Pro Evolution Soccer 2 (abbreviated as PES 2), also known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 outside of Europe,[a] is the second installment of Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer football simulation video game series. The Japanese release was succeeded by an updated and improved version called World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 Final Evolution.[3]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2 | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo |
Publisher(s) | Konami |
Composer(s) | Michiru Yamane Sota Fujimori |
Series | Pro Evolution Soccer |
Platform(s) | |
Release | PlayStation 2
|
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
It was the last game in the series to be released for the PlayStation and the first and only game to be released for the GameCube, though it was the Japan-exclusive Final Evolution update.[4]
PES 2 was succeeded by PES 3, which was released in 2003.
PES 2 features six game modes, including single matches, training, various cup tournaments, and a Master League, in which the player can select a team to compete in various competitions and partake in the transfer market.[5] A total of 40 unlicensed club teams and 56 unlicensed international squads (expect for Japan which is the only fully licensed team in the game)[6] are available.[5]
Peter Brackley and Trevor Brooking call the matches in the game's English language version replacing Pro Evolution Soccer commentators Chris James and Terry Butcher.[7][8] The commentators in the Japanese version are Jon Kabira and Tetsuo Nakanishi.
The opening theme for the game is "We Will Rock You" by Queen.[9] This opening theme is also featured in Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.[10]
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | (EU) 93/100[11] (US) 93/100[12] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | [5] |
Edge | 9/10[13] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 9/10[14] |
Eurogamer | 9/10[7] |
Famitsu | 36/40[15][16] (J.League) 34/40[17] |
Game Informer | 9/10[18] |
GamePro | [19] |
GameRevolution | [20] |
GameSpot | 9/10[21] |
GameSpy | [22] |
GameZone | 8.5/10[23] |
IGN | 9/10[24] |
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | [25] |
BBC Sport | 90%[26] |
The Village Voice | 8/10[27] |
The PlayStation 2 version received "universal acclaim" in both regions according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[11][12] In Japan, Famitsu gave both the original and Final Evolution versions a score of 36 out of 40,[15][16] and the J.League version 34 out of 40, all for the same console version.[17]
In Japan, Winning Eleven 6 sold 1 million units in eight weeks.[28] By December 2002, Winning Eleven 6 had sold 1,115,707 units and Final Evolution sold 406,234 units for a combined 1,521,941 units sold.[29] In total, the game sold a total of 1,799,075 for the PlayStation 2 in Japan.[30]
In Europe, PES 2 initially outsold FIFA Football 2003 upon release in October 2002,[31] with PES 2 selling above 1 million units in its first 40 days of availability in Europe.[28][32] In the United Kingdom, it topped the all-formats chart two days after release.[33] The PlayStation 2 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2 received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[34] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[35] By December 2002, FIFA 2003 had overtaken PES 2 in Europe with 2.5 million sales in the region.[31]
In the United States, Winning Eleven 6 sold 59,567 copies.[36] In total, PES 2 sold at least more than 2,858,642 units worldwide.
PES 2 was awarded Best Console Game at the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) in 2002.[33] During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Pro Evolution Soccer 2 for "Console Sports Simulation Game of the Year", which was ultimately awarded to Madden NFL 2004.[37]
According to SPORTbible in 2019, Pro Evolution Soccer 2 was voted the greatest football video game of all time in a poll. SPORTbible writer Jack Kenmare called it "one of the greatest and most influential football games in recent memory."[38]