There are certain characteristics that you generally associate with Pro Evolution Soccer - unerring attention to detail, air-tight simulation and crisp gameplay. Recruiting players from a toy dispenser is not one of them, but then DS Pro Evolution Soccer is a unique experience.

Gameplay-wise, it’s all quite primitive, lacking any of the graphical finesse or gameplay options of the PSP version. In fact, it looks and plays a lot like Konami’s PS1 ISS games (which preceded PES). Fortunately, there’s enough quality in the passing and movement for the action to grow on you - mainly as soon as you pick your way to the goal with passing, because dribbling is just too fiddly.

The World Tour mode, however, is where the real magic lies. This mode has you competing against national teams with the Master League default players. When you win you’re rewarded with coins, which can be spent on bizarre powerups to give to your players such as ‘Flat Shot’ or ‘Goliath’ (which makes the players taller). Then, best of all, you can add players from teams you’ve beaten by getting them at random from toy dispensers. It’s completely daft but it gives the game a strangely addictive ‘catch-‘em-all’ quality.

Mar 11, 2008