ReviewColumn’s rating :

This is for the soccer fans. And once again, EA Sports comes up with a smashing hit, the latest series of the world-renown game series, FIFA 08. Made available on almost every single popular console, this version has found its way into many awards, such as many of IGN’s top awards (Game of the Year, Best Sports Sim, etc).

Being already a very popular series amongst football fanatics, this game makes the virtual world of soccer much more realistic with its new features, never before attempted gameplay ideas that even other football series find it hard to accomplish. EA Sports have implemented the new idea of manual crossing/manual through balls (i.e. to pass the ball into empty spaces without any team players in it). This allows gamers more mobility to move their players around the pitch and send the ball flying in all directions. Contrary to the old format of crossing the ball into the box, the new format of manual crossing requires players to aim the direction of the cross through moving the directional key while holding onto the cross button for the power gauge. This makes the game much more challenging and allows players to make awkward crosses. All these new features are supposed to change the image of FIFA being a fairly simple game to a much tougher one.

As for me, I really am quite a fan of soccer. Having played almost all of the FIFA series since 2000, it was quite shocking for me to personally try out the new way of moving the ball. I had never expected FIFA to be tough to grasp. (You guys haven’t seen how I fumbled over the controls while I was at my first tryout of the game.) It’s getting hard to score a goal.

The new mode of Pro-Coop Season is quite interesting. It forces the player to personally customise a player and add it to an already existing team. And starting from scratch, the gamer has to grow its player into the star of the next season. There’s this catch: Gamers are only supposed to control their own player and all other team members are controlled by the AI. This means that you would have to move your player to your team members, not the other way round, in order to have the ball passed to you. Nevertheless, you would be the captain of the team and all members would definitely pass the ball to you no matter where you are on the pitch if you call for the ball. This mode also allows gamers to play with their friends through this co-op mode. All human players in this game mode would be in the same team and would all have to start afresh with an original character with low initial capability. Cooperation is definitely needed for you to actually play well in this mode, since you are handicapped with weak players.

The game no longer makes deals with the in-game points earned during matches, but rather, with currency such as the Pound Sterling (£), Euro (€) or the Dollar ($). This makes the game more realistic and even closer to the real-life soccer world. Also, the game has an interactive league option that allows gamers to link onto the Internet and download real-life fixtures, team build-ups and formations. This allows gamers to play these fixtures and bring their team to victory in the virtual world. FIFA has never been so closely linked to the real life before.

All in all, FIFA 08 is definitely a game soccer fans out there would want to get. Especially if you’re an owner of PS3 / Xbox 360, you would want to get your hands on this. Why? Because the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game feature an improved game engine with superior graphics and different commentators, much better off than the PC and PS2 version. Personally I’ve tried the PS3 version and seriously, it rocks. Be sure to get them from the nearest retailer near you.

Click here to buy this game
Rate this game, give us your rating:
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
 Loading ...

Related products from Amazon.com: