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World Soccer Winning Eleven 9
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami Tokyo
Genre(s): Sports, Soccer
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: February 7, 2006
Summary
Winning Eleven 9 features full team rosters and official kits for all clubs playing in the Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga and Dutch Eredivisie leagues, and also some of the world's biggest clubs from famous European leagues. New additions include English champions Chelsea and runners-up Arsenal, while the 'Old Firm' Scottish clubs of Rangers and Celtic will also be included. Norwegian Champions Rosenburg will also be joined by Portuguese giants FC Porto, Turkey's Galatasaray SK, Denmark's FC Kopenhagen, Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev, and Djurgarden from Sweden. With the online option, players from around the country can go head-to-head, using Master League teams if they choose. Online players can even qualify and play in tournaments they put together themselves. Winning Eleven's already-deep Master League mode has been tweaked, primarily when it comes to player conditioning. A new training system adds more depth while player development has more variation than ever before, giving virtual managers more ways to build their team for success. A series of all-new features includes additional formations to be employed on the pitch - such as "Wing Back" and "Second Striker." Additionally, those who have mastered the previous versions' harsh weather including rain and scorching heat, will have an all-new obstacle from Mother Nature to overcome: snow. In the freezing cold, players can actually see their breath as they fight conditions down the frozen field. Rounding out the new features in Winning Eleven 9 is the Memorial Match, which allows gamers to save results from non-AI "VS." matches. Cumulative match records and winning points can be logged for up to 20 people. [Konami]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
WHAM! Gaming
It’s so realistic it makes me want to drivearound my block blasting the horn til' midnight.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
Hardcore fans will enjoy this game immensely, but casual fans will likely find WE9 too difficult. Even though the game is not for everyone, it is still the best soccer game to date.
Read Full Review >Xbox Solution
It has that feeling of being more realistic and a wider range of controls.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
There is no comparison; World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 is the best soccer game to date.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Though the tweaks are mostly small, they're just enough to keep this star a header above the rest.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Winning Eleven 9 plays an incredibly realistic game of soccer and is the first game in the series to support online play.
Read Full Review >Team Xbox
There’s so much to love about Winning Eleven 9 it’s almost a shame that it’s such an aesthetically unattractive package. Once you dig a bit deeper and get past the crummy music and lackluster visuals and presentation you’ll find one of the best sports games of the year.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
With the addition of online gameplay to the best soccer engine in the world, Winning Eleven 9 is worth a purchase, but it still somewhat feels like the American release of last year's "Winning Eleven 8: Live Wire" more than its own standalone game.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
The controls are more responsive and as a result you will actually use less combinations of buttons and the sticks to make your moves.
Read Full Review >Maxim Online
Konami's annual soccer franchise, which has scored in the past for its slick controls, wads of teams, and shin-splintin' graphics, returns to the field to affirm its ball-kicking dominance.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
A game that has no rival in the Soccer world. It's better than FIFA, and it's even better than FIFA Soccer for the Xbox 360.
Read Full Review >IGN
A gem of a soccer title, but it feels like "Winning Eleven 8 Online"...WE9 is still the undisputed champ of videogame soccer. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll scream "GOAL" until you go blue in the face. It's that fun.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
Still a very well-honed title that never fails to get my blood going, but I think a jump to next-gen for the series could be just the boost that this franchise needs. [Feb 2006, p.103]
Official Xbox Magazine
Any game that has seen nine iterations must have either required a phenomenal amount of improvement or honed a hugely successful formula. Chalk up this new Winning Eleven in the later category. [Mar 2006, p.74]
Stuff
The series' trademark superb gameplay is, as usual, on point. And this year, you can actually take your football team online.
Read Full Review >Extreme Gamer
The main bonus to picking up number nine is to go online, talk smack, and take on people across the continent. Not going online? Well then I'd say you could get by with Winning Eleven 8 until they announce a next-gen version.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
You know a soccer title is doing it right when a match can end in a scoreless tie and you've had as much fun as when you've lit up the scoreboard. And this is in large part due to WE9's A.I., which plays such a smart brand of footy that it continually keeps you on your toes.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
B. Jones gave it a10:
My friends who are devout Madden fans, don't even like soccer, and love football dropped everything after a few games of Winning Eleven. It was so hard to get them to try it, and now they rate it lightyears ahead of Madden. Absolutely the best sport sim I have ever played. Winning Eleven 8 is great too.
JR gave it an8:
This game could be so much better, I swear if this game teams up with EA. This game could be the leading soccer game, but WE10 is suppose to be for PS3 so now they gunna have them kick ass graphics.
Javier F. gave it a9:
Been From a country where soccer is the only important sport I can say that, anyone that can believe that fifa is better that WE, well they don't have a clue WE9 online play is the top of the cake in a very franchise that is running since 1992.
Dave R. gave it a5:
WWE9 still needs considerable work. Konami certainly hasn't changed much since last year's game. The graphics and commentary is subpar. The gameplay is fairly realistic, still the movements seem staggered and broken. It certainly isn't smooth. In addition, the menus are clunky and controls need revision. Online play simply doesn't make up for a subpar effort. In my opinion, FIFA 06 literally blows WWE9 away. FIFA 06 only needs a few minor tweaks in the gameplay area to guarantee a crown in 2007.
John J. gave it a10:
Great control. Great feel. Great game.
Mav gave it a9:
Best soccer game I've ever played!! Only thing wrong with it is not enough licensed teams, but I spent bet. 1-2 hrs and was able to change all teams names, jerseys, player names, stadium names... everything to their real names, (like fifa has them), and now its perfect. So out of the box I give it a 9/10, with about an hours work in the option files, I give it 10/10. By the way, if you want a European opinion on soccer games (they know more about soccer than an Americans...) go to www.eurogamer.net. I truly believe they have better judgement over soccer games, just like I'd trust an American site with rating NFL and MLB games.
