FIFA 08

It’s no secret that next-gen sports games are crushing the new PS2 releases. But don’t tell FIFA 08 that. FIFA has been one of the last bright spots in old-gen gaming. The gameplay quality hasn’t died in the presence of more powerful consoles. Its graphics are aged but still look good, and glitches are few and far between.

This year’s update goes back to the drawing board to see if it can whip out custom formations and an improved control scheme. It also includes a new single-player and co-op mode that’s dedicated to the growth of one particular athlete. Is this enough to fulfill the needs of those who have yet to snag a PS3 or Xbox 360?

Through and Through

Analog passing and shooting is still absent from the FIFA series, but you can now manually select your players when defending. This is helpful in situations where you don’t have the time to change players the old fashioned way. In past versions you’d push the change button until the desired player was reached. Under the new system, a quick flick of the right stick can transfer control to any player you point to.

The manual cross and manual through ball are not much more complex. Push the square button to start the manual cross and use the left stick to aim – a great move for setting up an unsuspected goal. The manual through ball works the same way, except you replace the square button with the triangle button.

Goalkeeping is one of the most important parts of any sport (except basketball – oh the penalties!). Take charge and prevent unnecessary goals by pressing R3 (the button within the right stick) to switch to the goalkeeper.

These control features aren’t so different that FIFA 08 feels like a brand-new game. But they are solid additions to a series that’s been with PlayStation 2 for nearly as long as Madden. The analog player switching works well and is very helpful in situations where the ball is stolen, intercepted, or when the opposing team is about to score. Switching players doesn’t mean you’ll come out on top, but every inch counts, and doing so will get you closer to the ball.

Professionally Upgraded

FIFA 08’s standout feature is Be a Pro, a mode for lengthy and quick games that center on the control of one specific player. You (and up to three friends) can play through an entire season as just one athlete. Each player gains control of their own athlete, the restriction being that you can’t change players during a game. There’s an adjustment period involved, as you’ll be eager to pass the ball when the game gets rough and expect to control the receiver (or at least the player nearest to the ball). But you can’t. You have to rely on your human- and AI-controlled teammates to take the game to victory.

That’s not to say you won’t play an important role in achieving that victory. As gamers, it’s easy to forget how much of a difference one man can make on the field. Stealing, blocking, and shooting – all tasks we’re used to coordinating as a team – are just as vital to the individual player. Use this to your advantage. Keep a close eye on what your opponents are doing. If someone is about to score, don’t wait to see if your teammates are going to step in – do your part and attempt to block the shot. Or take a bigger risk and steal the ball. There are times when it’s better to risk a penalty (by accidentally tripping an opponent) than to allow a shot you aren’t certain the goalkeeper will block.

Be a Pro mode is offline-only, which may disappoint those who were hoping to take the season online. But it’s still a fun, game-enhancing feature that improves the overall experience.

 
Customize your setup with the custom formation system.
Simply drag and drop the players to any location using the left analog stick.

On The Right Track

FIFA 08 doesn’t veer from its predecessors’ Euro-pop/rock sound. This year, however, EA Trax has acquired a number of songs that blend together for one amazing soundtrack. “Fall Into Place,” the upbeat, emotion-driven track by Apartment, is not at all fitting for a sports game. But it sounds incredible, so who’s complaining? Likewise, Babamars’ deep song, “The Core,” and Digitalism’s surreal “Pogo,” are complementary tracks. “Sketches,” performed by La Rocca, has a British rock sound that resembles mainstream bands like Jet. And “Love Abuse” (from Lukas Kasha) is just plain addictive.

The most impressive thing about this soundtrack is that, similar to Burnout 3 and other EA Trax classics, you can pick any random group of songs and be equally entertained. It’s a stellar (and unfortunately, all too rare) lineup that deserves an external release, if only to prevent players like myself from importing dozens of CDs to complete our FIFA 08 soundtrack collections.

While most developers reserve their best new modes for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, FIFA 08 is one of the few series that has yet to ignore PlayStation 2. The Be a Pro mode and enhanced gameplay content are just what gamers ordered – and much more than what we expected. If PS2 is your main gaming platform, you will be satisfied with this version of FIFA 08.

Gameplay: 8.0
The Be A Pro mode alone was worth a play-through – the enhanced controls only sweeten the deal.

Graphics: 7.9
It’s hard to notice if there are differences between FIFA 08 and 07. The game still looks good, has smooth animations, great lighting, etc. But we’ve seen it all before.

Sound: 9.0
EA Trax’s best soundtrack since Burnout 3. FIFA 08’s music is catchy, powerful, and diverse. It’s the kind of soundtrack you’ll want to throw on a CD and blast in your car. There are a few songs I could live without, but that’s true of any complication.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
FIFA 08’s challenge is at about the same level as its predecessors.

Concept: 7.9
The recent versions of FIFA haven’t seen much innovation on PS2. That’s probably not going to change. But as long as the developers continue to add worthwhile content to each update, gamers will still have a reason to stick with the old generation.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Be A Pro mode is an excellent upgrade over the traditional modes of multiplayer.

Overall: 8.0
FIFA 08 is an entertaining, upper-class sports game with tons of options, new control features, and a great pro mode. The game isn’t a must-buy for everyone, but it’s definitely worth playing.