Product Description

FIFA 08 on the Wii makes it easy for the whole family to play and enjoy soccer with a flick of the wrist. Featuring superstar Ronaldinho as the first soccer player created as a unique and playable mini character, you’ll experience soccer like you never have before.

There are two ways to play. In the main game, FIFA 08 on the Wii is a truly authentic soccer experience with more control than ever before. Now you pass, shoot, and perform trick moves all with a flick of the wrist. The all-new unique Footii Party with Ronaldinho mode introduces three party games featuring Ronaldinho as his own unique avatar. Play Juggling, Table Soccer and Boot It with your self-created Mii character to unlock Ronaldinho and take on the champ. Have fun and watch the meter count your calories burned.

The game’s revolutionary FreeMotion controls help level the playing field for all players and turns FIFA 08 on the Wii into a physical, social activity. Use motions to control everything from tackling to shooting and throw-ins to freekicks. Send the ball exactly where you intended with a wave of the Wii remote and Nunchuk. It's easy to pick-up and play and with the in-game Soccer Academy you can learn basic and advanced controls in more than 30 interactive tutorials. Each lesson teaches you how to master the FreeMotion controls and perform all the necessary movements to dominate on the pitch. Or you can choose to play using EA SPORTS Family Play, a simplified control system using just the Wii remote that enables novice players to focus on having fun while the console does the rest. Choose to play the style that best suits your skills.

FIFA 08 thrusts you into the action and challenges you to play like a pro to win glory for your club. Mesmerise defenders with authentic individual skill and play like a real soccer player. Dictate the play with all-new controls for through-passing and crossing, or control your goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny an onrushing striker. Intelligently manage your club by preparing for each specific opponent using new custom formations. Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Move players to the exact position in relation to team-mates to undermine the opposition.

FIFA Soccer 08 has licences for all of the world’s top leagues, over 570 licenced teams and more than 14,000 players. Plus, the award-winning Interactive Leagues first introduced in FIFA Soccer 07, now comes to the Wii. Represent your club online* (this feature requires an Internet connection) against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division. When they play, you play.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1157 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2007-09-28
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Platform: Nintendo Wii

Amazon.co.uk Review

The greatest battle of the new football season is not between any real world club but between the virtual giants of FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. Konami’s game has always been the favourite but last year FIFA closed the gap to such a degree that the title race has never been closer. This year’s FIFA uses a completely new game engine, for the first time built specifically for the next gen consoles. But improved graphics and animation are only the half of it, with just as much focus going on the artificial intelligence thanks to the new "35 point decision engine". What this basically means is that every player on the pitch is fully aware of those around him and constantly thinking about tactics and position when not under your control.

Other changes include better modelled physics for taking a shot on goal, which take into account everything from air pressure to the angle of your foot. You’re also able to create your own special moves to replicate every possible trick from real life. There are also new game modes including Be A Pro which challenges you to play the role of a single player through a whole season or career. On top of this there are revamped online leagues to play a virtual season in the Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division against real opponents. With 620 licensed teams, 30 offline leagues and 15,000 players as well FIFA might just have made enough new signings this year to put it over the top.

Manufacturer's Description

The FIFA 08 next-gen gameplay engine, built to maximize the power of Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3, delivers animations and ball control that is so responsive you feel like you are actually on the pitch. Footballers in FIFA 08 now benefit from A.I. so smart, it features a 35-point decision engine which enables players to process multiple decisions and reactions in real-time. The A.I.’s dynamic ‘Threat Map’ system captures the excitement and realism of football. Players are now aware of their surroundings, reacting authentically to threats and opportunities to make intelligent football decisions.

Now with the FIFA 08 shooting system you can enjoy even more control and precision in front of the goal to become a true marksman. The next-generation ball striking engine calculates shot success by combining an almost infinite number of different contexts, including ball spin, pressure from defenders, player attributes, and even air pressure to recreate the drama and unpredictable nature of shooting.

For the first time ever, fans playing FIFA 08 will face the pressure to improve their game that real-world players endure every day. A new play mode called Be A Pro locks you in the role of a single player and challenges you to master the same disciplines as a real football playerâ€"from positioning and tackling to reading the field and passing.

FIFA 08 introduces skill moves with a true next-generation organic ‘building-block’ system enabling you to combine tricks and skill moves together to recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars or define your own style of play. Animations can be interrupted at any time to transition into a new move, enabling you to read and respond to the defence, just like real life. Master the skills to break down the defence, elude your marker and lead your team to victory.

Customer Reviews

Love this game
I love this game. I'm not really a football fan but last weekend a friend had it and it was really good fun. I thought it was really funny -couldn't stop laughing. I'm defintely going to buy.

Great gameplay
I think that the gameplay is great but the things to do are quite boring. Unless you can play online then this game will get boring. I buy the new Fifa games every year and this is the only one for a long time without Manager Mode which I was disappointed with.

Essentially great but annoying flaws
Is it just me or does this game become annoyingly hard when you progress to semi-pro level? In amateur mode I can easily win about 8-0 over a 12 minute game yet if I progress to the next level I'm lucky if I can even win a game. The other team players all have an extra yard of speed and when you do get in the box you always get tackled before you can pull the trigger. It is so annoying it makes me get quite angry and if that's not bad enough, when you manage to get a shot in Clive Tyldesley starts making sarcastic comments like "He's never going to beat the keeper from that far out it barely reached him..." and I'm thinking "well yeah so stop making it so difficult for me to shoot then!!!"
Also is it just me or is it almost impossible to score from a free kick? The computer manages to do it with annoying frequency but I can't get the hang of free kicks no matter how many I get (which is actually not that many against the computer because it hardly ever fouls). Other flaws are the incorrect commentary (saying that keeper saved it when it was nowhere near the keeper...not keeping up with the action so remarks are made long after the action has already happened). Also shot choice between finesse and driven shot seems to be random. And where is the champions league, world cup or european championship in the tournament mode?? I'd also love to see a 'retro' tournament mode where you can pick old world cup games with old players, for example Argentina '78 with the likes of Mario Kempes with the old fashioned radio-mic commentary sound..or Italia 90 with Gazza and Lineker..how good would that be???
Apart from the flaws it's very realistic and enjoyable, especially in amateur mode where it's easier. When I first played it I was in heaven it's the most realistic football game I've played and had me in hysterics especially when getting red-carded for sliding tackles or the sound of the ball hitting the bar which had me in stitches. I would like the crowd sounds to be improved upon...it would make it more exciting if the crowd got louder as you approach the goal. Also in the lower league games with smaller crowds some of the crowd chants sound a bit odd (more like a bunch of lunatics than football supporters!)
All in all though this is great fun. I probably have played this game more than any other on the wii.