Pro Evolution Soccer 4

Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Cover featuring Arsenal's Thierry Henry, referee Pierluigi Collina and Roma's Francesco Totti
Developer(s)	Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Publisher(s)	Konami
Series	Pro Evolution Soccer
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 Xbox Microsoft Windows
Release	August 5, 2004 PlayStation 2 JP: August 5, 2004 PAL: October 15, 2004 NA: February 1, 2005[1] Xbox EU: November 26, 2004 AU: December 3, 2004[2] NA: February 1, 2005[1] Windows PAL: December 3, 2004 NA: February 8, 2005[1]
Genre(s)	Sports game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 8 in Japan and World Soccer: Winning Eleven 8 International in North America) is the fourth installment of Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer football simulation video game series. It's the first game of the series to appear on the original Xbox, with online gameplay.

The Japanese version cover features Zico for the second time in a row.^[3]

The European version cover features Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, AS Roma forward Francesco Totti, and world-renowned Italian referee Pierluigi Collina. It was the first game in the series to feature licensed leagues.

Winning Eleven 8: Liveware Evolution marked the first game in the PES series to feature online play for the PlayStation 2, while Winning Eleven 8/Pro Evolution Soccer 4 does not feature it. Within online play, statistics and league points are stored on the server for each game played. PES 4 was succeeded by Pro Evolution Soccer 5, which was released in 2005.

Features

• Expanded Master League teams containing up to 72 teams. More elements added to the development and retirement of master league players. Winning a game in Master League will raise the abilities of your playersok
• Three fully licensed leagues (Serie A, Eredivisie and Liga Española).
• For the first time, Referees will be seen on pitch during the game. There is also an animated linesman seen after a player is given offside. The referee will not issue a yellow card for the first 'average' tackle, but if a player continues to commit 'average' fouls, a card will be given
• Wear and tear including dirt will be visible on the player's uniforms according to the pitch conditions.
• Improved edit mode allowing changes to be made to league names and the ability to put text on the kits.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	PC	PS2	Xbox
Metacritic	(EU) 92/100[24] (US) 88/100[25]	(US) 91/100[26] (EU) 91/100[27]	(EU) 91/100[28] (US) 90/100[29]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	PC	PS2	Xbox
Edge	N/A	9/10[4]	N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly	N/A	8.83/10[5]	8.83/10[5]
Eurogamer	9/10[6]	9/10[7]	9/10[8]
Game Informer	N/A	8.75/10[9]	8.75/10[9]
GamePro	N/A	[10]	[10]
GameRevolution	A−[11]	A−[11]	A−[11]
GameSpot	8.7/10[12]	9.3/10[13]	9.3/10[13]
GameSpy	N/A	[14]	[14]
GameZone	9.5/10[15]	9.5/10[16]	9.5/10[17]
IGN	N/A	9.4/10[18]	9.4/10[18]
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine	N/A	[19]	N/A
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	N/A	N/A	8.3/10[20]
PC Gamer (US)	89%[21]	N/A	N/A
Detroit Free Press	N/A	N/A	[22]
The Sydney Morning Herald	N/A	[23]	N/A

In Japan, the PS2 version sold 1 million copies on its first day of release,^[30] and eventually sold 1.11 million units.^[31] In Europe, the PS2 version shipped 1.5 million units on its first day of release,^[32][33] setting a launch sales record.^[34] It was a hit in Italy, where more than 400,000 units were sold for over €16 million or $20,000,000 (equivalent to $32,000,000 in 2023) by November 2004.^[35] The PlayStation 2 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 4 received a "Double Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),^[36] indicating sales of at least 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom.^[37]

The game received "universal acclaim" on all platforms in all regions except the U.S. PC version, which received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.^{[26][29][25][28][24][27]}

