Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8693 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2007-09-28
• Platform: Windows XP

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
Get closer to the action than ever before by mastering the skills required to play like a real professional soccer player in FIFA 08.

Step into the boots of a professional player through a new mode called “Be A Pro: Co-op Season” that challenges you to master the same disciplines as a real professional soccer player--from positioning and tackling to reading the field and passing. Step onto the field with your created player to play an entire game as that footballer, and develop him into an elite player over the course of the season. Never before have you been able to approach the game this way, improving your abilities one skill at a time just as if you were a pro. Play with up to three friends playing all fixed to their players on your favorite club, complete individual challenges to develop your player attributes and win glory for the squad, while competing with your friends to develop the best player by season’s end.

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. New manual controls enable you to dictate the play with control over through-passing and crossing. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself. Take ultimate control over your defenders with new manual controls that enable you to use the right-stick to quickly switch defenders and choose exactly who you want to control when defending. Plus, now 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.

Customer Reviews

EA Milk the PC Cash Cow
This review is based on playing against the PC rather than LAN or on-line.

I would urge all PC owners not to buy this version of the game. For my sins I have and I am now the owner of a £30 coaster for my mug.

The PC version has been sacrificed for the next generation consoles where all EA's effort has been expended. FIFA 08 is FIFA 07 with updated player details and a couple of `new features' as well as its own set of bugs.

The presentation and lay out remains as that of 07 with the same faults in the game play. If you choose 4-4-2 for your team, the norm is to have your two strikers lined up against 8 outfield players in your opponent's box. If you take the ball to the corner it is not unusual for 6 players to chase you there but your own team remains posted absent rather than take advantage of the void left.

There have been tweeks to the on-field action from 07 but these only add to the frustration. The tackling has been altered and can see you chasing your tail for large portions of the game. Going forward, the tactics now encourage passing movement, which in itself is no bad thing, but you require the precision of a surgeon to succeed for the most part. On the occasions you make it within striking distance, goalkeepers with mediocre stats will regularly pull of world class, gravity defying saves.

The manually directed passing option only works up to a point and it is not unusual for you to direct a pass forward from the edge of your opponent's box to see the player swivel 180 degrees and send a ball hurtling backwards leaving you exasperated. Players can be tumbled close to the 6 yard box with a foul given but the outcome is a free kick from outside the box.

The right analogue stick is only functional on certain pads, as I found out to my cost with 07, and even though I now own a supported pad the `trick' function only works intermittently and will often see you charging in a straight line towards the waiting opponent while you flail the right stick in all directions.

In manager mode there is now a function to introduce training stints mid week but it does not have the accessibility of the likes of Football Manager where the impact on attributes is easy to identify. All you receive here is a message saying `the players responded well but remember not to tire them'. I haven't been able to tell if there is actually any movement in the attributes themselves.

The Be a Pro option had possibilities but EA have not applied the camera angle available in the next generation consoles to the PC version. In Be a Pro the intention is to choose a player and go through a season controlling only him and developing his abilities. Unfortunately the camera on the PC version leaves you guessing at times just where you player is as he isn't always on screen.

At first I presumed that some of the problems I was having was just me adjusting to the `new' version but a quick visit to the forum page on the official site soon changed that. I wish I had waited 48 hours and then read the pages of complaints and the lists of problems detailed there.

Konami seem to have made an effort improving the already excellent PES series and PES 2008 looks the business. My flirtation with FIFA for the last two years is over and I have no intention of stocking up on next generation console systems to fall into line with EA's selling strategy.

Can you FIFA 08? More to the point, why would you want to?
Grab a copy of FIFA 2007. Add the Irish, Czech and Australian leagues using one of the many patches available.

Hey presto. You have FIFA 2008.

There are mysteries abound with this game, and with EA's attitude towards it. Take for example the inclusion of the Eircom Premier League. I mean, why? Of all the leagues to choose, not the Argentinian or the Japanese, or even one of the stronger African leagues, but the Irish league?!? You must be kidding EA.

Gameplay is little different to FIFA 07 (once you find a way to score, you can do it against any team. If Accrington Stanley fall for it then so will Barcelona). Other features do not appear to have been updated, save for the revised team rosters.

FIFA was beginning to catch up with PES but unless this lethargy, this apathy, this gut-wrenching contempt for PC gamers leaves EA Sports immediately, the gap is going to grow once again.

But then PES has it's own problems - namely basing it's entire design on the console version meaning that editing players' names can only be done using a game pad.

Bring back Subbuteo, that's what I say.

disappointing and flawed
All the above views are not even based on actual game play...amazing.

OK I have the game for 2 weeks and at first I liked it. It was harder to master, better game play and graphics. But then I started to notice the major flaw.

When the oppostion attacks all my teams moves back towards my penatly area to defend. Automatically. so even my strikers are on my 18 yard box. If I win the bsll back..I have to build an attack slowly from the back line becasue i have no -one left in there half. But even as i build an attack the opposition team then starts to funnel thei entire team back to defend. Making this avery hard game to score and very low scoring games.

Even online you wil lsee most game send 0-0 or 1-0. It's very easy to defend. A lot of people are commenting on this flaw.

07 was more fun. Attacks could be built up much faster.

I hardly play it now...the thought of trying to bust my butt trying to score one goal does not thrill me with excitement.

Another annoying bug is the commentary. Many time I will shoot wide and the commentator will say how great that save was and it's a corner.....it gets annoying. I thought the commentry was going to built on but it hasn't been at all.