FIFA 08

List Price: $19.99 Discount Price: $17.98

Features:

• New manual controls put you in charge of every aspect of the action
• Be A Pro - Co-op Season - take on the role of a professional footballer, create your own player and test yourself in one position for an entire season
• Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics
• Enhanced AI
• Manager Mode improvements with all-new training features

Accessories:

PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)

Customer Reviews:

Improving, but still flawed [Posted on 2008-05-12]
This year I went with FIFA when I heard it was better than PES, but I'm rather disappointed. But I eventually had to ask myself: what good is having all the licensed players and teams if the gameplay isn't up to par? Since, however, most reviewers think it's the best, I'll just point out a few of my personal dislikes.

The biggest problem is the AI of your players, who play Ghandi-style soccer. Here's what I mean: my defenders like to step aside, run around in a circle, and start running behind the opposition attacker. Elsewhere, my players are rather reluctant to go after the ball. It does appear that they want to avoid it as much as possible, as if it carries tertiary syphillis. Consequently, they don't bother sticking out their foot to cut off a pass, picking up a loose ball in the box, etc., which makes the gameplay really frustrating. This is not helped by the fact that your players 1) have already started running in the wrong direction so it takes awhile to stop them and send them the right way, and 2) are dumbed down so they're all slower to begin with. Oh, and whenever they're so much as touched while dribbling, they'll stumble pitifully before stopping dead in their tracks and for a moment stare dumbfounded at the ball, which the other team now controls.

Secondly, it's near impossible to score from long range. Either it's off target or the keeper gets it. It takes a lot of fun out of the game when you always have to get into the box to score.

Also, the through pass function is completely worthless. The game makes you determine two variables when executing a through pass: direction and power. Not only is this hard to do when you're being pressed, the very concept of having to carefully gauge both aspects of the pass, in a fast paced environment like soccer where decisions are made in split seconds, is preposterous. The same goes for crosses. Since your attacking options are limited, you are forced to rely heavily on tricks -- which the developers deemed important enough to keep a tally on -- rather than teamwork and strategy.

Finally, they need to do a lot better job with the manager mode. It doesn't seem reasonable to me that you get paid differently depending on the outcome of a match, first of all. Also, it's extremely difficult to do transfers because players on the market are scarce. The biggest flaw, though, is the game not telling you how good a player is. Before I commit to purchasing a new striker, I want to make sure he comes with wonderful dribbling and finishing skills, but I don't see numbers, instead I see "???." In this case, I assume you are supposed to guess. Finally, rating players via a single number system ("OVR") is a blasphemous oversimplification, as each player has his strengths and weaknesses, which you need to know to use him effectively. A player's stats definitely need to be more comprehensive. Not FM-comprehensive, but at least PES-comprehensive.

After all is said and done, though, when scoring a goal and viewing the replay, it doesn't feel right to me, as if I didn't really earn it. The way that the ball is struck and the way that players move aren't convincing: it's slow, clumsy and easily predictable, and altogether feels artificial. I want my soccer game to be dynamic, fast paced, dramatic and hard won, and above all realistic. So I'm going back to PES, which has its share of problems but isn't as dumbed down. For me, playing FIFA 2008 felt like having Trisomy 21. Nevertheless, I give it two stars because of the superb commentary, great game music, and extensive number of licensed players, teams, leagues, and kits (which is quite impressive).

Sublte changes make a big difference [Posted on 2008-06-02]
FIFA 08 on the PS2 may seem the same as FIFA 07 at first but turns out to be a significantly improved game in the end. With subtle improvements in graphics, gameplay and other aspects of the game it plays a smoother and more adventurous game of football than last year's version. Graphically, there seems to be more detail, specially noticeable on uniforms with wrinkles, badges, etc. The passing system is much improved from last year's iteration. Simple additions like be-a-pro mode gives this game more depht and longetivity. While not the most realistic football sim out there, it is still a great game. Overall, this edition of FIFA(PS2) is all about subtle changes that make a big difference and improvements in the right direction.

Worst Fifa Ever [Posted on 2008-06-17]
Too hard to be fun. Good graphics, excellent team roster updates but it isnt fun to play anymore and thats what games are for, to have fun.

wacht for countrykodes [Posted on 2008-08-02]
Wery quick delevering. I was not beware og difrent gamemodels,so I recived the wrong one, not for use in europe. Amazone could have informed this on the page, but i resend and got my money back easily. Thank you.

Haven't been let down yet [Posted on 2008-09-09]
FIFA 08 doesn't let you down. It has all the top players in the sport and the graphics are great. If you are a soccer fan and love to play the sport, you'll enjoy the game!

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