FIFA 08

PS3 progress, says Paul

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Playing any version of FIFA for the first time is a daunting experience. The sheer volume of controls and on-screen information makes for a bewildering first half hour. Coming to FIFA 08 after something of a break from video footy, and being aware that this version was possibly the hardest and most complex FIFA yet, gave me due cause for apprehension.

For those who just want the headline, this year's FIFA turns out to be a slower, more considered affair that swings the balance back towards the more technical player. It comes closer than any other entry in the series to actually encouraging a proper game of 'le foot'. These improvements do come at a price: this game is much harder. You can't escape the need to practice for a considerable number of hours before you start to see the game really shine. But shine it does, with detailed players and environments that provide a great incentive for gamers to put the time and effort in.

The most surprising addition to the game modes is the over-the-shoulder play in position option. This has you pick just one player and stick with them for the entire match. You gain points for performing duties appropriate to your position be that tactical defending, distributing midfield passes, or getting shots in on target. Although it is something that is very new, it ironically reminded me of Player Manager on my old Amiga. This version of the much loved Kick Off series enabled you to play in position in a similar manner. Although an unusual approach, I am real fan of this game mechanic and understand that its inclusion is a nod towards the day when two teams of eleven real world players will play (in position) against each other.

The more usual game modes are all present and correct. They provide a decent range of modes that deliver everything from a quick kick-around, to full club competitions. These modes are obviously played with the more familiar control-the-whole-team approach. But here too we see EA's innovation dictate is making itself felt. As well as an increased ability to shield the ball there is a completely reworked special move system. A combination of the L2 button and the analogue stick enables you to access a variety of moves that can make forward progression a real possibility. A step-over for example can be achieved with a flick of the right stick. Other more complex manoeuvres are then achieved with more involved gestures and motions of the stick. Although not identical this reminded us of EA's Skate that has a similar approach to pulling off the different skateboarding tricks.

As we saw last year, EA again provide their robust online service. Here you can get involved in leagues and scheduled matches with your footballing friends around the world or simply jump into a quick custom game. There was minimum lag in our online play and it does seem that those early teething problems with poor experience are now a thing of the past. In addition to the online matches there is also a shared online database of player progress. This displays your on and off-line stats in an impressive array of measures. The online features are rounded off by a news service. Saturday afternoon games of FIFA are now enhanced by a news ticker that provides real-time scores and updates from the Premiership.

The play modes are all rounded off with a team management game. Here you are coaching, training and trading players to get the maximum performance. Although a nice addition this is slightly off piste for the majority of FIFA players and likely to go unnoticed.

Whilst we still got most fun playing against each other, the computer opponents seem to have had a real bump in the artificial intelligence department this year. At first this can be frustrating as it is pretty tough to score very many goals. But with some practice you will find the computer players provide a much more robust and lifelike experience. Again, this all works together to work at constructing a real game of football. Possession is king, and you really need to work your players to get down either side or spring the offside trap. No more long ball knock-ins for an easy victory.

This is all good, but we couldn't help feeling that this new serious FIFA would make much more sense if the players themselves responded quicker to our commands. With the game's increased technical ability you really need that precise and instant control that Pro Evo is so good at delivering. There are often times in a match where you loose out from the player's sluggish response to your input, rather than purely footballing reasons.

Visually, the game oozes quality from every pore. The stadiums (30 of them), players (all 14,000 of them) and wider environments now really benefit from the PS3's increased horse power. These are all used to great effect with a number of impressive camera angles that swoop through the game and really connect you to the action. The commentary however is not quite as polished. It seems to take too much development investment these days to get anywhere near the variety of phrases required to avoid repetition or miss-reading of the game. We suspect that before too long you will reach for the turn-off-commentary button.

Overall, this is a year of innovation for FIFA and it is probably well overdue. It again edges closer to Pro Evo, without quite managing to crack that magic formula. Whilst there will be proponents for each game, it still feels like EA is trying to catch up. That said, their decision to make FIFA more of a footballers game than a gamers game is an excellent decision. The slower pace and more considered controls make for a much more realistic experience. Although success is now much harder to achieve, this makes it all the more enjoyable when you do score those last minute winners.

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By Paul Govan