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 Soccerfootballsimulation video game series. The Japanese release was succeeded by an updated and improved version called World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 Final Evolution.[3]
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.
In-game content
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.[6] 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)[7] are available.[6]
The PlayStation 2 version received "universal acclaim" in both regions according to video game review aggregatorMetacritic.[12][13] In Japan, Famitsu gave both the original and Final Evolution versions a score of 36 out of 40,[16][17] and the J.League version 34 out of 40, all for the same console version.[18]
In Japan, Winning Eleven 6 sold 1 million units in eight weeks.[29] 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.[30] In total, the game sold a total of 1,799,075 for the PlayStation 2 in Japan.[31]
In Europe, PES 2 initially outsold FIFA Football 2003 upon release in October 2002,[32] with PES 2 selling above 1 million units in its first 40 days of availability in Europe.[29][33] In the United Kingdom, it topped the all-formats chart two days after release.[34] The PlayStation 2 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2 received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[35] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[36] By December 2002, FIFA 2003 had overtaken PES 2 in Europe with 2.5 million sales in the region.[32]
In the United States, Winning Eleven 6 sold 59,567 copies.[37] In total, PES 2 sold at least more than 2,858,642 units worldwide.
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."[39]
Notes
^Known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 or World Soccer: Winning Eleven 2002 in Japan, and as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 6 International in North America.[1][2]