- Title: FIFA 08
- Platform:Xbox 360
- Publisher: EA
- Developer: EA Canada
- ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone
- Genre: Soccer
- Pros: Nice graphics; Be a Pro camera; tons of modes
- Cons: Steep learning curve; poor teammate AI; slow gameplay
Features
Unlike FIFA 07 that only had a handful of teams and leagues to play with, FIFA 08 is fully featured and includes 576 licensed teams, 30 official leagues, and more than 15,000 players. That is a heck of an improvement. You can play the game in quick play, take the reigns of an entire team in manager mode, or play in one of 35 licensed tournaments, 25 unofficial tournaments, or even create your own tournament. Online play includes several modes and offers something for everyone whether you want just a quick match or a full tournament. You can also play interactive leagues that mirror the real life schedule of your chosen team. There is also a neat little section where you can follow the real world standings and scores and news of six of the world’s biggest leagues. Our favorite new mode has to be the Be a Pro mode. This is similar to Madden’s Superstar mode where you take control of just one player out on the pitch and your every move affects your overall score and ranking. More on what makes Be a Pro so cool below.
Gameplay
Be a Pro
Now, back to Be a Pro mode. The most important aspect of this new mode is that it switches to a new camera angle that shows the field in a North-to-South orientation rather than East-to-West like normal and it is zoomed in a bit to put the focus squarely on your player, but you can still see downfield. This makes it easier to pick your way through a defense or make passes because you can see exactly what is going on from field level. It is also much easier to square your back to the goal and play better defense. This angle, combined with the fact that you only control one player, means you might not see everything that is happening and you won’t always be in control of the ball, but that is okay because it actually feels like you are playing real life soccer. The gameplay flaws are still present, but the realistic feel of this new camera angle almost makes up for it.
As far as the presentation goes, no other soccer game even comes close to FIFA 08. It just looks insanely realistic. The players look like their real life counterparts, right down to unique dribbling and running styles, and the animation overall is very smooth. The stadiums and crowds also look great. The sound sports a decent, globe trotting soundtrack, but the sound on the pitch is a little weak and the commentary from Martin Tyler and Andy Gray is pretty bland.
Bottom Line
FIFA 08 is a definite improvement over the last FIFA game, but it just can’t quite match up with the competition when it comes to the core gameplay. Sure, it has tons of teams and players and official licenses and a bunch of modes to use them in, but the gameplay is slow and plagued by shoddy AI and imprecise control. I have to admit that I really like the Be a Pro mode, thanks to the new camera angle that gives the game a surprisingly realistic feel, but it isn’t enough to overcome the fact that there are simply better soccer games out there. Give FIFA 08 a rental or try the Xbox Live Marketplace demo before you decide on a purchase.
