Ultra_Blue
Reserve Team
Last year's FIFA 07 was something completely different from 06 in the gameplay, but the big expectations
were not at all matched with EA's product. It's somehow the same here in 08, just because it's still using
the Current-Gen Graphics Engine, allthough many people predicted it will be Next-Gen for the PC too. But EA
were not at that opinion this year. They said, that it's really hard to write a graphics engine for just one
year. Maybe, but the real reason I think is that EA still think many people will not have such powerfull PC's.
That's also correct, but like it or not, FIFA 08 is Current-Gen.
First of all, I'll begin with the major upgrades, which the gameplay took in 08. It's far more realistic than
last years offering, and a lot more harder for the pro's. You have the same ammount of difficulty levels, but
this year EA have addet a seperate goalkeeper level. Which is sure to please the gamers, who like to score
a lot in their matches. This year it's almost impossible to take one player from the centre, and go to the
CPU goal trough the whole defence, without making a single pass. The game requires much more imagination than
the previous in the series. It's really like football now. Many people say, that it's far too hard, but I
don't think so. Personally, I am able to score up to 3-4 goals in World Class difficulty. You just need some
practice. The ball physics has been slightly upgraded, and it's pretty realistic. The ball bounces up very
nice, and if you are playing in wet conditions, it's made great. The only thing, that should be fixed in this
part of the game is that the ball stops like it's wet when you make a long pass, when the weather is perfectly
clear. Actually the gameplay is amazing, you can't see it in another football game for PC, just brilliant.
Great job done from EA Sports in this section, everything is fine ballanced, which makes the enjoyment way
bigger than last year. As a final word for the gameplay - phenomenal.
Graphics. There's not much to say about the graphics this year. They are the same as last year, and are really
awfull. The player models are not that good as expected in 2008, the kits quality is bad, the grass -
no comment. It's one of the worst turfs in FIFA's history. Really bad. EA haven't done a single thing in 08's
graphics, so I won't comment more, it's nothing spectacular, far from it. Waiting to see what will be EA's
answer in 09.
The sound in FIFA 08 is once again brilliant. It's quality is nice, the soundtrack is cool also. EA have
included many chants for the teams, which makes the atmosphere in the stadium just like in real life. The
crowd acts very realistic, if it can be said like that. They cheer you up, the opponent's crowd is singing
their songs, and if you are the home side you really feel the support of the fans. There are some new
commentaries, but this year there are lots of commentary bugs. Like when you hit a shot off target and it's
high above the goal, the two announcers say - "what a great save by the keeper". It is a bit annoying, but
it's not a big deal, because you really need to be concetrated in the game, and you dont listen the commentary
that much. EA should fix this bug, add some more chants, and the audio in the game will be perfect.
The game modes this season are not at all changed, just 2 new modes, which aren't really usefull. They even are
useless in the PC version. They are the Be-A-Pro mode, where you control just one player on the pitch, and the
zone play, where you control just one zone, for example - defence, midfield, etc. The Be-A-Pro mode is like the
career, but you are not the manager, you are one player. You can either create a player, or use one from the
real squad of the team. But it's unrealistic, because when playing arsenal vs watford, my defence were total
crap, they were like they are not involved in the game, they just stay and it's like they say to the opponent -
"come and score, we won't tackle you". The career mode is the same - 15 seasons. There are some fixes in
player's fatigue. which is good, but still sometimes you have 2 matches in one day. And another bad thing is
that the sponsors still pay a lot less than they should. You have also a tournament creation tool, or you can
play the tournaments that are in the game (EPL, FA cup, etc.) . Online mode is not changed, it has remained the
same. One big difference, which can be funny sometimes, is that you can play with up to 8 other friends, each
will control one player, and it might be funny, I haven't tried it. So - no big changes in the game modes.
So, if you like football, and want a good and realistic football simulation, then that's your game. As overall
it is one pretty good game, which can deliver you months of fun, 'till 09 comes
.
