Game play is where PES2008 still has that slight edge over FIFA 08. The controls are good, with everything you need perfectly mapped on the controller for quick decisions during the game. The actual speed of the play is closer to real life than any soccer game I have played. I did however have some issues with the passing system. It just isn’t as precise as it should be. In one attack I wanted to pass the ball out to the wing for Ronaldo to run at the defence – only to see my pass go back to the holding midfielder. Most of the time the passing is OK, but it just isn’t consistent enough. The shooting is very good and you can pull off some brilliant 35-yard volleys. The tackling is a bit awkward but it’s something I got accustomed to after a few games. You can perform a variety of skilful manoeuvres and flicks using a combination of buttons on the controller. It is, however, very difficult to actually put them to good use during a match. FIFA does play an excellent game of football though and is getting better every year.
The soundtrack is excellent in all areas of FIFA 08. Commentary comes from Sky Sports' Martin Tyler and Andy Gray, which does a good job of describing the action taking place in front of you. It’s very authentic especially if you watch football on Sky Sports. They even go off on a tangent from time to time. The in-game effects are also pretty much perfect, with great crowd noises and chants, true to life ball punting effects and the odd coach screaming orders to his failing players. Music in the game comes from literally all over the world, including bands like the Automatic and the Hoosiers. All in all a very well put together selection of tracks, some unsigned and some musical styles that you normally would never hear in any other sports game - due to its worldwide popularity.
Live play is where FIFA 08 really shines. The online experience is comprehensive and excellent. There are ranked and unranked matches in addition to leagues and tournaments. EA now have a website where you can create your own FIFA 08 profile, as well as buy upgrades like shirts and boots from the experience points that you can earn in-game. There is also a feature to track your friends’ games or the progress of any teams you join and upload videos from your games. The interactive leagues let you take control of your favourite team and play real-life fixtures as they happen, with up to another 31 players in the same league (depending on the amount of teams in that particular league). However you can also create custom leagues. You can have up to ten players online at once in a single game, which easily kills PES2008’s pathetic two player online.
Personally, I am guilty of judging a game on previous versions and I have bias towards Konami’s IP. I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I judged the book by its cover. Those of you that know me personally or from the site will know that I have been bashing FIFA 08 for a while. Well I was wrong. The FIFA series can no longer be labelled as a joke because this year it has surpassed PES2008. The sheer volume of content along with the realistic game play and superior graphics, has led me to this conclusion. So if anyone is still asking themselves: should I buy FIFA 08? - The answer is yes. Buy it.
