First Look: Winning Eleven 2010 Aoki Samurai no Chousen

This week's Famitsu has a first look this week at Spring's Winning Eleven release, Winning Eleven 2010 Aoki Samurai no Chousen. For those without access to the magazine, Famitsu.com quickly came through with a look of its own.

Originally announced in early February, Aoki Samurai no Chousen will hit PS3, PSP, PS2, and Wii on May 20. The PSP and PS2 versions will run ¥4,980. The PS3 version will run ¥6,980. The Wii version, which has the full name Winning Eleven 2010 Playmaker Aoki Samurai no Chousen, will run ¥5,980.

The focus of this of this new Winning Eleven is on the Japanese national team, as indicated by the "Aoki Samurai no Chousen," literally "Challenge of the Blue Samurai," from the title. You'll lead the Japanese national team against top national teams from throughout the world.

All the modes of play from last year's Winning Eleven 2010 are in here, but the big selling point is the new "Japan Challenge Mode," where you attempt to lead the Japanese national team to an appearance in the "International Cup" or its Asian preliminaries (Winning Eleven doesn't have the World Cup license, so they have to come up with alternative naming).

This mode lets you take control of the Japanese national team as a whole, or you can choose to play from the perspective of a single Japanese team player. When playing as a single player, you can select any position except for the goalie.

The Japan Challenge Mode also lets you create your own Japanese national team member using a player create mode. You use the player that you create in the Become a Legend mode here.

The various versions will have unique features. The PS3 version will allow you to add players via online updates. The PSP version will include, for the first time, voice commentary, provided by the duo of Tsuyoshi Kitazawa and John Kabira. The Wii version offers options for Wiimote and Classic Controller play. It also includes Mii support, allowing you to use your Mii as your player.

See Famitsu.com for additional screens of all versions.