Superior online multiplayer pushes Wii version of soccer sim past its high-def competitors.
Cristiano Ronaldo graces the PES 2008 cover solo.
Citing improved gameplay and better reviews, the lead designer of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 has proclaimed the Wii version superior to its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts. European Project Lead Jon Murphy stated in an interview with Next Generation on Friday that Konami's commitment to fine-tuning the 2008 game was critical in making the Wii version a success.
The game formerly known as Winning Eleven has apparently goaled on Wii, earning an aggregate score of 86 on Metacritic, which easily tops the 78 earned by the Xbox 360 version and 74 on PlayStation 3. Performance problems plagued the next-gen versions of the game, which have been fixed in the delayed Wii release. As Murphy claimed, "PES 2008 for Wii isn't just a good football game, it is an ambitious one - and the team's efforts have paid off enormously."
With so many multi-platform gamers struggling to determine whether the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 version of a game is better, PES 2008 is a radical departure from a trend in which Wii games are seen as inferior. Murphy contends that the game isn't just better on Wii because it fixes the problems found on the other two consoles though, going as far to assert online superiority. "The Wii version offers the best online experience to date. Online play is the logical next step to extend the competitive nature of the game and will be vital in the progression of the series."
Online play has been a point of criticism for many Wii games, marking PES 2008 as only the second title on the console to receive any praise for the quality of its online multiplayer. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which experienced a number of server troubles following its release in early March, was the first.
