Although the title of the latest edition has the number six after it, this is the first time Winning Eleven has hit US shores. With that rare mix of authenticity and fun, Winning Eleven 6 (WE6) is aimed to please and it does just that.

The first thing anyone notices about a game is the eye candy, that's the facts. Without visual appeal, a gamer may never look twice. Konami knows this and has made one of the best looking sports game to date. Not only do the players look good (although FIFA edges WE6 in that category), but the stadiums are some of the best I have ever seen. On top of good looks, the player designs are simply seamless. They look, act, and move as if real. To be quite honest, if you zoomed the camera all the way out, you could possibly trick your little brother and your grandpa into thinking they were watching a soccer match on television. Along with that, the only draw-back that WE6 may have is the lack of an official FIFA license, meaning you won't see any authentic club teams from Europe or Japan, and by far the most disappointing fact for me is the lack of the MLS (Major League Soccer) teams from here in the States.

As for not having authentic uniforms for club teams, this is where the edit feature comes into play. This is one of the deepest features I have ever seen. There are so many different ways to edit players; I can almost guarantee that no two players look alike. We're talking 40+ different faces per every skin color, with at least 60 different hairstyles, yes 60. Attention to detail here is staggering. As I said before, this is the best create-a-player feature I've ever seen. In regards to the lack of official uniforms and such, you can easily fix this problem with the edit feature, some time, and a little research. In fact, you can very closely mimic the actual uniforms, just without the logos. WE6 did pick up the Umbro license, so at least the player's shoes are authentic.

Another feature worth mentioning is the Master League. In fact, Master League is the meat and potatoes of the WE series. Basically, it's like franchise mode in any other sports game. You take a team and cut and sign players to make them the best possible. The main difference is that the more time your team plays together, the better they will become as a team. It's a concept I'm surprised hasn't been added to other sports titles and adds so much more depth to the experience.

Sure, any game can look good, but what about the gameplay? This aspect is where WE6 shines. When it comes to gameplay, WE6 is again, seamless. That may sound like a bit of a stretch, but it's the absolute truth. I've never experienced a simulation of a sport that captures the essence of it so well. While playing other games one may feel restricted, but when you play WE6 you actually feel as though you're playing the sport. All the moves are there, from a simple pass, to a spectacular diving header. While the learning curve is a bit steep, the end result of your labor is well worth it. The only slight problem with the gameplay is the player switching. One moment you could be running down a player, trying to tackle (AKA steal the ball from) them and then you almost randomly switch to a player farther away which, as anyone could guess, can get a bit frustrating. Another "realism" aspect of WE6 is the leniency, or rather the lack there of, of the officials. By nature, soccer isn't a "contact sport", warnings and ejections are handed out for rough play. The same goes in WE6. Rough play warrants an official's whistle. In fact, sometimes just running into the player with the ball gets you a card from the ref. It can be irritating, but that's the way soccer is played; ultimately, it adds to the experience.

In speaking of experience, WE6 has all the sounds of a real soccer match. The crowd cheers accordingly. You can actually set which team the crowd will favor before the match, or leave it neutral; it's your choice. As for the commentary, you have not one, not two, but five different languages to choose from. All major European languages are represented. That's English, French, German, Italian and Spanish for those who were wondering. Though at times the commentary can be a bit choppy or late, overall it's very good. In-game music is another aspect of WE6 that shows a different flavor, using more of a dance club mix of beats, instead of rock and roll.

Overall I can certainly see why this game has outsold EA. For any soccer fan it's a must have. Do I feel it will have the same success in the States? Yes. If we can get used to a slower paced, lower scoring game, WE6 will do wonderfully in the US. WE6 is a true masterpiece; it certainly proves that EA sports may be on top in certain sports games, but they certainly don't have that hold in the world of soccer. It's worthy of the title, "FIFA Killer."