this Computer Game is developed by Electronic Arts. It is also available on a number of console platforms such as ps3, xbox and Wii. The setting of the Game is the European Championships held this year (2008) in both Austria and Switzerland.
installing the game is easy and takes approximately ten minutes to fully install. I did not encounter any problems at this stage. Even when the installation process is complete the dvd needs to be kept in the computers dvd drive, otherwise the game comes to a stand still and there is an alert message saying to re insert the Disk in the drive.
uefa Euro 2008 succeeds where other previous versions have failed.
each team is given a quality standard mark out of five stars. For example England has four and a half stars, Greece has three and a half. This makes it very difficult to score against teams with higher skilled national teams. The game allows users the avenue to try and move forward with the ball on a much more fluid basis. With previous versions it involved much more short and long passing and leaving things to chance, here it is more open. Choosing the right formations and player skill levels is what this game is truly about. It combines people's knowledge acquired in F.I.F.A Manager 07 and 08, with the soccer game's from previous F.I.F.A 07 and 08 editions.
graphics contained here are superb. The graphics on and off the field are what makes this game great. Watching a game on Television is easily compared to the pre match game build up contained here on U.E.F.A Euro. The players moveents are much better and more realistic than ever before. Some players are better and much easily recognised than others. Adjustments can be made to the game's settings. Tweaking the audio commentary is possible.
also and most interestingly is the ability to adjust the power bar. In previous soccer edition's the power bar was frustratingly placed underneath the player. In this game, the power bar can be switched off, or placed above
the player. A player can play a game, with or without yellow/red cards, bookings etc.
the game also has an easy save and start facility which is much easier than in previous versions. Other items such as adjusting the weather from a muddy field to a dry sunny pitch all easily altered, also people can adjust the stadium camera view to customise the viewing settings to your liking. The crowd effect and graphics of the crowd in terms of realistic image is poor and wayward, which slightly offsets the great stadium views and other aspects of the soccer match.
sound and commentary are excellent almost like a real life match. Ambient sounds are played in the menu screens, and the commentary resembles a real life Televised fixture. Though a user can set this to zero if they do not require music and commentary.
this game's introduction upon loading, is really fast moving and has some movie based moments from previous European Soccer Championships. Greece's victory in Euro 2004, and Denmark in 2000.
the game has modes including an instant play mode, a uefa euro 2008 option where you can take one of fifty three european nations to guide them through the qualifying stages of the european tournament and achieve victory in the finals. Also a penalty shootout and a practice techniques and tactics. In the tournament itself there are only sixteen teams that make it to the finals
actual Game play is difficult if using a keyboard to manoeuvre the players, using a control pad is most advised for simplicity purposes. Both keyboard and control stick methods are facilitated.
where the game has made a significant number of inroads, is the functionality it is so much more straightforward navigating through the Menu Screen, it really is fast moving.
problems with the Game include two technical fault's which are included in the game strangely enough. When taking a penalty a player shooting a penalty, might find that upon the striking of the ball, the balls does a strange backspin shot and bobbles up off the ground. Great players on an international level would never allow themselves for this to happen.
secondly, at times when passing the ball to another player there is a feeling that the passing is not accurate to the extent where there is an invisible player on the pitch. Also despite the great graphics and game play, upon closer inspection their are many players that do not even look like the real player himself. On youtube this problem is shown more clearly. I could not tell if it was Jens Lehmann, or if it was the guy from down the pub lol.
the game comes with a nice, clear and comprehensive hand book with the serial number on the back of the user guide manual. The manual is also helpful in detailing the different passing, tackling and other moves. What I found most interesting is on the back of the manual is a premium rate phone number for customers requiring hints and tips for walkthroughs, cheats and tips. This in time will be available on gaming forums for free anyway.
similar compared to F.I.F.A 08 and with an initial Price tag release of twenty nine Pounds and ninety nine pence, at game and gamestation high street stores. With F.I.F.A 09 perhaps waiting in the wings of a continual annual new release is that this product might slightly build upon the audio and game playability. Also by the end of the summer, and post euro 2008, the price of this game will have dropped. By all means the game is a dramatic improvement upon F.I.F.A 2007/2008. Much better and interesting game compared to F.I.F.A Manager 2008 which I have also recently played.
depending on your own skill level all the footballing tricks can be done, nothing is left out, the passing ability of the player Simulation is all based on precision and it provides nice game flow. It will take me many months to achieve the status of even a half decent game player on here. With this in mind, Online game's against other players Online, will be quite hard at first. Though the facility of an Online Game mode is a nice inclusion.
game modes consist of penalty shoot out practise lessons. Secondly there is the 'captain your own country' which requires registration in order to be able to unlock the feature. Here you can choose a country and a player of your own choice to control in the UEFA 2008 tournament. A fast play match mode is an instant game mode without any further matches being played thereafter. Finally a practice mode allows people to improve their skills on a practice pitch, so that a player's techniques and skills are improved upon.
regarding the game's longevity I played the game for hours last night and it provided a very good action Sport's gameplay. With this in mind I have no hesitation to continue playing this game for many dark nights until Electronic Arts have developed a new game. Perhaps, now owning this I shall not buy a new Soccer game until the next FIFA World Cup that will start in 2010. The one yawning nag I have about this game is that it lacks in depth. After you have completed the qualification and won the European competition then the feeling is that is game over.
dvd extra's included the dvd introduction movie. Here there are the brief historically concluding scenes of the 1996,2000, and 2004's tournament. France winning this in 2000, and Greece in 2004. Sorry for not mentioning England so far lol. The game is also has the capability in allowing an online Game option. There are other features that annoyingly remain locked requiring registration of the serial number. Though having purchased the dvd at game, why the program extra features remain locked is a downer for me. Upon registering the user is able to download and receive the latest player updates and game hints.
this is a truly great game and definitely worth the Money in my view. During June when the real life action starts proper, as England are not in the event themselves, I feel this is the next best thing compared to watching the football on the Television.
bottom line: If you do not have F.I.F.A 2008 and can not wait for F.I.F.A 2009 to come out, then this game is highly recommended. If waiting for the 2009 edition to come out, then the price of this U.E.F.A euro game will have fallen. This is a great game, however with its technical bugs that need fixing in future releases of 2009 etc, this is by no means a fool proof edition.
Pictures of UEFA Euro 2008 (PC)
main Menu screen snapshot picture of new game.
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Captain Your Country:UEFA Euro 2008 - make history as you battle for the championship, ... more
from qualifying through to the final.Captain Your Country - create yourself and take England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and others to EURO Glory.European Campaign - d...
May 20th, 2008
(Jun 1st, 2009)
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