FIFA 08 (PS2)

...of the relationship with EA FIFA and so what do I say since EA has been battling for years, trying to make their soccer games a 100% game to play.

Well I have not doubted the fact that EA had some potential of making their soccer games reach the pinnacle or more or less at the peak of the competition in the past. Previously EA normally sell their product through real players names and provisions for whole clubs in the world including ...
...we critics normally criticize EA FIFA for using the advantage of FIF PRO license of real player names in selling their products but now, where are the grounds for game play criticism. Is this now a matter of FIF pro license advantage? No it is not, it is all about initiative and innovations. There are now realistic build in features like the players style of moving along with the ball, reactions while a goal miss, reactions on referees decisions ... more

EA now to outplay KONAMI in the race. But this might be the start of the relationship with EA FIFA and so what do I say since EA has been battling for years, trying to make their soccer games a 100% game to play.

Well I have not doubted the fact that EA had some potential of making their soccer games reach the pinnacle or more or less at the peak of the competition in the past. Previously EA normally sell their product through real players names and provisions for whole clubs in the world including some clubs in Latin America and Africa.

Well I have to award EA personally for their hard and innovative work in their soccer games which includes game plays, graphics, crowd shouts on counters, counter attack style, players physic, crowds reactions according to players performance and the manager mode.

As a pro evolution fan, I never expected EA to reach the level of trying or almost outplaying pro evolution soccer. Now the race is now tight between the two game dudes.
EA now concentrates more on making realistic necessities like game plays, crowd shouts and also the manager mode.

THE GAME PLAY
The game play is now some thing awesome and fantastic. Players like ronaldinho in the Barcelona side and totti in the roma side now have real life resemblance both In physical appearance and their authentic style of game plays in the real life field of play. Before, we critics normally criticize EA FIFA for using the advantage of FIF PRO license of real player names in selling their products but now, where are the grounds for game play criticism. Is this now a matter of FIF pro license advantage? No it is not, it is all about initiative and innovations. There are now realistic build in features like the players style of moving along with the ball, reactions while a goal miss, reactions on referees decisions and so on. The crowd also contributes to the football atmospheric authenticity in the field of play.

Ball tussling all in the name of winning ball possession is also made available and with realistic struggles and well represented graphic animations. Players' anger and reactions to each other while engaged in rough tackles is made well with good graphics. The game play now comes in more realistic forms like in passing the ball accurately with realistic animations, ball tussling and trapping the ball while falling from high attitude. The most of all is the sharp response and teamwork of the players while with the ball and so on.
The ball cross is also done well by EA with a sharp header all makes up the awesome game play. Well I have to be honest with some people, this is not meant for every body because of the complicated game play it has. The game play quite complicated unlike in the previous EA FIFA releases that was quite easy for any body to master and play. The game now comes in more complicated and difficult to master game play and control. Now FIFA can now give you a real headache on the professional and world-class level unlike in the previous installations when you can boast of concluding the game in the world class and professional level in your second come back or more or less your second try.

Now your players can make realistic decisions in order to win matches. But does that really have any impact in any match that you are playing? Well I don't think so but these are just the graphical animations in order to beautify the game. The effort still lies on you making good use of your controller and win matches.

THE GAME GRAPHICS.

Fantastic, original, realistic and the most of all real players resemblances. If you tend to be very observant, you will see real hard work from EA. The balls bounce graphics, is done brilliantly well, the tipping ball graphics is done with advanced and realistic graphic animations. There is one good feature with EA FIFA soccer and that is the cursor. Unlike in the pro evolution soccer games that have too prominent and noticeable cursor, the FIFA cursor is quite moderate, less prominent and that makes the game more authentic.. The crowd graphics is more authentic along with flag waves and all these are with brilliant colors. There are other graphic wonders about the game graphics and that is the players' jersey, their football boot and individual physical resemblance all make up the good graphical wonders.

The game graphics is now itching close to Konami's style of making games.

GAME MODE.

The game has a lot of in-depth modes but among all, the most prominent and the most welcomed mode is the manager mode, which I will write specifically on as I proceed in the review. There are other modes like the league mode, which requires you to play with the computer and then the two players mode, normally playing the game with another individual. The league mode is as big as anything you can think of. A job well done for FIFA on expanding their league modes with clubs in some continents like Latin America and Africa. I know more clubs would be available in the latest release of the FIFA in the new generation consoles like the Nintendo wii and Sony play station 3.

THE MANAGER MODE.

Yes I have to fulfill my promise on writing on the manager mode. This is the most welcomed among all modes and very interacting and interesting. You are to mange clubs like may be Alex Ferguson and you put your self in his shoes. Well we normally criticize them expecting much. You now have the ability to buy and sell players, so you are now in the shoes of top class coaches, you face criticism from fans, from club board and you can equally lose your place, as a coach may be when you get fired.

THE GAME CONTROL.

The game control is some thing you tend to master easily because it has some similarities with the konami pro evolution soccer series. The ٱ button is the used to interchange the ball from one wing to the other, while the O button is for shooting the ball. Then the Δ and X button if for tacking and passing the ball. The tipping button is the usual R button.

GAME OFFICIATING.

Well the game has good officiators unlike in the case of the pro evolution series that has biased referee. But in the case of FIFA referee, their case is quite different and fair. But the major observations that I have made is that in the recent FIFA installations, the lines men and the referee don't seem to be visible rather you only hear the whistle of the referee. There are some flaws with the officiating and that is fast in making some decisions like in the case of throwing where by before the ball enters throwing, the referee must have blown and some times, you might be confused thinking that it is a foul.

THE GAME CAMERA.

The game has a lot of camera angles depending the one you want as your choice. There is the brood cast camera angle, the tele camera angle, the dynamic view and the tower camera angle. But the most suitable camera angle for me is the tower camera angle, which is the standard angle.

MUSICS TRACKS.

Well, that has been the usual routine from FIFA. Making good sound music tracks and mostly while the game is paused. You an equally change the music with your memory card if you are not interested in the particular music playing.

COMMENTARY

EA from time have good game commentary and the most amazing thing is that no word repeats rather they make different comments on each event. I hope KONAMI would adopt that style. But one problem that I have observed in the commentary is that they are slow in making goal shouts.

MY FATE ON THE GAME.

Well that is amazing, EA now in real move on outplaying Konami. Yes they have made it their policy on bringing out some new features in every new version but that is not the case with KONAMI rather they even deduct some good features that has used to be in the previous version. Now I can now make up my mind on which one to play. Although I am still a pro evolution fan but now that is not the case and all I know is that KONAMI has gotten a very strong rival in football games. So you have numerous teams to choose over 15000 teams available. That makes the game ongoing and compulsive. In terms of recommendation, it is highly recommended . 

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