Sports games released in-season usually face a bevy of competition. But when a game is released ‘out of
season’ it does stand a much better chance of being viewed with a certain
hunger for the action it contains.
Winning Eleven 6 is a PlayStation2 releases
from Konami and Renderware, and is an international professional soccer
game featuring 54 national teams and 40 club teams. It also has a rich
options package with customizable teams and formations, as well as dynamic
graphical elements.
This game looks good and plays very well.
The cross comes in off the corner kick.
A striker judges the angle and arc of the ball, then inverts to bicycle
kick a shot at the net. The keeper makes a spectacular diving stop, deflecting
the ball wide of the mark.
Of course, all you do is hit the O button
for the cross, then the square controller button for the inverted shot.
The keeper moves independently to make the save. Not only does this game
keep the controller interface simple, but the AI is very good as well.
Winning Eleven 6 follows the pattern of
other franchise games in that it allows players to create their own player,
then negotiate a contract to lure him to your team. It can be frustrating
to create the consummate player, only to be unable to sign him. The Master
League mode is where you create your own team, drafting and negotiating
contracts with players. This is akin to the franchise mode of other games.
Graphically, WE6 does a superb job
of making the action believable and entertaining. Players can juke and make nice
dekes, and through-passes are intuitive with an excellent AI running the players
(those not controlled by the gameplayer) in an appropriate manner. This is
almost a flawless re-creation of the game, without arcade effects. There are no insane speed
bursts, but rather excellent trapping, nice touch passing, and shots that
rip toward the net. Learning to control those shots will take some time,
and the training mode will help players get the feel for touch passes for
the shot.
If you wish to try out your skills against
a weaker opponent, WE6 has kindly rated each team in key areas so game
players will know what the competition is like.
The player interface is designed for ease
of use. This is a game that is easy to navigate through, and while there
are a number of options to be explored, the menu system allows players
to do so without having to perform stupendous juggling acts. This is soccer,
or football (if you prefer), with its electrifying and extremely athletic
presence.
The game setup, and cutscenes, expect you
to think of this as a real game and does an extraordinary job of recreating
the pageantry surrounding the game.
The sound of the game is also very well
done. It makes no pretenses of being the star of the game, but rather underscores
the graphics with solid and dynamic commentary, as well as realistic game
and environmental elements
If there is any drawback to this game,
it is that it so totally immerses the gamer in the world of the sport,
it is almost a shame that the game refers to said sport as soccer and not
football.
Winning Eleven 6 has been released in a
time when not a lot of soccer programs are arriving new to the market.
In that way it ensures getting a good look. Deservedly so, because this
game has much to offer.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 8.5
The action is smooth and flawless.
Graphics: 8.6
The game features excellent animations,
as well as well-designed environments. This game looks very good.
Sound: 8.5
Game sounds, play-by-play, and the musical
score are all very good, and do an excellent job of supporting the graphical
elements.
Difficulty: Medium
The game itself has been designed for
ease of play, but there is definitely challenge here.
Concept: 8.7
Featuring a solid options package, and
easy-to-navigate interface, this game is a nice blend of depth of gaming
with ease of use.
Multiplayer: 8.2
This game plays well as a single player,
but up to eight players can participate using the PS2 multitap (which is
a unit that can turn one game port into four).
Overall: 8.5
Fun to play with excellent environments
and player animations, Winning Eleven 6 is a terrific soccer game that
adheres to the fundamentals of the sport really well, while offering depth
of play.
