Customer Reviews
Excellent fun to play, but hopefully '2009' will be the definitive version... - By: July37th, 22 Dec 2008 
First off, I must say that this game, as the reviewers before have stated, is a very good step up from the more 'traditional' controls. I've had the benefit of playing ProEvo 2008 Wii solidly for about 5-6 months & so hope my review is helpful.
There are the beginnings of a very good game here & I genuinely feel that the whole thing is just a few tweaks away from being something special. To keep this relatively short, I'll list a few comments on my opinion from the overall experience.
* When you arein possession, this game outstrips all othersin terms of gameplay quite comfortably. The passing (which can be lofted or passed along the pitch depending on the number of button presses) is very good & the ability to drag players to make runs/position defenders is excellent. The game actually rewards a passing, 'Arsenal 2007' (they are a bit rubbish this year) type of gameplan, rather than hit-and-hope tactic of punting up the pitch. With a little practice, you can be making accurate through-balls & dangerous crossesin no time.
* Intercepting passes & executing defensive headers can be effective once the tactic is learned. For example, I was very frustrated with this aspect until I relaised that you could cut off a through ball by pressing 'Z' & then attempting to execute a pass with the player nearest the loose ball. The end result? Your player will always go to the ball & pass the ball to clear the danger (some reviewers obviously did not learn this skill when critising the defensive aspects of the game). Having said that, it does take a while to work out how to tackle effectively. It is over-complicated & until you master it (which is a dubious combination of marking players, holding down 'Z' & then clicking on the opposing playerin possession with the 'A' button) & Konami really need to simplify it. I have only really mastered defending after having spent 3 months learning this tactic. Once learnt, it is fine but it could have saved me so much frustrationin the long run if pressure could have been applied by simply pressing one button, rather than a combination. I note that the 2009 version is going to adopt this more 'simplistic' approach, which is superb news.
* Shooting & direct free-kicks are not well executed, being totally random. Konami cannot expect people to just put up with this aspect, as it can become tiresome. Once you accept the fact that a fling of the nunchuck resultsin anything from a powerful drive to a crawler, you learn to live with it, but I'd much rather have a power bar or at least be able to direct my shot on goal somehow with the nunchuck. Please sort this out, Konami.
* The Champions Road, which I was originally appalled at, does become somewhat addictive after a while. There is definitely a challenge to be had here, despite the lack of a 'Master League' type competition. Just asin a league campaign, I found myself genuinely caring about my team set-up & began to enjoy trying to get through the early leagues with players of limited ability. Once you get a Robinho or a Diego, your team's passing & style of play really does improve. That being said, I simply missed the Master League & the ability to add to your squad by choosing the players you wish to purchase. While the Champions Road does end up being fun, it is a 'make-do' kind of fun & the Master League must make a return for the 2009 version.
* Graphics are ok but not much different from the old Xbox or PS2 efforts. It does the job, but did we really expect much from the Wii?
* Sound is good & does the job. The commentary team however is just horrible. Mark Lawrenson is cliched beyond beliefin real life, so having an electronic version of himin your ear is kind of like chinese water torture. Bring back Brooking. The game music has been written mostly for the title & is quite retroin terms of computer gaming. I quite liked it, as I felt it added a nostalgia to the game.
Overall:
A very good idea has been executed reasonably well. I have scored the game quite highly as there is so much potential here & it is genuinely fun to play, being a excellent & refreshing take on football video games. It is not really for the Pro-evo purist, as many will be shocked by the lack of game competitions & options, but you feel that if Konami can iron out the flaws on the overall design, the 2009 version could potentially be the greatest football video game since SWOS, which,in my opinion, is still to be bettered, some 14 years after its release. Don't let us down Konami.
8/10
Not for "football video games" fans - By: A. Lapa, 06 Nov 2008 
The Wii is the only console I own, & I've been pretty happy with the machine so far. I was very excited when I heard PES was coming to the Wii, & the "revolutionary" control system really got my hopes high.
I was very disappointed with the way it turned out. Of course there is a learning curve to it, but even when you grasp it it turns out flat. Video game football is not about "realism". Kick Off, Sensible Soccer & the initial Fifa games were not brilliant because they where accurate representations of the beautiful game, but because they brought the excitement & football feelings to computers.
PES for the Wii is a dull game, disguised as "clever". The Nunchunk shaking is just appalling & the whole moving around of players & direction orienting gets distracting & makes the game so cerebral that it loses all the fun. Not being able to control your defense individually is very frustrating.
I admit some people really dig the game & its control system, but if you're after for the Pro Evolution Soccer that used to keep you & your friends throwing Playstation controls around the living roomin anger, this is not it.
Still waiting for a decent football game for the wii, until then I'll just play PES on my PC.
Great game - innovative controls - By: Mister J-Lo, 12 Oct 2008 I have had this game a couple of months & I am still playing it so it must be pretty decent. The ability to move players about independently makes it feel more realistic, & for a Wii football game the graphics are good. In fact I would say its the best football game I've ever played on a Nintendo console.
Other reviews have moaned about the Champions Road, but I think it is a quite involving game mode (if a bit slow at times having to attach attributes to players).
Some flaws though (which haven't spolied it for me but may do for others!):
-Menus: the menus are annoying to navigate & trying to substitute playersin & out of your team is more difficult then it needs to be.
-Shooting: why have they decided that swingingthe nunchuck is the best way to simulate shooting? A button press would be better.
-Freekicks: no control over these.
-Tackling: seems fairly random at times.
Definitely 4 stars then - but needs some work before the next installment.
Pretty good - By: M. J. Barr, 06 Sep 2008 
I won't rattle on about the controls because if you're reading this you've probably read another more in-depth review of Pro Wii-vo, but this is a real step forward for footballing sims. This is a really refreshing take on the beautiful game but Holy Macaroni - it requires SERIOUS concentration! Credit to the designers but this all-new realisation of off-the-ball movement & controlling more than one player at a time is enough to turn your brain into pate. It's so well implemented though that I can't help but forgive them.
Now, if only Konami would do something about the dismal sub-PS2 visuals, & animation that's so robotic it makes C3P0 look like a cheetah by comparison. Then we'd have a true champion & a real Wii killer-app.
Massive missed opportunity - By: S. Perry, 27 Jun 2008 
I love pro evo, it's the greatest game ever, & I couldn't wait to get my hands on this.
Yes, the passing & being able to position players is fabulous & revolutionary. However;
- it's practically impossible to defend; players just dont do what you want. Sliding tackles, barges, fouls... you wont find any of this.
- the worst crime though is the shooting. One little flick of the nunchuck & it decides exactly where it's going to shoot, how powerfully, everything. There's absolutely zero skill involved. A useless, useless gimmick that ruins the game.
So basically there's no skillin shooting & you cant properly nail people. So what's the pointin playing. I'm gutted, it could have been so good, but it's overlooked the most fundamental part of the game.
Oh, & the graphics, music, commentary are beyond awful, but then you forgive that on every previous version because they've been so good. This time it just annoyed me more.
No wonder they put Michael Owen on the front cover. Had the potential to be the best gamein the world, but it's no good if it dont work.
