While the animation will not immediately impress, it stands up to analysis and allows ball control to be suitably reflected in the movements of players. It is a pity that despite this, controlling your team is frequently retarded by factors beyond your control. Animations, built-in reactions and wrong assumptions on the part of the computer can foil your attacks, spell disaster for your defence and unwittingly hand over possession at the worst possible times. At other times, players simply refuse to obey you.

Being unable to change control to the desired player in defence and being unable to stop a player from knocking the ball out instead of fetching it from the sideline are two frustrating examples. Teammates often allow players though unchecked or simply stop chasing close to the opposition's goal, despite the apparently advanced state of all-computer teams, and frequently fail to consider defenders when offered the through ball.

Aurally, Pro Evolution Soccer still lags behind FIFA 2002. Crowds lack credibility, while the English commentary is staccatto and lacks the conviction of John Motson's and Andy Gray's work. The German and French commentaries are both fluid and enthusiastic, however, and manage to stitch together reasonable lines with far greater phrasing.

Still, it is fair to say that Pro Evolution Soccer represents the first soccer game available to this country worthy of the current generation of hardware formats. Local and international matches are all catered for, and, with or without the control problems, are more enjoyable than ever.