12DOVE Verdict
Pros
- +
Playing the best soccer game ever
- +
Incredible detail and depth
- +
New improved online modes
Cons
- -
Losing months of your life to it
- -
It's not a major leap forward
- -
Disappointing licensing
Why you can trust 12DOVE
First, the bad news. Winning Eleven Pro Evolution Soccer 2007's licensing has got worse. Chelsea (now London FC) have been replaced by Manchester United (formerly Man Red), the Welsh team is captained by Gils and, most incomprehensibly, the Bundesliga has been completely erased - with Bayern Munich the only survivors.
Yet despite losing Germany, WEPES2007 retains the country's key attributes - from the mathematic efficiency of the gameplay, to the surging, unpredictable, passing movements reminiscent of Jurgen Klinsmann's gung-ho World Cup team to - sadly - the almost depressingly functional presentation, with the minimalist 'charm' of a Bauhaus industrial estate.
No matter, though - WEPES2007 triumphs emphatically, and predictably, over FIFA 07 in this season's next-gen footy showdown. EA may own the license, but Konami dominates on the pitch - where it counts the most.
Put simply, WEPES2007 feels better. Passing movements are simultaneously crisper and messier than FIFA 07 - read: more realistic - since they're a direct result of the clarity of your thinking and the abilities of your players. Off-the-ball movements are more fluid, intelligent and, once again, aggravating, depending on your fellow players' ability. Shooting feels more responsive to the point of being too exacting, once again, relative to the ability of your players (and punishing to the uninitiated). Do we need to go on?
WEPES2007 feels like masterminding a team of 11 unique individuals, where each attack, agility, balance, shooting point, or playmaker ability star makes a difference - or, more importantly, feels like it makes a difference - and requires unique handling to maximise their worth. While initially intimidating, it's this scientific precision that makes it amore demanding, skillful and ultimately rewarding game.
More info
Genre | Sports |
Description | It may not have the FIFA license, but in places of the world where "soccer" is pronounced "football," this game reigns supreme. |
Platform | "DS","PS2","PSP","Xbox 360","PC" |
The Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: "I couldn't be happier"
When making Kingdom Hearts, the "one thing" RPG icon Tetsuya Nomura "wasn't willing to budge on" was a non-Disney protagonist
The Witcher fans in shambles after a new book reveals just how old Geralt really is