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Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

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8.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 29 critic reviews
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Based on 30 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

Genre(s): Sports, Soccer

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: March 11, 2008

Summary

PES 2008 features a brand new intelligence system, called Teamvision, that adapts and reacts to players own gameplay styles to ensure that the computer controlled opponents are always challenging and forcing the player to think and chance their style of play to avoid being out-thought by the game. It learns counter attacks that target your weaknesses and look to exploit any repetitive tactics players use. Defenders react better to danger, closing down the ball and charging at shots and the goalkeepers hold shots that are closer to them as well. Teammates make more intelligent runs into space and the close control has been sharpened to ensure quick and fluid passing and speedy attacks can be built. The next gen versions also feature extensive edit modes so players can completely customise their PES 2008 experience. [Konami]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Games Master UK

Quite simply a footy fans' dream come true. [Dec 2007, p.54]

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Even with its faults, PES 2008 is still unquestionably a better game than its predecessors. It may be lacking in a couple of areas (hell, they needed to justify making next year's PES 2009 after all...), but PES 2008 remains far more than a yearly update; it's the first true next gen iteration of Xbox World's most played game. [Dec 2007, p.64]

VideoGamer

PES 2008's gameplay is a big improvement on last year's effort. PES fans can forgive the poor graphics, the God-awful music, the embarrassing presentation and lack of licensed teams because the core of the game is so mind-bogglingly brilliant.

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Total Video Games

All in all, PES 2008 adds significant depth and realism to the in-game experience. Seeing as this is what appeals most to the average PES gamer, we can state quite confidently that this year's game is a resounding success.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

We’ve been beside ourselves with excitement about this finally arriving at GAMER towers, and it hasn’t disappointed. Great fun in two player, a decent challenge and lots to do in single player – and we haven’t even taken it online yet. Fan-bloody-tastic.

Planet Xbox 360

A great game that has the feel and look of the old PES titles with the visuals of a true next-gen game.

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Pelit (Finland)

Not a masterpiece, but still a highly addictive football experience. The new AI system does not have great impact on gameplay. However, there are a lot of minor improvements, such as advanced set pieces and a brand new Master League. [Nov 2007]

IGN

The list of features may not have any true standouts but it's tough to argue with the sheer amount of fun that can be had with a game of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.

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Xbox World Australia

The simple fact of the matter is Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 should have been released last year. But still, it feels a bit like we're getting the same game over and over.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Pro Evo appears to be tired and probably needs a break. It’s still a great soccer game, and when enjoyed with friends it’s still one of the best multiplayer games on consoles, but its stagnant state has to be recognized even by the most ferocious supporters. [Nov 2007]

Official Xbox Magazine UK

More than any other Pro Evo, this one spits in your face and laughs at your pathetically predictable attempts to play it, again and again, until your old ways are eventually stamped into the dust...It still plays a beautiful game. [Dec 2007, p.80]

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X360 Magazine UK

A festival of both passing and movement, which is probably appreciated best by fans of the series. Pro Evo just - and we mean just - manages to trump "FIFA." [Issue 26, p.80]

Play.tm

It does what it does very well indeed providing a version of football that while not hugely realistic plays the kind of fast exciting all action game you wish you watched week in week out on the terraces. Put it this way, my England vs. Croatia game this morning ended 7 - 1 (4-4-2, Beckham on from the start and no untested young keeper), hands up who'd have rather watched that on Wednesday night.

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Game Informer

I continue to be a fan of this franchise because it offers the best soccer gameplay, hands down. But that sexy, albeit underperforming, ride on EA’s lot may win me over if Konami doesn’t step up and offer a better package soon.

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NZGamer

After raising the bar higher and higher, this version seems to come across as underwhelming.

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GameShark

Over all PES 2008 for the 360 is a mixed bag – it plays better, it looks better and you can edit everything; however it still doesn’t have the variety shown on the Wii or PS2, and the online play is only bearable if you can find an opponent to play head to head on the same console.

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Console Monster

PES2008 brings nothing new to the table. It’s the same old gameplay (which isn’t a bad thing), with subpar visuals and just passable sound. There’s nothing to keep you from sticking with PES6. It’s still good enough to play and enjoy, but not even having a reasonable online game is pathetic.

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Team Xbox

Built upon a strong engine, but not doing much to keep up with the Joneses.

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PALGN

While Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 plays a good game of footy, one can’t help but wonder what more could have been done on the PS3 or Xbox 360. Or when we’ll actually see it.

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Thunderbolt

Despite the shiny graphics, catchy music and long-awaited additions and tweaks, PES is showing its age as it's flogged again for another year. It's a great experience, the best we've got so far in fact, but is more of a small step than the giant leap we were once again really hoping for.

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games(TM)

Those searching for an exact simulation of the sport should go for FIFA. Those looking to score spectacular goals, have end-to-end matches and play at a ridiculous pace should plump for Pro Evo. [Dec 2007, p.134]

GameSpot

Konami's seventh Pro Evolution Soccer is a small improvement in terms of playability, but there's little else to make it worth the upgrade.

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Cheat Code Central

But gameplay is no better this year than it was last year and everything else is quite poorly done.

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GameDaily

The game plays well, but hasn't changed that much from last year's edition, outside of some ridiculous diving moves and artificial intelligence that's too attentive for its own good. The graphics still appear several notches below current-gen standards and the online play constantly slows down.

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G4 TV

The gameplay is still the best out there but Konami needs to step up their game. The changes were very minor and the new AI is not as sharp as advertised. This would have been a solid first game, but this is pretty much an exact replica from last year’s version with a revamped AI and the same old online issues.

