The European version of the subliminal Winning Eleven 6 is gearing up for its eagerly awaited release.

The best is back and it’s better then ever. Ever since March there has only been one title guaranteed to take up all time at the office; permanently situated in the PS2 deck it takes a very strong title to remove it of that status. What could that title be you say, well the words ‘Winning Eleven’ may bemuse most of you, however the series is finally gaining the recognition it deserves under its UK moniker Pro Evolution Soccer, and thankfully it’s just about to get a sequel. <br /> <br /> We had the opportunity to check out the first playable code of the European version, known as Pro Evolution Soccer 2. Suffice to say most of the show was spent playing this, a title that we already own on Import, which is perhaps a suggestion of its quality and the improvements to be seen in the European version. <br /> <br /> Like it’s predecessor, Pro Evolution Soccer 2 is based upon a Japanese title named Winning Eleven 6, which you’ll find that we ranted and raved about in our <a href=http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?review_read=true&review_id=642>Import Review</a>. As with Pro Evo the game has undergone a number of improvements rather then just being a simple port of the Japanese title, firstly the animation has been improved and added to upon the subliminal quality found in Winning Eleven 6. Watching a game now looks like a televised match; the extra animation has been particular improved in the player tussles when they’re both going for a ball, it looks absolutely amazing as players tug each others shirts and raise arms as you can really see the struggle by each to win the ball. <br /> <br /> One of the highlights in this series is the way that star players really shine out; Beckham can whip a 40-yard ball in his sleep, Owen always the predator and deadly in attack. This has seemingly improved upon the Japanese copy of Winning Eleven 6, meaning that players really behave as you’d expect them to and certainly the most realistic title we’ve played in ages. <br /> <br /> A personal improvement upon Winning Eleven 6 is the way that players don’t always fall over when you use a sliding tackle. In the Japanese version, a sliding tackle almost 100% guaranteed that the other player would crumple down to the floor. This has been rectified for the European version, as you’ll find players stumbling but staying on their feet to ensure they keep the ball. Of course it all depends on which footballer you’re using; so a player like Roy Keane won’t be falling lightly whilst a certain Liverpool player is constantly bumbling over like a sack of spuds… <br /> <br /> One worrying aspect that occurred during our heated matches was that players occasionally stuck, so you had to release the controls in order to retrieve the controls. This has always happened in the Winning Eleven/Pro Evo series, however we were worried by how much it happened in this code, one match saw it happening around 6-7 times! It’s not a massive distraction and can be easily rectified, however it’s so apparent because everything else is perfect, hopefully an area that can be improved before the game gets released in November. <br /> <br /> Thankfully we’ll now be able to make some sense of the vastly expanded Master League mode, which now includes three divisions and an improved transfer system, which allows player loans and proper negotiations. <br />