Sports games released in-season usually face a bevy of competition. But when a game is released ‘out of season’ it does stand a much better chance of being viewed with a certain hunger for the action it contains.

Winning Eleven 6 is a PlayStation2 releases from Konami and Renderware, and is an international professional soccer game featuring 54 national teams and 40 club teams. It also has a rich options package with customizable teams and formations, as well as dynamic graphical elements.

This game looks good and plays very well.

The cross comes in off the corner kick. A striker judges the angle and arc of the ball, then inverts to bicycle kick a shot at the net. The keeper makes a spectacular diving stop, deflecting the ball wide of the mark.

Of course, all you do is hit the O button for the cross, then the square controller button for the inverted shot. The keeper moves independently to make the save. Not only does this game keep the controller interface simple, but the AI is very good as well.

Winning Eleven 6 follows the pattern of other franchise games in that it allows players to create their own player, then negotiate a contract to lure him to your team. It can be frustrating to create the consummate player, only to be unable to sign him. The Master League mode is where you create your own team, drafting and negotiating contracts with players. This is akin to the franchise mode of other games.

Graphically, WE6 does a superb job of making the action believable and entertaining. Players can juke and make nice dekes, and through-passes are intuitive with an excellent AI running the players (those not controlled by the gameplayer) in an appropriate manner. This is almost a flawless re-creation of the game, without arcade effects. There are no insane speed bursts, but rather excellent trapping, nice touch passing, and shots that rip toward the net. Learning to control those shots will take some time, and the training mode will help players get the feel for touch passes for the shot.

If you wish to try out your skills against a weaker opponent, WE6 has kindly rated each team in key areas so game players will know what the competition is like.

The player interface is designed for ease of use. This is a game that is easy to navigate through, and while there are a number of options to be explored, the menu system allows players to do so without having to perform stupendous juggling acts. This is soccer, or football (if you prefer), with its electrifying and extremely athletic presence.

The game setup, and cutscenes, expect you to think of this as a real game and does an extraordinary job of recreating the pageantry surrounding the game.

The sound of the game is also very well done. It makes no pretenses of being the star of the game, but rather underscores the graphics with solid and dynamic commentary, as well as realistic game and environmental elements

If there is any drawback to this game, it is that it so totally immerses the gamer in the world of the sport, it is almost a shame that the game refers to said sport as soccer and not football.

Winning Eleven 6 has been released in a time when not a lot of soccer programs are arriving new to the market. In that way it ensures getting a good look. Deservedly so, because this game has much to offer.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 8.5
The action is smooth and flawless.

Graphics: 8.6
The game features excellent animations, as well as well-designed environments. This game looks very good.

Sound: 8.5
Game sounds, play-by-play, and the musical score are all very good, and do an excellent job of supporting the graphical elements.

Difficulty: Medium
The game itself has been designed for ease of play, but there is definitely challenge here.

Concept: 8.7
Featuring a solid options package, and easy-to-navigate interface, this game is a nice blend of depth of gaming with ease of use.

Multiplayer: 8.2
This game plays well as a single player, but up to eight players can participate using the PS2 multitap (which is a unit that can turn one game port into four).

Overall: 8.5
Fun to play with excellent environments and player animations, Winning Eleven 6 is a terrific soccer game that adheres to the fundamentals of the sport really well, while offering depth of play.