R1 no reserve *** FIFA 08 (PC-DVD) ***

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REVIEW

Time flies really, doesn't it? This time last year we were looking at FIFA 07 and wondering what could have been. From the moment I saw the arena, personally, I knew that my time playing other football games was over and this was the one that was going places. With a completely rebuilt engine for next-gen, the freedom it gave you was immense, and even though the final game was simply too buggy to enjoy in the end, there was no doubt in my mind that this engine was going to be the basis of great things. And even though UEFA Champions League was a great improvement, I'm genuinely delighted to say that FIFA 08 is on another level.

Speaking of ball-control, one of my favourite things about the game is just how deep it is. When I first started playing the demo I was losing out on defensive headers, when somebody told me that there was now a "jockey" button - hold down LT/LB (depending on your button configuration) and you can get in-front of the target men. Not only that, but you can use it as a kind of pressure-button when defending; when pressed you start moving slowly and spreading yourself out a bit, covering a small area of space so that nobody can get through you. Very handy when you want to divert a player onto his weaker side.


So there you are, an entire review and not one mention of the other football game. Why? Well, in my honest opinion, it doesn't deserve one this year. FIFA 08 improves on every single aspect of FIFA 07 and UEFA CL, and the depth of the game is verging on ridiculous. I doubt I will ever learn all the tricks - I'll be lucky if I learn a trick - but that's what makes it so beautiful. The gameplay and the physics are incredible, not to mention the animation system (goalkeepers in-particular are by far the most realistic looking we've ever seen in a game). It's challenging, rewarding, realistic, fun, and most importantly it's a breath of fresh air for football games. There's only one football simulation available this year and that's FIFA 08.

Brilliant, just like real life!