Introduction
Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), also known as *World Soccer: Winning Eleven 5* in Japan, is a football simulation game published by Konami in 2001. This game is the first title in the Pro Evolution Soccer series, which later became one of the most popular sports game franchises in the world. Released for the PlayStation 2 and original PlayStation, PES was warmly received by critics and players alike due to its realistic gameplay mechanics and impressive graphics for its time.
Game Content
This game features various game modes including single match mode, tournament mode, and training mode. Players can choose from many national and club teams, although official licenses are incomplete. The English version uses the commentary of Chris James and Terry Butcher throughout the matches, while the Japanese version uses Jon Kabira and Katsuyoshi Shinto.
Reception
Pro Evolution Soccer received widespread praise from critics. On Metacritic, the game received an aggregate score of 93/100, indicating "universal acclaim." The magazine *Famitsu* gave a score of 34/40 for the original version and J.League, while the Final Evolution version received 33/40. The website GameRankings recorded a score of 91.69%. Other reviews include *Computer and Video Games* giving 9/10, *Edge* 9/10, and *Eurogamer* 9/10. BBC Sport praised the game with a score of 95%, while FHM gave a full rating of 5/5.
Sales
In Japan, *Winning Eleven 5* for PlayStation 2 sold 505,694 units by the end of 2001. The Final Evolution version sold 315,732 units, while the J.League version sold 77,225 units. In Europe, the game generated €21 million (approximately $35 million in 2025). In the United Kingdom, the PlayStation 2 version received the "Gold" award from ELSPA, indicating sales of at least 200,000 copies. Overall, PES became the 26th best-selling game in the UK in 2001.
Legacy
Pro Evolution Soccer became the foundation for a continuously evolving series to this day. The success of this game prompted Konami to release the sequel, *Pro Evolution Soccer 2*, in 2002. With innovative gameplay and responsive controls, PES 2001 is considered one of the best football games of the PlayStation 2 era and is still remembered by fans as the beginning of a glorious legacy.
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*Original source: [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Evolution_Soccer_(video_game))*