First ever footage, exclusive screens and unmissable impressions on the greatest sports on the planet
15:28 The wait is almost over, football fans. While our national team collapses into shambolic disarray, you can console yourselves with the fact that the latest addition to Konami's legendary Pro Evolution Soccer series hits the back of the net across Europe from October 17. Next Friday!
The footy gaming hardcore has know for years that, in terms of raw gameplay, Pro Evo is unsurpassed in its field, booting the competition into touch with an astonishingly realistic, utterly compelling recreation of what is clearly the greatest sport on the planet. Except for David Blaine-baiting.
PES2 was a masterpiece of game design in its own right, but what is most arresting is that PES3 actually feels 100 percent better - we're not exaggerating. The improvements come mainly in the details, of course, but once you spend a little time with the game you'll find the difference amazing.
One reason for the overall amelioration may be that Konami has now ditched Renderware, the middleware it has used to create the game engine in previous PES titles, in favour of its own proprietary engine.
In terms of visuals, when you first clap eyes on the game it doesn't exactly blow you away, and next to FIFA 2004 has an almost dated air about it. But, rather like playing the game itself, you only really appreciate the excellent attention to detail after a period of exposure. It's probably fair to say Konami and EA have a very different approach to visuals.
Obvious improvements like higher poly counts for player models and greater facial detail are a given, but the massively increased range of animations makes a huge difference, with players moving more realistically than ever before.
And this has a knock on effect on gameplay, allowing for an unprecedented level of precision when playing - see for example how players really jostle an opponent with the ball, trying to win position, rather than shambling along like a drunkard as in PES2.
And while PES3 lacks the polish and flashy charm of EA's latest FIFA title, it allows for greater detail in key areas - see, for instance, what happens when you zoom far out in both games: in FIFA the shirt numbers become incomprehensible, whereas in PES you can still clearly make them out.
Another key advantage Konami's game has over FIFA in this area can be seen when a goal is scored. In FIFA, once the ball has crossed the line it's effectively dead and the game cuts to a rather artificial celebration scene. But in PES3 everything is in real time, so you see can see the ball almost rip through the back of the net, and while the ball's still bobbling, the scorer has already started celebrating, punching the air with delight while turning away from goal.
It's a small detail for sure, but it adds a huge amount to the sense of immersion making you really feel a part of the experience.
As we said earlier, in terms of control, PES3 really does feel 100 percent better than it's illustrious predecessor - it's just dreamy, and once you become familiar with the game, going back to PES2 just feels plain wrong. The game that replicates football like no other, just got a whole lot closer to the real thing. The pace of the game just feels so right and everything has been tweaked and tightened to put you in control as never before.
One new feature is the range of special skills available to some of the top stars, accessed via the right analogue stick. Zidane, for instance, can do a crazy turn or a sexy little chip with a quick flick of the right stick.
Indeed, in terms of stuff you can actually do with the ball, PES3 is leagues ahead of FIFA, and well-versed players can construct some amazing set plays using a range of deft touches and tricks. Compared to the fast-flowing, smooth periods of football you get in PES3, FIFA seems laboured.
Dead ball events, on the other had, are a little disappointing. Free kicks involving the keeper become confusing as you try to shift the camera around, and we've still to make our minds up as to whether we like the throw-ins or not. Dare we say it, but FIFA might have the edge in this area... And we really don't like the addition of handball - for a game that does so much to promote skill, such an arbitrary element only detracts from the experience. But thankfully it happens very rarely.
Now, unfortunately, we have to send Konami to the back of the class in a big dunce's cap, because where Pro Evolution Soccer 3 really lets itself down is with licensed content. We hoped lessons would have been learned from last time around, but PES2's failings in this area have been disappointingly replicated in the sequel.
There are only six fully licensed teams in the game - including players and accurate kits - five of which are Italian and one Turkish. The England kit is also wrong, but at least they got Japan and Korea right. Oh.
Club teams have made up names - 'Lloyd' being a particularly ridiculous example - and we'd guesstimate that around half of the player names in the game are made-up or incorrect. Some of the rosters are also frustratingly out of date: Chelsea are massively wrong, although that's understandable considering the last minute spending spree; less forgivable is having David Seaman still at Arsenal, but at least Beckham's at Real Madrid.
Also, fans of less popular Premiership sides lose out, with the likes of Southampton and Portsmouth missing the cut. Off the shelf, PES3 has much the same problems as last year, and this is ultimately why FIFA, with far greater accuracy and even Nationwide League teams, outsells its nearest rival.
It's disappointing as it holds the game back from achieving the stratospheric status it so richly deserves; and to add to the frustration, this is one area downloadable content could have fixed relatively easily.
But content gripes aside, the fact remains Pro Evolution Soccer 3 is a work of genius, the best football videogame ever conceived by miles and miles. In our minds it is without question the greatest sports title ever made and one of the very best offline multiplayer experiences you'll ever have.
If you own a PS2 or PC and love football, you'd be utterly bonkers to miss this. And having played the PC version as well, the game plays perfectly with a decent joypad and the graphics are even sharper. Stay tuned for our full, definitive review very soon, but in the meantime take a look at our exclusive direct feed footage and shots of England vs. Brazil.