Developer: Electronic Arts CANADA
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Football
Date posted: 19 September 2007
ScreenShots: 6
Written By: Ian
FIFA 08 hands-on PREVIEWn
Recently, we got the chance here at "PlayDevil" to try out EA's latest football offering, "FIFA 08" for the Xbox 360.
In recent years, there have been many complaints about the next-gen versions, such as the horrific lack of content and sub-par gameplay.
This year, EA is promising as much content as in the last-gen versions of FIFA, whilst also apparently adding even more realism to the already impressive graphics and improving gameplay.
In addition, 5v5 multiplayer is promised via a patch that will be released soon after the game comes out.
These are lofty ambitions indeed, but does the game deliver?
Well, the gameplay has definitely changed.
The player animations are just superb, gone are the days of jerky or robot-esque movement. The ball physics also amaze, they are also a real step up. However, everything else has seemed to go down the pan.
Graphically, while the game looks better than before, with things like shirts moving in the wind (this is nowhere near done well enough), the framerate has taken a hit, especially in the cut-scenes and replays, which chug along at only about 15fps, which is unacceptable.
The speed of the gameplay has also been slowed right down. This was a big criticism about 'PES6' (Pro Evolution Soccer 6 from Konami), so why EA has followed suit is frankly odd.
There is no commentary at all (another odd decision), instead replaced by a PA system, which while ok, would have worked ok with commentary as well. We do hope EA is wise enough to 'add' commentary in the final version when it ships but we doubt it will be included.
The AI is little better than in previous generations. Your players still stand still waiting to receive balls whilst opposition defenders cut them out, while you stand helplessly because you cant move the player until they (don't) get the ball.
Through balls are still often useless due to the AI being frighteningly good at either a) the offside trap, or b) catching up with and tripping up your player. You now really have to work for a goal, which is either good or bad.
Yes, it can be tiresome of starting a league, finding you master it then winning every subsequent game 6-0, but after several plays, I was still struggling to beat far poorer teams even 1-0.
Shooting looks and feels more impressive than before, but you won't ever get the chance thanks to the AI which seems robot-like in its ability to win the ball no matter what the situation.
Whilst these may be stinging criticisms, this is more because we feel that EA has not been delivering on its promises.
Whilst slowing down the game was a genuinely bad decision, almost everything else is ok, and to be honest, thanks to the increased options, this will be better than FIFA 07, just not the huge step up that we were promised.
We need to spend some time with PES8 to see which will triumph this year, but FIFA 08, which once looked like an early contender for the title, now looks to be once again in trouble ...
The only thing we do hope for all those FIFA fans is that EA Canada still improves the game BEFORE it ships otherwise PES8 will definitely win this next-gen round.
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