You've just split the defensive line as Michael Owen after you embody Paul Scholes to thread a perfect through ball between the two centre-backs. It's just you and the goalkeeper now in the dying moments of the match. You're sprinting with the ball at first, but then remind yourself to keep cool and slow down so you can pick your shot. The goalie starts closing you down, you do a little feint, catching the keeper off-balance, then dink the ball into the net over his shoulder. Moments like this (minus Owen and Scholes) are commonplace in the footy games of today, but it's with the Pro Evo PS1 series that the truly realistic football game was born. This sequel was more of the same but with more licenses, more skills to pull off like the aforementioned chip shot, and a general tightening of the game mechanics. It may not have been a huge improvement on its predecessor, but that was fine because the extent to which it realised the beautiful game was still unbelievable at the time. As is often the case with football games, ISS Pro Evo 2 flourished in multiplayer, as you and a few friends could compete in two-on-two matches, or take your national team on the road to World Cup glory. That first World Cup multiplayer win in this game no doubt remains among many gamers' fondest memories. Where prior football video games were good fun, it's only ISS Pro Evo that captured the spirit of football, turfing the pitch for the refined footy games of today.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