The Sydney Morning Herald gave the PS2 version all five stars, stating that "There are myriad ways to score, yet goals are always well-earned."^[23] The Times also gave the same version all five stars, stating, "The intuitive control system and [the] fluidity of the movement are of the highest standard and this year’s model includes a bag of new dribbling tricks, which are worth practising in the training mode. Even the referees have received an upgrade."^[38] BBC Sport gave the game 95% and said, "Greater emphasis has been placed on one-touch play, and while goals are not all that easy to come by - creating chances requires quick thinking and accurate distribution - when you do manage to make the net bulge, it's all the more satisfying."^[39] However, Maxim gave the game a score of eight out of ten and said, "Although it's dogged by Commodore 64-quality music and selective licensing agreements... this new edition more than compensates with killer graphics, new tricks, and an improved dribbling system."^[40] Detroit Free Press gave the Xbox version three stars out of four and said that it "really isn't a leap above Winning Eleven 7. Though the variety of play modes is huge, the well-animated visuals could use some polish, the audio sounds rather bland and the number of licensed teams and players is a bit wimpy."^[22]

Winning Eleven 8 was a finalist for PC Gamer US's "Best Sports Game 2005" award, which ultimately went to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06.^[41]

References

1. "Press release". 2005-03-08. Archived from the original on 2005-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
2. van Leuveren, Luke (November 22, 2004). "Updated Australian Release List - 22/11/2004". PALGN. PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2006. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
3. "SBG:「ウイイレ8」イメージキャラクターはジーコ氏！". nlab.itmedia.co.jp. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
4. Edge staff (December 2004). "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PS2)". Edge. No. 143. p. 115.
5. EGM staff (March 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 189.
6. Bramwell, Tom (November 16, 2004). "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PC)". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
7. Bramwell, Tom (October 15, 2004). "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
8. Bramwell, Tom (November 26, 2004). "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
9. Kato, Matthew (March 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International (PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 143. p. 115. Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
10. Funky Zealot (February 1, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 [International] (PS2, Xbox)". GamePro. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
11. Reilly, Mike (March 2, 2005). "[World Soccer] Winning Eleven 8 [International] Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
12. Calvert, Justin (February 24, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
13. Calvert, Justin (February 4, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
14. Leahy, Dan (February 25, 2005). "GameSpy: [World Soccer] Winning Eleven 8 [International] (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
15. Beavis (March 20, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
16. Romano, Natalie (February 13, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
17. Valentino, Nick (February 13, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
18. Perry, Douglass C. (February 1, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International (PS2, Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
19. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. March 2005. p. 94.
20. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International". Official Xbox Magazine. March 2005. p. 81.
21. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International". PC Gamer: 63. May 2005.
22. Huschka, Ryan (March 6, 2005). "'[World Soccer] Winning Eleven 8 [International]' (Xbox)". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on July 30, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
23. Hill, Jason (October 28, 2004). "Soccer sorcery". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
24. "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (pc: 2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
25. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
26. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
27. "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (ps2: 2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
28. "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (xbx: 2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
29. "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
30. "Winning Eleven 8 sells one million copies in one day". GamesIndustry.biz. 10 August 2004.
31. "Japan Platinum Game Chart". The Magic Box. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
32. "Konami ships 1.4 million PS2 copies of Pro Evolution Soccer 4". GameSpot. August 16, 2006.
33. [afjv] - 1,5 millions d'unités en day one pour Pro Evolution Soccer 4
34. Autrijve, Rainier Van (October 13, 2004). "GameSpy: Pro Evolution Soccer 4 Launches Big". GameSpy. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
35. Multiplayer.it Business to Business
36. "ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009.
37. Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
38. "Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PS2)". The Times. October 30, 2004. Retrieved April 2, 2015.(subscription required)
39. Rawcliffe, Jonathan (December 31, 2004). "Let's play: Pro Evolution Soccer 4". BBC Sport. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
40. McMenamin, Tony (February 1, 2005). "World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International". Maxim. Archived from the original on July 30, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
41. Staff (March 2006). "The Twelfth Annual PC Gamer Awards". PC Gamer US. 13 (3): 33–36, 38, 40–42, 44.

External links

• World Soccer: Winning Eleven 8 International at MobyGames