Pro Evolution Soccer has long been the greatest football game on any console system. FIFA fans will argue of course, but I’ve always viewed it that playing FIFA was the closest thing you could get to watching Match of the Day, playing Pro Evo was the closest thing you’d get to playing football.

The two games have always come out over the years on a variety of formats, but the difference in gameplay has always been minimal. It was just a simple matter of which consol you had, or which controller you preferred. For example, the old Xbox controller was always difficult to grip whereas the PS2 controller was a more natural, ergonomic design.

However, with Pro Evolution Soccer 8 on the Wii, the control system and the game are completely different to the other formats. The Wii version features a unique control system that allows users to select players who are not in control of the ball and make ‘off the ball’ runs.

The Nunchuck is used to control the player in possession of the ball, while the Wii remote is used to select and control other players. This allows you to create, and execute complicated passing manoeuvres to score the ‘perfect goal’.

From the official press release:

Shooting also benefits from more control over the players, with the Nunchuck used to shoot or head simply by shaking it. As with the real sport, however, timing is everything in front of goal, and the speed of the pass or cross, the ability of the player, the angle of trajectory and the timing of the shot or header will all have differing effects on the resultant shot.

PES 8 on Wii is a completely new way to play football.