Xbox Member ReviewFIFA 08By FrozenBlaze Another year, another FIFA. FIFA 07 certainly raised the bar, trying to steal some of PES's gameplay advancements after years of fine tuning to create the ultimate soccer sim. So where too for FIFA 08? If you can't beat them, PES that is,at least copy them even more! FIFA 08 is the closest the EA brand has come to match Pro Evo's on pitch gameplay. Strangely, this years edition is actually more sim like than Pro Evo's faster more arcade approach. For previous FIFA players, this should come as a natural progression and certainly a welcomed addition for the franchise. Being a FIFA fan, buying each years edition, the last few years have slowly progressed to a sim styled game, which has allowed us "previous arcade" gamers to slowly adjust to a more indepth experience. For me Pro Evo was always too complicated, and hence it made it just too much work to play. New comers to FIFA should not be put off either though, as the controls make it an easy game to learn, but a hard game to master. Its a balance learning curve so with practice a deeper gaming experience is found.
The gameplay is slowed down quite a bit, with the previous years "Just use Through Ball" to score tactics pretty much useless. Players need to think when to pass, when to hold back or sprint, or simply lob the ball for a fantastic cross. Setting up the plays is a must, so a little patience is needed, but previous FIFA players should pick this up fairly quick. Trick moves add extra depth, but can prove more of a one trick pony show off moment than of being any real use. Shooting is further improved, with a number of aids the player can use. Ultimatley, hold down the shoot button to adjust for power and height of shot. The ball also feels like its independent of everything, so expect it to react unpredictibly to the environment around you, creating some thrilling and amazing moments. The graphics are top notch, featuring the likeness of popular players. Everything runs smoothly, and a good selection of varied camera's can get you as close to the action as you'd like.Presentation is top notch, something which EA have down to an art form.All the clubs and usual game modes are all including, even adding Australia's A League in the mix. "Be A Pro" mode is a much hyped feature, allowing you to control one player during a match/season. Its awakward to use, and can become quite boring. That is until an update just released, supposedly not included for Australia, but it is! 5v5 Online!
Online is simply amazing for FIFA08. Even a year after FIFA07's release, it was easy for an Aussie to find a game within seconds, and generally lag free with oversea's players. This year includes Leagues, ranked matches, tournments, and an amazing little game called "Be A Pro Online 5v5"! Two full teams, with upto 5 players on each side picking 1 player to control. The game plays like a tactical shooter, with the only way to win by playing as a team. Hog the ball, you will simply have it stolen, or simply be ignored by your fellow players. The experience of playing this with 10 people on Xbox is like nothing else. Minutes will literally turn into hours, and you will be having one of the best gamng experiences available. So, have EA released an amazing new game in FIFA08, or simply recycled the previous years game with tweaks. Originally, it was a solid improvement. With the new 5v5 online, its an AMAZING experience. Online is mostly lag free, there's planty of people waiting to play, and the single player game has so much depth you could do without any christmas presents.
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