This game is fluid, both in content and look. Winning Eleven 7 may not have all the flash and pomp of better known soccer titles like FIFA, but it delivers where it counts. Player animations and features are as diverse as anything seen before, and the detail when the camera gets up close is on par with the bigger titles of the genre. There is absolutely no slowdown to speak of, something that comes in handy when you're using an aerial view that incorporates most of the players on the pitch.

Though the sound isn't on the same level as the graphics, it still holds up well in the end. The announcers' comments aren't quite as varied as in other games, and also suffer from slight delays, but it is only apparent when you're a spectator; the rest of the game will immerse you in a level of complete concentration with what is on the screen, and less with what is coming out of the speakers. The music, while not played during the actual matches, is a strange compilation of techno, most probably influenced by the Japanese development team. If this isn't your style it probably won't matter since you're not going to be purchasing Winning Eleven 7 for its soundtrack.

Winning Eleven 7 is the best damn soccer game on the market, period. Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to reasons. The beauty of it lies not in its options, which are numerous and well put together anyway, but in how it translates the actual game of soccer to the screen, and even further into the controllers in your hands. We'll get to that part later.

First, what peripherals the game has to offer complement the core mechanics well. More importantly are the challenge modes which accustom you to the difficulties of all things soccer, such as dribbling, shooting, corner kicks, and passing. The challenges also reward you with points, so a bit of competition is offered here as well.

Less important, but pulled off just as elegantly, is the Create-a-Player mode. Here you can customize a player from scratch, tweaking looks, skills, nationality, even put him on any team you want. And though you can't create a whole team from scratch, you can edit any team you want, and there are enough to the point that you can take over a crappy one and fill it with the Frankensteins you make in the Create-a-Player mode.

Among the different match venues are Exhibition, Cup, Tournament, and League modes. There are many Cup and Tournament styles to play, but the real jewel here is the League mode. This is where you can take any club team through a league, acquiring points along the way. You must also train and trade players to create a winning squad. Trading players is a bit hectic at first, as a lot of stats are thrown your way without much explanation outside of the instruction manual, but once you get past all the jargon you'll find that this feature is handled very well.

Winning Eleven 7 isn't the easiest game to master, but it offers a wide enough array of difficulties that there is something for everyone here. Beating the computer on the hardest setting will take some serious dedication, but if you feel like really beating up on someone you can opt for the lowest difficulty. The fact that most everything about the game is intuitive also helps to speed along the learning process.

Winning Eleven 7 doesn't revolutionize soccer control; it masters it. As soon as you pick up the controller you will feel the power at your fingertips. Never before has a game brought such precision control to this sport. Every aspect of the game can be handled and with such ease, yet the depth of the controls is such that mastering them will take a heap of diligence.

All types of passing and shooting are catered to, and dribbling is a dream once you get the hang of it. With the left analog stick you can run your player around the field and with the right you can execute numerous feints that are tricky to pull off but reward you with beautiful breakthroughs if done correctly.

Winning Eleven 7 is definitely a must buy for any soccer fan, and indeed for any sports fan. This game is done so well that it should be up for sports game of the year. If you have even a fleeting interest in soccer, or any sports for that matter, definitely check out Winning Eleven 7.