Aston Villa Club Football PS2

Codemasters' Club Football series brings a wealth of team-specific detail and in-depth action for the most fanatical follower of the beautiful game. Everything in each individual game is officially licensed from the club whose name is on the sleeve - the first-team squad, the kits, the manager, the stadium - the lot. Budding Di Canios, Ronaldos and Jimmy Floyds can even put themselves in the game and compete for a first team place, complete with their name and number on the shirt. Any fan of the clubs featured in the Club Football series will be treated to enough personalised detail as they can handle. The red and white colour schemes are present and correct in the Arsenal, Liverpool and Ajax incarnations; Aston Villa gets claret and blue all to itself; and the green and white Super Hoops of Celtic are instantly recognisable, as are all the other teams represented from the FMV and main menus onward. You know how some contemporary football games have a handful of the most well known players likenesses featured? Well, the Club Football series has them all. Every player - and we mean every single one of them - resembles the real thing, right down to Beckham's two-tiered ponytail in the Real Madrid game, and the curious mix of ginger and grey receding hairline that is Celtic's John Hartson. You'll get to the point where you're grabbing a non-football fan's arm to get them in front of the telly to convince them that yes, it really does look like Luis Figo! It's most impressive, and during the TV-style cut-scenes, you get close enough to see the work that's been put in. Score a spectacular goal and even the manager on the sidelines will come into view, looking uncannily - you guessed it - like the real thing. Gamers can replay crucial moments and spectacular goals after the fact, and also control the camera view, even being able to zoom in and see the players close up. A contentious decision from the referee, or a last minute glory goal (or the disappointment of conceding one) is reflected wonderfully in the reac