The beginning of the end for a series that literally taught us how to play football.
But since 1998 many things have changed in videogames. Today's games, and of course football simulation games, require nothing less than perfection to stand comparison with their rivals, namely FIFA. In this factor PES 2008 have done little things. The game play is very good alright, but that is something we take for granted. Beyond that, nothing. It's practically the same game as PES 6, with the addition of some new football players and the absence of those who have been retired, and about ten new teams. But overall the number of teams has been diminished, because of the absence of the German Bundesliga teams! Not to mention that the English Premiership teams have altered names, and so is the case for the names of the stadiums. Are we serious here? We live in 2008, not in 1998. I feel nostalgic when I think of the odd names of the players (do you remember "Ronarid"?), but now it's simply unacceptable. No more "Magpie Parks", "Red Cauldrons", "Hauptstadtstadions", "Merseyside Blues" and "North Londons".
If a production company fails to get the licences for Bundesliga and Premiership teams, then don't even bother to release the game.