FIFA Soccer 08 Review for PlayStation 3

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: EA Canada	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: EA Sports	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Oct. 8, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4 (32 online)	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

As far as game organization is concerned, it is very easy to navigate through the menus. EA has a very user-friendly interface despite the breadth of content. The clear menu design and accessibility of the game extends to the online interface as well. You will connect to the EA servers, as you do with other EA Sports titles, and have to login or create a gamer account. Online matching, ranking, and leagues are nicely done. Online leagues are neat because you can set up tournament with up to 32 friends. If you join the interactive leagues, then you will be able to select and support your favorite club side and compete against opposing team supporters. This makes for a great gameday challenge for rabid fans. Scoring a hat trick with Clint Dempsey from Fulham against a stacked Man U squad is very satisfying. This is especially so being a Yank in a Brit dominated interactive league. All in all, it is a very pleasurable multiplayer online experience.

FIFA Soccer 08 screenshot

Online play is just one of the game modes available to you. If you want to fully manage a club, you'll turn to Manager Mode. Being a manager allows you to control every facet of your club's development. You will make trades, develop youth players, and win sponsors, cups, job security, and lucrative offers from top clubs. New this year is the Be-a-Pro mode. This mode of play has you perfect positional play by selecting a player you wish to control. Instead of switching from player to player, you will work your magic as a striker, winger, center mid or marking back. This is an awesome experience because the dribbling is silky smooth, the through balls and forward runs are inch perfect, and you mark even the world's greatest players right out of a game. Those of you familiar with Madden NFL 08 will recognize this mode. This is a neat experience that is highly addictive. Other than Be-a-Pro, everything else is standard fare that you have come to expect from FIFA titles.

FIFA Soccer 08 is another solid entry in the long history of the soccer franchise. FIFA 08 is far superior to last year's addition, but don't expect magic. A lot of the gameplay issues remain unresolved, but the overall setting and presentation are second to none. The online component and interactive leagues are outstanding additions that are sure to be included in next year's versions. If you want a soccer game that can actually last you more than a year, then FIFA Soccer 08 is a good choice. You'll get your soccer fix with good controls, great graphics, and tremendous license support.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

Features:

Clinical Finishing: A true 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.

Intelligent Soccer: Now featuring A.I. with a 35-point decision engine which enables players to process 1,000 potential options and reactions every second in real time -- more than 60,000 options every minute -- via a dynamic 'Threat Map' system to capture the excitement and realism of soccer.

Be a Pro: Offline Training - Think and react like a real professional soccer player. Play the entire game as a fixed player while getting real time feedback and analysis on the fly. A unique camera angle keeps both player and action in focus, zooming in when you're on attack.

Pro Skills: A new, organic building-block system enables 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, just like real life.

Manual Controls: Dictate the play with new manual controls for through-passing and crossing. Now use the right-stick to quickly switch defenders and choose exactly who you want defending, when you want him.

Online Leagues: Create and organize your own multiplayer Friends Leagues and tournaments with all the tools in-game.

EA SPORTS Interactive Leagues: Represent your club online against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division. Features weekly in-game podcasts by the development team.

Video Upload: Capture your best goals and highlights in-game and bring them online for the world to see. Upload your highlights to the FIFA 08 website to create the ultimate highlight reel to prove the stories you are telling your friends are all true. Because without the footage, it's fiction.

Real World Soccer News: Receive up-to-the-minute soccer news and podcasts from media outlets.

Complete Authenticity: Dramatically more authentic and exhilarating with 620 licensed teams, 30 official leagues, and more than 15,000 players.

Tournament Mode: Play 60 tournaments, including 35 officially licensed ones, or create one of your own.

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
Graphics get you into the game, however more professional likenesses should have been included.

3.9

Control
The controls are good, but this is the area where the most improvement is needed.

4.4

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The track selection, crowd noise, and commentary are awesome.

4.2

Play Value
This game is very fun to play with several levels of difficulty.

4.2

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.