Pro Evolution Soccer 3 (PC) - UK Seller NP

Football games are pretty sparse on the PC these days, so what better way to amend that fact than with the release of the mighty Pro Evolution 3. Basically the same game as that which recently graced the PlayStation 2, PES3 on the PC delivers all the trademark groundbreaking gameplay, albeit with the obvious additions of higher resolution visuals and support for LAN/Internet play.

The game benefits from an impressive line-up of features, such as a huge array of cup tournaments, friendly matches and a four division Master League. There's also an extensive training mode that allows you to fine-tune players via a series of skill-based challenges, such as attacking, defending, close control, and set pieces. Each challenge mastered unlocks what are known as PES points, which can, in turn, be used to purchase things like new teams, players, stadiums, strategies and, erm, hair cuts. The PES point system can also be found throughout each of the game's other modes so, the better you get, the more unlockable stuff you acquire. And hair cuts.

As with the PS2 version, Konami's emphasis on realism has been upped with this third instalment - the focus here being that players now not only look like their respective real-life counterparts, but that they move like them too. Also, a tweaked AI engine means that you now get to witness NPCs performing such manoeuvres as making intelligent runs, dragging defenders to make space and pulling off moves specific to their particular situation.

As mentioned before, the PC version benefits from quite an impressive multiplayer mode, allowing up to eight players to kick about over a LAN or the Internet. There's also a host of other new features, such as referees playing advantage, the ability to control just one player and an optional fatigue element.

Pro Evo is widely regarded as king of the console footie games. This improved PC version is therefore definitely up there with the 'must haves', whether you're a football fan or not.

Platform:   Windows 2000 / 98 / NT / Me / XP

BBFC Rating: Parental Guidance

Media: Video Game