FIFA 08 PS2/PC – Preview

EA’s FIFA games have always sold incredibly well. The series has been around since 1993 and every year has had commercial success. Critical acclaim has varied, on the other hand. For example, 1998 was a vintage year: the Road To World Cup edition in particular received high praise. The receptions of 21st century FIFAs, however, have been varied to say the least.What’s more, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series has grown over the last five years from a cult-classic, to a top of the charts contender. Presumably feeling the heat from their Japanese rivals, EA Canada took the series through some drastic changes last year and this appeared to do the trick. Sales were, as always, impressive; but the reaction of the press towards FIFA 07 was more positive than it had been in quite a while – FIFA was back. Having had a first look at a current-gen build of FIFA 08 (available on the PS2 and PC) earlier this week, I can safely say that not only have EA Canada cemented the series’ return to form, they’ve also given the people at Konami a lot to think about.

The improvements in last year’s game included the following: improved ball physics, better AI, the interesting inclusion of Interactive Leagues and a more organic feel to the gameplay all-round. FIFA 08 continues this more organic style with gameplay that feels freer than it ever has before. Both crosses and through balls have had all traces of automation removed from them. Players now have complete control of both power (via the pressure sensitive buttons) and direction. As a result, threading a perfectly weighted through ball to your striker releases a feeling of achievement more potent than completing a quadratic equation.

Other football titles have allowed gamers to opt for a manual pass, but it’s never felt so natural and the fact that you’re forced to pass manually means that it won’t only be the fanboys who use it. Just imagine those P.E. teachers we all had at school who’d shout ‘You passed the ball where he was, not where he was going!’ The learning curve is a little bit like that and it’s well worth the reward once you’ve had a couple of games to get used to it.

Goalkeepers can also be controlled manually. Clicking the R3 button allows you to control your keeper in open play and prior to set-pieces, while triangle initiates a save. This is particularly helpful for placing your keeper on a corner or free-kick, as they needn’t stand uselessly in the middle of the goal any longer. Also, you can call up your goalkeeper for a corner in the last couple of minutes of a game if you’re in dire need of an equaliser.

In recent years, the FIFA series has made a marked effort to rid itself of the over-complicated swerve, power and accuracy meters of yesteryear for free-kicks and corners. Noticing the continued success of Pro Evo in this area, it appears that the EA Canada team has made a deliberate move towards a more organic feel throughout the game, and particularly with set-pieces. Free-kicks and corners now feel a lot better, with the same easy to pick-up but hard to master Pro Evo feel, but with their own unique FIFA touches.

One particularly original idea for FIFA 08 is to have a freezable camera for free-kicks, which works in the following way: you can pan over to the right hand side of the wall (and your opponent may move their keeper accordingly). Then, you have the option to freeze the camera angle (making your opponent think you’re shooting from that angle) and change where your going to shoot by panning back over to left (the DualShock rumbles if you pass across either post). I scored an absolute screamer with Wesley Sneijder by using this technique and the resulting “Get in!” that resonated throughout the EA press room was less than welcomed, and understandably so.

As usual, there are elements to the game that seem a little bit “Mickey Mouse”. One example of this is the ‘Be a Pro Co-op Season’. This basically allows you to take control of a single player, which can either be selected or created, and play only as them for a club. This mode is also available in multiplayer, so a few of you can be glued to one player each on a team. Your player then improves throughout the season, although they don’t drop stats if you perform badly. Additionally, you can earn more points to improve your player by completing certain tasks, and here is where it becomes a bit Yankee-doodle-dandy.

The tasks you’re asked to complete don’t seem to have much of a bearing on playing good football or helping the team win. So, one challenge called ‘ball-hog’ might require you to hold onto the ball for a certain amount of time throughout a game. Another will ask you to avoid going offside (note: that’s not being caught offside, it’s simply advancing beyond the last defender) a certain amount of times in a game, which is a bit weird as straying on and offside is something strikers do on purpose to trick defenders.

Having said this, the player-locking system in the ‘Be a Pro Co-op Season’ (if I have to say that again, I think It might induce a cerebral embolism), is simply inspired. Being able to lock to a player for a whole game has obviously been done before, but in the past it was always quite a dull experience. The key feature which makes the gameplay so original in FIFA 08, is that you can actually call for a pass, long ball, through ball or cross. In addition to the sheer brilliance of this, the AI behind it is so good that it really is an entirely new way of playing a football game.

Basically, you won’t get passed to when you call for it unless you’re making a good run or you’re in space. If you find acres of space out on the touchline and call for a long ball, you’ll receive a beautifully arched pass to your feet. But, if you keep calling for passes with a defender shadowing your every move, then you’ll see as much of the ball as a Brazilian goalkeeper playing against San Marino. Given that the feature is new this year, it really is a stunning achievement that EA Canada have managed to develop such convincing AI for it.

