WE 2007 has a steep learning curve but it’s worth the investment. Veterans will be able to jump in and start playing and there are a few new tweaks on set pieces to master. For newbies, WE is filled with tough AI and sensitive controls that might result in a smashed controller against the wall. The first copy of WE 6 that I got, it took me over 6 matches to score my first goal.
The other, and even more spectacular aspect of WE is that you have to really WORK for your goals. They will be elusive and frustratingly close; the tension built when a much needed goal is in the balance will have tensions flying. But when that goal does finally come after a four person string of passes combined to a shot cracking off the crossbar resulting in a rebounded volley, nothing can be more satisfying. Once you feel the thrill of scoring in WE, you will be addicted to wanting that gratification over and over again.
Online play is very basic, you set up criterion to find another player willing to play. There are leaderboards for ranked matches that can be fun to climb, but if you have another soccer fanatic in your group of friends that you love talking trash to, WE 2007 will let you yell at each other as much as you want. I can never wait to get home and challenge my soccer arch-nemesis Geordie to more matches (and unfortunately for him I always dominate). Always highly recommended over EA’s FIFA series, WE 2007 should not be missed by any soccer hooligan.
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