GAMEPLAY: 8.6
GRAPHICS: 7
AUDIO: 8
OVERALL: 8.4
were not at all matched with EA's product. It's somehow the same here in 08, just because it's still using
the Current-Gen Graphics Engine, allthough many people predicted it will be Next-Gen for the PC too. But EA
were not at that opinion this year. They said, that it's really hard to write a graphics engine for just one
year. Maybe, but the real reason I think is that EA still think many people will not have such powerfull PC's.
That's also correct, but like it or not, FIFA 08 is Current-Gen.
First of all, I'll begin with the major upgrades, which the gameplay took in 08. It's far more realistic than
last years offering, and a lot more harder for the pro's. You have the same ammount of difficulty levels, but
this year EA have addet a seperate goalkeeper level. Which is sure to please the gamers, who like to score
a lot in their matches. This year it's almost impossible to take one player from the centre, and go to the
CPU goal trough the whole defence, without making a single pass. The game requires much more imagination than
the previous in the series. It's really like football now. Many people say, that it's far too hard, but I
don't think so. Personally, I am able to score up to 3-4 goals in World Class difficulty. You just need some
practice. The ball physics has been slightly upgraded, and it's pretty realistic. The ball bounces up very
nice, and if you are playing in wet conditions, it's made great. The only thing, that should be fixed in this
part of the game is that the ball stops like it's wet when you make a long pass, when the weather is perfectly
clear. Actually the gameplay is amazing, you can't see it in another football game for PC, just brilliant.
Great job done from EA Sports in this section, everything is fine ballanced, which makes the enjoyment way
bigger than last year. As a final word for the gameplay - phenomenal.
Graphics. There's not much to say about the graphics this year. They are the same as last year, and are really
awfull. The player models are not that good as expected in 2008, the kits quality is bad, the grass -
no comment. It's one of the worst turfs in FIFA's history. Really bad. EA haven't done a single thing in 08's
graphics, so I won't comment more, it's nothing spectacular, far from it. Waiting to see what will be EA's
answer in 09.
The sound in FIFA 08 is once again brilliant. It's quality is nice, the soundtrack is cool also. EA have
included many chants for the teams, which makes the atmosphere in the stadium just like in real life. The
crowd acts very realistic, if it can be said like that. They cheer you up, the opponent's crowd is singing
their songs, and if you are the home side you really feel the support of the fans. There are some new
commentaries, but this year there are lots of commentary bugs. Like when you hit a shot off target and it's
high above the goal, the two announcers say - "what a great save by the keeper". It is a bit annoying, but
it's not a big deal, because you really need to be concetrated in the game, and you dont listen the commentary
that much. EA should fix this bug, add some more chants, and the audio in the game will be perfect.
The game modes this season are not at all changed, just 2 new modes, which aren't really usefull. They even are
useless in the PC version. They are the Be-A-Pro mode, where you control just one player on the pitch, and the
zone play, where you control just one zone, for example - defence, midfield, etc. The Be-A-Pro mode is like the
career, but you are not the manager, you are one player. You can either create a player, or use one from the
real squad of the team. But it's unrealistic, because when playing arsenal vs watford, my defence were total
crap, they were like they are not involved in the game, they just stay and it's like they say to the opponent -
"come and score, we won't tackle you". The career mode is the same - 15 seasons. There are some fixes in
player's fatigue. which is good, but still sometimes you have 2 matches in one day. And another bad thing is
that the sponsors still pay a lot less than they should. You have also a tournament creation tool, or you can
play the tournaments that are in the game (EPL, FA cup, etc.) . Online mode is not changed, it has remained the
same. One big difference, which can be funny sometimes, is that you can play with up to 8 other friends, each
will control one player, and it might be funny, I haven't tried it. So - no big changes in the game modes.
So, if you like football, and want a good and realistic football simulation, then that's your game. As overall
it is one pretty good game, which can deliver you months of fun, 'till 09 comes
.GAMEPLAY: 8.6
GRAPHICS: 7
AUDIO: 8
OVERALL: 8.4