This is Football 2003

The developers have managed to obtain the FIFPro licence for this game - FIFPro is the organisation that represents the interests of professional footballers and this has enabled them to use the real player names for over 13000 different players. The player models have been completely revamped since TIF 2002 with a noticeable improvement in the "photo - realistic" likenesses of many of the star players. Though when I was playing as "my" team - the good old tractor boys - I think they must have used mug shots of the local pub side!

The player animations are very impressive, when a player back heels the ball - it looks like he is back heeling the ball, when a player rises gracefully to meet a cross and head in to the net the timing and motion of the player looks spot on - there are no jerky, awkward movements anymore.

The AI has also been re-worked and is now very impressive, the players have been developed so that they act in a much more intelligent fashion - reacting to what how the opposition (you) are playing. They will play in the correct formation but when you manage to pull one of them out of position, another team member will endeavour to plug the gap, they will even run into space to receive passes and (unlike Finidi George) players will even track back.

The gameplay includes some great elements which will really make you appreciate the thought that the developers have put into the game. Opposition players being booked for diving, players signalling for you to pass the ball into space, stepovers, knock ons, one-two's, deflections - it's all in there for your delectation.

The view of the action gives an overhead TV type perspective. It means you can see enough of the pitch to be able to judge your passes without making the players look to small - the overall feel is just about right and you get the impression that there are 22 players on the pitch at all times - this being one of my own personal criticisms of Pro Evolution (Oh no - I mentioned it again!).

Ok then - game modes, when you first start the game you have the perennial favourite of all football games - exhibition mode - together with numerous other options, these include, career mode, challenge mode, season, cup and league. Exhibition mode allows you to pick your favourite team and play against any of the other 700 teams in the game ! So if you want to play Wycombe Wanderers against Brazil then you can. The other modes are really self explanatory except challenge mode - this gives you a game against - Sony's own words - "rock hard opponents". After the game you are given a password which relates to your performance, this is then entered on the TIF website and you can see how you rate against other TIF player's world wide.

What else has the game got ? You can now enter the transfer market and buy and sell players in order to create your own "Dream Team" - Harchester Rovers to win the Champions League anybody ? You can create your own player from scratch so if you fancy making a player in your own likeness and turning out for your favourite team - you can. Players can be moved around, strips can be customised - all so you can keep the game up to date with real world transfers as they happen. You can even start out as a schoolboy team and try to progress into the national leagues.

The developers have increased the variety of leagues playable considerably - that impressive tally of 700 teams now includes leagues and teams from Brazil, Argentina, Korea, Japan, North America and others. Any international or national competition that you can think of and the game has a mode to cope with. 15 Leagues, 24 Divisions, 49 trophies, the stats go on and on.

This isn't Pro Evolution - This is Football - and you'd better believe it.

Make yourself into a player, build a schoolboy team and take it to the premier league, win the champions league with Blackburn rovers (or wolves or whoever!!!!!!!!)

Gameplay is really up to you. If you play FIFA style, simple moves and "goal sweetspots" you can win on levels am and pro. Suddenly on world and masterclass you need PES tactics. Wonderful game, great fun and challenging at the higher levels.

Graphics are good, commentary is excellent though Drury has a tendency to say "unbelievable error" when your amazing diagonal header goes over to the point where you want to strangle him!

Only other criticism (and hope it will be fixed for 2004) is the offside, there is virtually zero concept of "not interfering with play" and it can get annoying.

Save some money, have more fun but if you really want the best of both worlds then buy this and an old copy of PES!