Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008

Pro Evolution Soccer returns for a third PSP outing, and though it still plays a good game of football, it offers relatively few new tricks.

"Only being able to get hands-on time with two teams in one mode was a bummer, but the quick burst of soccer hoopla made it clear Konami knows what it's doing on the PSP. The grass looked vibrant, making players cut and juke with the analog nub was simple and responsive, and the player models and cutscenes were great."

A bona-fide PES game on the PSP, PES 2008 admittedly only takes small steps from last year’s title, but it takes all the right ones. If there is anyone yet to be converted to Seabass’s formula, this isn’t the game to do it. However, for PSP owners who already worship at the temple of PES, this could well be their mana. In improving upon PES 6 it marks itself as the definitive sports title currently available on the PSP, and for those of a certain inclination it's therefore one of the best games there is for Sony’s handheld.