Introducing the [grimace] ‘Be a Pro Co-op Season’ is a tactical move by the FIFA team. Their policy regarding Interactive Leagues leading up to the next World Cup in 2010 is to have 11 players on 11 playing online at once. This can then be extended to the central idea behind Interactive Leagues, which is getting thousands of gamers playing matches online which correspond directly to those being played in real life. By introducing the [sound of teeth grinding] ‘Be a Pro Co-op Season’ this year, EA are acclimatising FIFA players to the concept of playing a single role on a team of 11 other players in preparation for 2010. I’ve got to say, that’s some pretty impressive forward thinking from EA and nice work all round – let’s hope it pans out.

Building on the general improvements in AI from lasts year’s game, EA Canada have done further work to improve the “Defensive Intelligence” in FIFA 08. They have focused on the defensive AI in-game by getting players to track-back convincingly and be aware of attacking players making darting forward runs etc. For the most part, this feature does seem to be an improvement on the successes of last year, although I did experience some defensive bunching and a distinct lack of a flat back four at times. Let’s hope EA Canada can iron-out these slight kinks prior to distribution but, even as it plays at the moment, FIFA 08 is a convincing recreation of the beautiful game.

Further to this “Defensive Intelligence”, another improvement is that goals are harder to come by. From the limited hands-on play I experienced, this hasn’t simply been done by improving goalkeepers or making it harder to get shots on target. Instead, EA Canada have made it harder to create goal scoring opportunities, which is much more engrossing and requires a more realistic footie game to make it possible – FIFA 08 is ticking all the right boxes, then.

Also, in another defence related change, EA Canada has widened the options when it comes to changing players. With the new controls, a swift flick of the right analogue stick in the direction of the player you want will swiftly highlight them. This opens up more tactical options and allows you to get hold of that distant player who’s not fulfilling their marking responsibilities properly.

Finally, FIFA 08 also adds greater depth and realism to the series with the new player traits. In recent years, FIFA players have featured less stats than their Pro Evo counterparts. The argument for FIFA is that the limited stats determine multiple characteristics of a player’s overall ability (less is more, basically). This year, the addition of player traits will hopefully bring FIFA closer to the sort of accurate player rendition that it’s been crying out for. These traits, which will be hidden abilities, will add tendencies to specific player’s performances. So, for example, Stevey G has a trait to take long shots and so he will shoot from range more frequently and successfully. Only more play time will determine how much of a difference this makes, but we’ll have our fingers crossed in the meantime.

More so than ever before, it looks like Konami simply doesn’t have the time to rest on its laurels. From our recent experience it seems like the FIFA series will be hot on their heels come the autumn.

Official Fact-Sheet (English, X360/PS3)

FIFA 08 challenges players to master the skills required to play like a professional player. Fans around the world can experience the same highs and lows of real-world players and tackle the challenges they face on a daily basis.

The FIFA 08 next-gen gameplay engine, built to maximize the power of the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer and entertainment system, delivers animations and ball control that is so responsive you feel like you are actually on the pitch. Players are now aware of their surroundings, reacting authentically to threats and opportunities to make intelligent decisions.

Now with the FIFA 08 shooting system you can enjoy even more control and precision in front of the goal to become a true marksman.

For the first time ever, fans playing FIFA 08 will face the pressure to improve their game that real-world players endure every day. A new play mode called Be A Pro locks you in the role of a single player and challenges you to master the same disciplines as a real professional player—from positioning and tackling to reading the field and passing.

FIFA 08 now gives every football fan the chance to perform pro skills with a true next-generation organic ‘building-block’ system. You can combine tricks and skill moves together to recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars or define your own style of play. You can even capture video of your best moves and goals in-game and upload to the FIFA 08 website to show off your style and celebrate your glory with friends across the globe.

The award-winning Interactive Leagues debuts on the Xbox 360 and the PLAYSTATION 3 as part of the deepest online feature set to date. Represent your club online* against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division. When they play, you play. Plus, create and organize your own multiplayer Friends Leagues and tournaments with all the tools in-game.

In addition, FIFA 08 is dramatically more real and exhilarating with the inclusion of 620 licensed teams, 30 official leagues, and more than 15,000 players.

Clinical Finishing – A true next-generation ball-striking engine calculates shot success by combining an almost infinite number of different contexts, including ball spin, pressure from defenders, player attributes, and even air pressure to recreate the drama and unpredictable nature of shooting.

Intelligent - Now featuring AI with a 35-point decision engine which enables players to process 1,000 potential options and reactions every second in real time — more than 60,000 options every minute — via a dynamic ‘Threat Map’ system to capture the excitement and realism of.

Be a Pro: Offline Training – Think and react like a real professional player. Play the entire game as a fixed player while getting real time feedback and analysis on the fly. A unique camera angle keeps both player and action in focus, zooming in when you’re on attack.

Pro Skills – A new, organic building-block system enables you to combine tricks and skill moves together to recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars or define your own style of play. Animations can be interrupted at any time to transition into a new move, just like real life.

Manual Controls – Dictate the play with new manual controls for through-passing and crossing. Now use the right-stick to quickly switch defenders and choose exactly who you want defending, when you want him.

Online Leagues – Create and organize your own multiplayer Friends Leagues and tournaments with all the tools in-game.

EA SPORTS Interactive Leagues: - Represent your club online against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division. Features weekly in-game pod casts by the development team.

