Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 Review / Preview for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 Review / Preview for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Although Winning Eleven 10 will inevitably be released next year, you could quite literally play #9 for years without ever being bored. by StewXX

February 10, 2006 – World Soccer Winning Eleven 9, this is easily one of the best soccer games ever produced. It’s better than last year’s version and it’s even better than last year’s FIFA. That’s not to say that FIFA won’t come out with an amazing game that could blow this one away since soccer games have been steadily improving, but for now, World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 takes the lead.

Having to playing soccer games every year it’s sometimes difficult to appreciate just how far they’ve come. From virtually one-dimensional perspectives, with characters that looked like the aliens from Space Invaders, we now have multiple camera angles zooming and sweeping a field which is filled with realistic looking players sporting incredibly smooth animation. Today’s games rival a live televised broadcast. With tons of modes, deep controls and multi-player features, you could play these games for months if not years.

Although not revolutionary, World Soccer 9, is definitely the most refined version in the series. The controls are more responsive and as a result you will actually use less combinations of buttons and the sticks to make your moves. Most of the action will require the use of the Left analog stick which is tighter and more responsive than ever. Moving it around you will be able to pull off quick turns and side steps. You can also access more fancy moves with the shoulder button and Right stick but these moves feel more at home in an arcade game and not something you would feel compelled to use in such a realistic game – unless you really want to show off.

If there is one single reason to own this game it’s because of the online modes. Not to take away anything from the Training, Career, Quick Match, Edit and Custom League modes but this is the first time that an online mode has been available for World Soccer 9. It’s definitely worth checking out since you’ll be able to play against another human at virtually any time day or night.

With more licenses than ever before, World Soccer 9 still requires the Edit mode since many of the teams are composed of generic players wearing generic uniforms and sporting inaccurate stats. You can change things with the Edit mode to get your favorite team up and running by inputting the correct information. Some of the new teams include the Rangers, Chelsea, Celtic, Kiev and Arsenal.

Most of your time is going to be spent in the Career and online modes. In career mode you manage a team for an entire season, making decisions that will affect not only the team’s performance but your leadership qualities. You can start the season with the real players which will give you an advantage at the beginning and allow you to win some games and earn some money. You’ll need money to pay wages and if you have some star players on your team, they are going to cost you. At the same time, some of these star players may be past their prime and they will start going downhill on you late in the season. Younger players will accumulate experience points when you let them on the field but they can be weak and cost you games. If you wind up with no money to pay your players at the end of the season, your game is instantly over.

With more sensitive controls and improved AI, on both sides, the game is more realistic than ever. Teammates inspire confidence, especially for passing since they make intelligent choices and continue to run with you toward the opposing team’s net. In a lot of instances you’ll be forced to play a passing game since your opponents will close in on the ball when it’s in your possession. Even with the tighter control system you won’t be able to cover a lot of ground with only one player. You’ll have to pass the ball around to shake off the opposing team.

Intercepting the ball when in the possession of the other team is not as easy as it once was where you could just press the pressure button and walk away with the ball. Tackles are fundamentally the best way to wrest the ball from the other team. Probably the most useful move is the sliding tackle. It works better than the regular tackle, especially if you have another of your players poised to grab the ball while one performs the slide tackle. This brings me to the multi-player modes.

Only through a local network can you actually experience teamwork, since up to eight players can take part in a game. There are so many different plays that you can experiment with, that you could play this game with the same four players until the 2007 version comes out. Online you can only play against one other player which is a shame considering that being able to take a team online would inspire teams to bond and ultimately practice and refine their skills. Playing online is still loads of fun but just think of the tournaments that could be made available for teams.

Online you will begin in the amateur division and work your way up from there to the other classifications such as Division 1, 2, 3A and 3B. Always play against evenly ranked opponents because you’ll be gauged once a week on your performances. Regardless of how high your ranking is, if you start losing games you can be demoted to a lesser ranking. You can find various player with clearly visible stats in the lobby. Communication is done via the headset or you can just opt to use the menu. Headset communication is restricted to time outs and instant replays so players can’t talk smack during actual gameplay.

Without a doubt this is one of the best looking soccer games on the market. The players move fluidly and realistically. Regardless of the camera angles, which are never jarring, you always maintain a proper perspective of the field. The fans in the stands always display the appropriate reaction to home and visiting teams. There’s no shortage of excitement in the air as the crowd roars, the music soars and the announcer brings the plays to life. All you need to bring things to life, is an Xbox and forty bucks. Then go and have yourself a ball.

Features:

  • The #1 Rated Soccer game
  • The most anticipated soccer franchise in the world comes out with the best game ever Winning Eleven 9 features new animations, new clubs and leagues a refined Master League.
  • The highest rated and most authentic soccer video game franchise in the world.
  • Create your own team and compete with divisional raking system
  • Recruit from thousands of the worlds top pro players
  • Negotiate with players as they develop, grow old and retire in the multi season Master League Mode.

By StewXX
CCC Staff Writer

To top