FIFA 08 – 360 – Preview

The FIFA series has seen its ups and downs over its long
tenure at EA Sports. The more notable “downs” in recent years have been the
series’ performance on next-gen consoles. The next-generation of consoles FIFA
franchise haven’t been kind to the game, as it has been consistently slammed
critically since its first appearance on the Xbox 360 with FIFA 06, with many
reviewers citing it as being a dumbed-down port of the current gen version with
slightly prettier graphics.

However, the tides are looking to change this year as the
developers are utilizing the power of the new consoles while even surpassing the
depth of the game modes in prior current-gen games. FIFA 08 will utilize the
next-gen engine from last-year’s FIFA 07 while beefing up the gameplay and team
count substantially.


FIFA 08 Xbox 360 screenshots

This year’s FIFA will use the “building blocks” of the
gameplay system from FIFA 07 and step it up a few notches. Whereas FIFA 07 had 6
teams to choose from, there will be over 30 in 2008, spanning many leagues
across the world and adding up to 15,000 players, although there is a
possibility the downloadable teams may appear sometime down the line.

The game’s ball physics have been updated a lot, as lots of
factors will determine how the ball curves in the air. Depending on how and when
you kick it, the ball could bend in the air like a David Beckham kick, or just
go straight. Additionally, skill moves have been added to the game’s mechanics
and ball handling courtesy of EA’s love for all things analog, which allow the
player to avoid tackles much better than before with just a flick of the
thumbstick.


FIFA 08 Xbox 360 screenshots

The most interesting new element in the game is the
Be-A-Pro camera angles. The Be-A-Pro mode allows you to play as one player on
the field with a chase camera following him. When the on-screen action gets
hairy (and you start making a play for the goal), the camera will follow low and
bounce, adding a war-style effect similar to Gears of War. The Be-A-Pro mode is
a great new element that adds a greater sense to the game’s realism.

Whereas previous next-gen entries to the FIFA franchise
have been fairly lackluster, this year’s entry means to buck the trend. Judging
from the preview build of the game, it’s looking like it very well may.