Pro Evolution Soccer 6

Commentary for the matches is has always been a PES strongpoint, and 6 is no different. Commentary for football games will never be perfect, but there is a good variety here and repetition is minimal (at least for the first few games). Crowd cheers, boos and celebrations for scoring goals are all excellent and the ball makes a satisfying thump when colliding with an outstretched foot.

PES6 provides all the options you would expect from a football game. You can pick your squad and formation to suit your play style and substitute players where and when you feel like. There is also a player editor, so you can create any new signing to your favourite team, or even a team of midgets with an 8 foot tall keeper if you feel like it. What PES 6 is desperately missing is the ability to change team names. Unfortunately 'London Blue' are destined to be called just that.

PES6 has a lot of play in it, with various Cup modes, a League mode and a Master League. Maser League is the main part of the single player mode, with points awarded for games won. You can then use these points in the transfer market to buy players to improve your team, helping you get more points. Achievement point enthusiasts have their work cut out for them too; there are Achievements for each Cup and each league. Couple this up with the five difficulty levels and you have enough game to keep you going for many months.

Of course none of the single player modes match the thrill of head to head, or Xbox Live matches. Playing against your friends at PES6 is unsurprisingly going to cost you countless Friday and Saturday nights.

Online PES6 seemes to have a few teething problems. I have sat waiting for an opponent for ten minutes without finding one [Editor's note, this is likely because the game was reviewed prior to its release when few players would have been available]. We've heard other players complain about lag in the game, although in private games we have created, this was very minimal. We experienced a little slowdown (most notably at corners and other set pieces), however this was a tiny distraction and had no influence on the game. Hopefully an update soon will sort these things out.

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is not a particularly huge leap beyond 5 though. The hi-def graphics and improved AI make it a worthwhile buy for fans of the series, but they would definitely want to get some money back by trading in PES5. For those who haven't tried the series before, we wholeheartedly recommend it.