Product Description

Get closer to the action than ever before by mastering the skills required to play like a real professional soccer player in FIFA 08
From the moment you step on the pitch, FIFA Soccer 08 challenges you to think and react like a real soccer player by giving you complete control over all of the action. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself, position the goalie exactly where you want on corners, and take complete control to make the save on free kicks. Its now all up to you!

Use the stylus and touch pad for ultimate control on free kicks and penalty kicks. Run up and strike the ball, curling a shot around the wall and into the goal. In defence, take control of your goalie and command the wall at the most crucial times. Master your nerves and perfect your shot on penalty kicks to win glory for your club in a new Penalty Shoot-Out mode.

This year it is more strategic to break down the opposition than ever before with new defensive and positioning logic that ensures players are in the right place at the right time, constantly considering all threats and opportunities.

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. Assign roles and move players to the exact position in relation to teammates to undermine the opposition.

In addition, FIFA 08 is dramatically more real and exhilarating with the inclusion of 30 official leagues and more than 14,000 players all accurately re-created.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4624 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2007-09-28
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: Nintendo DS

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, 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

The gaming equivalent of a pint and a pie.
Quite impressive how much they've squeezed onto an inch square cartridge. Maybe I'm getting old. It's quite good, despite my never having owned a 'footie sim' before. Bit tricky sometimes due to the small screen, but doesn't detract from the fun, I reckon it's worth it. Plenty of chances to use the stylus as well in the 'training' bit, which is nice.

Overall, quite similar to match day. The ref still sends people off for perfectly reasonable two-footed sliding tackles, shouting has little to no effect, and there's a certain satisfaction to dropping various players from the England Squad. Shame it's not real.

*Warning* May increase your use of the F-word.

The best Football game on DS .... so far!
Fifa 08 is by my reckoning the 3rd instalment on the DS and without doubt the best version so far. The question is with Pro Evolution 2008 on the horizon for DS, how long will it keep its crown?

The commentary by Clive Tyldsley is fun and usually relevant to the action on the pitch although understandably it starts to repeat after a while. The player models look ok; their faces look pretty accurate in the team selection screen although they look much less good in the matches. The replays on the top screen are fun as are the highlights packages at the end of each half.

The gameplay is fun for short bursts, everything works as it should and it won't be long before you're smashing in 30-yard screamers into the top corner. The problems come when defending where you are restricted to either pressing the "pressure" button which is almost useless, or going for a sliding tackle which often results in a foul and card. I have had a few bizarre and comedy goals which isn't quite realistic to real life, and the ball seems to hit the crossbar or post at least twice a game which is more than it should be.

The main attraction to most people is the real players and teams, which Pro Evo usually lacks. The problem with even licensed games comes when players transfer and this game doesn't have any player edit or transfer modes (that I can find, anyway!) so for example Tevez is not on Manchester United. This is I guess due to lack of memory on the cartridge, but it is an area where the DS can't hope to compete against it's PS2 & 3 big brothers.

The season mode is quite a good long term challenge which will take a long time to complete but other than that the number of modes is a little light, although obviously you can play online if you have the equipment (I sadly don't).

The touch screen is used to display formations and tactics, but trying to change them on the fly while playing can be a bit awkward! The stylus is also used more originally on set pieces, such as free kicks and penalties and although it is more of a gimmick than anything else, it helps make the game seem more fun.

Overall this is a good little game for DS and if you want football on the go, it's probably your best option for now, but don't expect it to compare to any of the console editions, especially the next-gen!

review of fifa 08 (Nintendo DS)
I thought fifa 08 was a waste of my time.What I think is wrong is that every time you shoot it is random. If you are lucky it will go in the back of the net once or twice in a game. The only thing you can do in defence is slide tackle which often turns in to a foul and you are carded for it.
Another thing I found appalling is that is chooses whether you win or the DS wins. If you win you win by about two or three goals. If the DS wins you do not score and they score about four goals.