FIFA 08 Review

On the other hand, the new tight ball handling control and much more organic physics of the next-gen version, make it a very good game. The aforementioned "Be A Pro" feature adds a whole new dimension to the game. Instead of controlling the entire team, gamers get to pick one or several players which they'll handle exclusively throughout the match. This fundamentally changes the way that the game is played. It makes the gamers a lot more aware of proper positioning on the pitch, and, just generally, how the game of football is played. Even the offline practice mode is far more entertaining than the classic approach to gameplay (what we've seen in FIFA games of the past). The new tight dribbling controls (performed by the press of the left trigger on the 360) truly come to life as you take control of a forward, and as you rush to the goal, the camera focuses on him, seamlessly moving from a panned out tactical view to a zoomed in action view where pulling off the fancy dribbles is an actual possibility.

Bearing in mind the multiplayer applications of this system, fans of FIFA should absolutely go for the next-gen version. It offers plenty of hours of multiplayer and offline fun.

PC owners, on the other hand, should stay away from the current-gen version. It's an absolute waste of money in many regards. Yes, the functionality for online play is there, but the 360 and PS3 versions are simply the better choice.

Instead of just competing with Pro Evo Soccer outright, the designers were smart enough to reexamine the gameplay from a more fundamental level and "Be A Pro" mode of play achieves this smoothly and effectively. Even the visual icons that allow you to communicate with your teammates are extremely easy to get into - simple and intuitive.

This tale of two brothers ends tragically for the older, more powerful platform. Still, as a consumer, you should ignore the dramatics in this review (or rather not take sides based on it) and definitely go for the 360/PS3 version. That one is worth the cash.