Video Upload: Capture your best goals and highlights in-game and bring them online for the world to see. Upload your highlights to the FIFA 08 website to create the ultimate highlight reel to prove the stories you are telling your friends are all true. Because without the footage, it’s fiction.

Real World News – Receive up-to-the-minute news and podcasts from media outlets, including ESPN Net.

Complete Authenticity - Dramatically more authentic and exhilarating with 620 licensed teams, 30 official leagues, and more than 15,000 players.

Tournament Mode – Play 60 tournaments, including 35 officially licensed ones, or create one of your own.

*INTERNET CONNECTION required for online play

Fact-Sheet Review (PS2)

EA released information about the new features of FIFA Soccer 08 on the PS2.  Here’s what they revealed:

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Step into the boots of a professional player through a new mode called “Be A Pro: Co-op Season” that challenges you to master the same disciplines as a real professional soccer player—from positioning and tackling to reading the field and passing. Step onto the field with your created player to play an entire game as that footballer, and develop him into an elite player over the course of the season. Never before have you been able to approach the game this way, improving your abilities one skill at a time just as if you were a pro.  Play with up to three friends playing all fixed to their players on your favorite club, complete individual challenges to develop your player attributes and win glory for the squad, while competing with your friends to develop the best player by season’s end.SportsGamer: Seems like a similar player-lock feature is finding its ways into all of EA’s titles.  It adds one more game mode to mess around with but I’m not sure how popular this will actually be.  It works well in basketball games and would probably work in hockey as well because both feature fewer players and a smaller overall area.  It just seems like you could find yourself in the opposite end of the field from the action.

Once this is fully integrated online it will be a totally different story.  The prospect of playing 4-person co-op online leagues or even 11v11’s sound great.  Even EA admits this is only a first step toward that goal in the future.

From the moment you step on the pitch, FIFA Soccer 08 challenges you to think and react like a real soccer player by giving you complete control over all of the action. New manual controls enable you to dictate the play with control over through-passing and crossing. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself. Take ultimate control over your defenders with new manual controls that enable you to use the right-stick to quickly switch defenders and choose exactly who you want to control when defending. Plus, now it is more strategic to break down the opposition than ever before with new defensive and positioning logic that ensures players are in the right place at the right time, constantly considering all threats and opportunities.

SportsGamer:  Thank god they finally addressed this!  The inability to choose the specific defender you wanted has been my single biggest gripe with this series in the past years.  I still recall instances where I would be given control of a trailing defender and I would have to intentionally run him out of the play in order to be assigned a better one.

It is unclear what the impact of better AI positioning for defenders will be because usually I was controlling the defender that would finally make the play.  Because tackling has been easy in the recent past, I never really noticed any problem here.

Intelligently manage your club by preparing for each specific opponent using new custom formations. Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Assign roles and move players to the exact position in relation to teammates to undermine the opposition.

SportsGamer:  Sounds alright but I’m not sure how much this feature will actually be used.  This would be better if it worked in the same way that Create-A-Play works in NHL 08.  The AI would automatically recognize plays based on designated player movements.

FIFA Soccer 08 on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system introduces Online Football Clubs that enable you to form your own group of like-minded soccer fans to take on all challengers online. Gain status among the online community by helping your Football Club climb the rankings. Win more points based on the importance of the match when playing Interactive Leagues or challenging other Football Clubs to a grudge-match tournament.

SportsGamer: Sounds like EA’s representation of a clan. It is unclear how cool this will be until we get a chance to try it out but it is encouraging that more online features are being added.

Key Features

Manual Controls — Dictate the play with new manual controls for through-passing and crossing. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself.  Use the right-stick to quickly switch to the exact player you want to control when defending. 

Be A Pro: Co-op Season — Take on the role of a professional footballer, create your own player and test yourself in one position for an entire season. Master positioning, improve your attributes and develop into an elite player. Co-operate with up to three friends fixed to their player on the same team, but compete with those same friends on individual challenges. All performances are tracked through detailed statistics to determine who really is a pro.

Custom Formations — Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Set each player’s exact position in the formation, and assign specific attacking and defensive runs to unlock the opposition.

Enhanced AI — New defensive and positioning logic requires greater tactical expertise to break down the opposition  New AI ensures players are in the right place at the right time. Player and team traits differentiate the stars.

Manager Mode Improvements – New features include pre-season friendlies to test your team before a campaign, new training options to hone your squad of players and dynamic board expectations that change depending on your successes … or failures.

Online Football Clubs (PlayStation 2) — Form your own group of like-minded soccer fans to take on all challengers online and create a Football Club. Gain status among the online community by helping your Football Club climb the rankings. Win more points based on the importance of the match, like playing Interactive Leagues or challenging other Football Clubs to a grudge-match tournament.

Share Replays (PC) – Now you can save and show-off your best games or just the highlights! It is easy to capture a game or key moments and export as a video file to share with your friends and foes. Brag about match-winning plays and goals or even capture the entire ninety minutes to relive your favorite games.

Complete Authenticity  – Featuring 30 leagues, 30 real stadiums and more than 12,500 players all accurately recreated.