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GameSpy

After years of living up to the name of evolving the beautiful game, Konami's latest Pro Evolution Soccer effort is an embarrassment for a series that has served as the dominant title in the genre.

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Gamestyle

The PES brand is currently sinking into shark infested waters and it seems that no matter how loud people shout the problems that have plagued the series since the beginning still aren't being addressed.

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Xboxic

Slowdown in single player is unforgivable, particularly because the replays were done fine last year. To see them so broken on what should be a superior version is very disappointing. PES 2008 is more of the same in most areas, with slightly improved gameplay mechanics thanks to better physics and speedier reactions to fouls.

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Official Xbox Magazine

This year's PES is a step backward, and letting players fake injury to draw fouls is the least of the offenses. [June 2008, p.81]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 30 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Matt F. gave it a9:
OK, so it's not the strongest football game graphically on the market, but PES 2008 is most certainly the best. New features such as replay saving, xbox live vision support, team editing, new stadiums and everything that was left out of PES 6, make this game awesome. The most enjoyable and addictive football game available. An absoloute jem. This title will be played alot by myself and my friends at parties. Kebab + Beer + PES 2008 = AMAZING. Buy this game.

Apocalypse B. gave it a7:
True it isn't worth the upgrade on the xbox 360, but it still is miles better than Fifa. Finally the proof that GamesTm reviews are a joke and that they are in the pocket of the money-men in gaming is clear when they plug Fifa over this. GamesTm, you lot are a joke and a disgrace! Thats why I will never buy your rag and will stick to a magazine that has just reviews - Edge!

Nick T. gave it a9:
As long as you don't play it on its easiest settings you will really enjoy this game (i won my first game 14-0 ). I own both fifa08 and PES08. Enjoy both, but you get the feeling Konami really know what the long time soccer gamers are after, thats why my PES08 will be spending the most time in my 360 for the next few months. - Still tossing up wether to sell fifa08 or not, cause i do enjoy it and it looks very nice.

exfifa hater gave it a6:
If this was the first release in the franchise, it would get a 9 - but the apparent lack of effort to bring anything really fresh to PES for long-time fans drops it to a 7 immediately. Drop another point for total lack of next-gen ambition in terms of original presentation, menus, and online aux features as creative as FIFA's already old sports tickers and online league features. Certainly not a BAD game, especially if you only want an unrealistically fast-paced arcady experience that bears more similarity to hockey than football. But I can't understand those reviewers who claim that this is a great SIM - wake up people, regardless of how much you hate EA in general, FIFA 08 is much more sim-like in terms of team AI and the necessity to use the entire team and strategic thinking to beat the defense. I personally don't see the much touted improvement in PES AI this year (it's only incremental), whereas in FIFA there has been a massive improvement over the past 2 years. Where is the ambition? Why do I feel like PES is WAY down the priority list at Konami? Yes, FIFA does feel slow compared to PES, and it would be nice if the overall contrast between fast & slow players was more evident in FIFA. But w PES, everyone is fast, period. You could probably run John Terry solo right through the pitch to scorch the back of the net if you felt like it, and that's just not a sim in my books. Too bad - used to bash FIFA and love Winning 11, but now it's reversed for me. Hoping for a comeback in 09, but not holding my breath.

Emil C. gave it a3:
Probably the WORST edition from beggining of series.Presentation extreamley poor.When you look at still pics it is very good, but in motion it all breaks down.Too many stupid and anoying things, players are not moving realistic, ball bounces in ways that is not realistic at all.It takes ref 3-4 sec to signal to play on after fouls. Yuou get yellow card for thing you cant get it in real football.Frame rate is not good, and in replays it breaks down even more.It is pitty to see PES to drop down this low.But the PES was never good enogh to begin with.Winning Eleven is where the real game is for real players and should prove it on 22. november.

Philip D. gave it a6:
As a lifelong Pro Evo fan and a firm believer that Konami have brought us not only the best football simulation series ever by a long, long way but also one of the best games series I have ever played, it is with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat that I have to say that Konami seem to have finally given away posession of the ball. It seems that Konami are aiming for a bigger slice of the gaming market by attempting to downgrade the PES games into a fast, easy-to-pick-up, easy-to-score, arcade-like football game. If this is your cup of tea (which it may well be) then PES 2008 is the football game for you. Little skill is required as you pass the ball to Ronaldinho (or Eto'o or Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo or anyone with half-decent dribbling and pace) and run merrily through the entire screen of players and slot the ball in the bottom corner on the hardest computer setting. Furthermore, you no longer seem to be able to aim your shots except with the most accurate of players hence, shooting has become a button-bashing, precision-less task. Free kicks are far too easy to score with and the hardest AI setting is all too happy to illustrate this. A large amount of lag tends to ruin gameplay online although this is definitely the best way to play the game. The graphics are a let down - if you don't agree just put it next to any of your other 360 titles... it just does not measure up. The soundtrack is full of hideous independent music obviously comissioned by Konami to make 'football lyric' songs - whoever does their localisation testing for the U.K. should be shot. The commentary has been slightly improved although I can still rarely bare to listen to its inaccuracies. The international challenge mode has been removed and the only real addition to the game is a 'dive' action which never works. How on earth can I (a LIFELONG PRO EVO FAN) find this many wrongs?!? Quite frankly, I am disheartened, disappointed, shocked and thinking of buying Fifa 08.

Marc D. gave it a7:
Plays a good game of football but is not much of an improvement on the last. Every aspect that has improved on pes6 is then balanced out with something else thats broken on this version. A rushed annual release that PES fans don't need.

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Game Info

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What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

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