Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (XBox 360)

The last PES game I played before this latest installment was PES 2005 and felt this game was untouchable, great passing, shooting and did almost exactly what you wanted it to do, the amount of times you get the ball and want to curl it into the far corner and that's exactly what it did, brilliant. But there comes a stage when you feel you need a new challenge and that came in the form of PES 2008. I bought this game around a month ago and started a Master League with my mate, an early poor touch was found when In could only buy in 2 new half decent players with the money available leaving us with a poor squad who could bareley run, pass and couldn't shoot to save their lives. We played out the season finishing 2nd from bottom and just had to make do with the squad until we had money enough to build a squad of player decent enough to make the grade.

I found myself frustrated with the game as you'd work so hard and then crossed a goal in the last minute, I felt like packing it in !! But as new player came in the the squad improved so did our results.

2nd season in and we got promotion and with it a couple more good signing, not world beaters but better than what we had. After signing a much needed goalkeeper and centre half and made a cheeky signing for a 33 year Beckham and to our amazement, signed him. "Beckham signs for AFC British Gunfire" "Beckham talks about his joy of signing and the season ahead" Great new little touches of multi media.

3rd season and we are unbeaten and top of the league and I'm finding it a joy to play, passes are going where you want them to , however crossing isn't as good as PES 2005 but the overall play is a joy. Even when you're closely marked you can make quick passes followed by a lovely through ball and now our new strikers are scoring for fun. I haven't quite mastered things like the dive button or any of the special move but you need to master the basic first. I haven't tried the on line experience yet but previous attempts of previous versions have left me frustrated due to the lag and it just doesn't play as well as normal. A small moan would be passes take a long time to get to a player but that's just a small moan.

Like previous versions of the game you really need to work hard and pass to score goals but that's the joy when you make 10 passes followed by a mazy run, through ball and finish, you celebrate like hell when a quality goal goes in.

Just like previous version again I love then way the game will let you celebrate a goal before a late offside flag goes up !!

Overall I'd recommend this game as the best in the series, it's just a joy to play and if you're attempting the Master League, stick with.

Get the boys round, put the kettle on it's gunna be a good one.

(Xbox 360)I bought this game the day it came out purely because I am loyal to the franchise but I think this version was a little lazy, it was an improvement on PES 6 on the Xbox but that wouldn't have been at all hard, the game over the years has made some great leaps forward but this one just didn't, rent it before buying.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 isn't as good as the other football games on the XBox 360 as pf the graphics are awful. The game is also NOT addictive as it gets boring even with a lot of game choices. This game isn't as good as any other football games and I don't recommend.