Review: FIFA 08 (PS2)

Few seasons are loved as much at Gamestyle Towers as autumn. The glorious shades of gold and crimson in the trees, the gentle crackle of the... sound familiar yet? Once again, it's FIFA Time, and once again the title proves as much of a challenge to review as it is to market. What's next to talk about? First touch? The Twelfth Man system? Or maybe "You play, they obey"? As an annual, iterative franchise, it's always had issues defining itself as it progresses; with this last instalment, the only thing left to ask, as players continue to move over to Pro Evolution Soccer is, "Do You FIFA 08"?

More to the point, why would you? Despite some minor additions which will be explained later, this is essentially FIFA 07 with a quick slap of make-up on. Team stats are up-to-date and accurate for the new season; graphics are solid, so on, so forth; so far, so standard. The commentary has admittedly improved somewhat - flowing smoother than previously, though still as repetitive and banal as ever, and worth either switching off or simply zoning out. On the other hand, the laughable crowd chanting is entirely unavoidable. Hearing "Celtic! Celtic!" shouted from the stands and in the menu backgrounds is great in theory, but why has the entire Parkhead crowd suddenly developed a North London accent?

Localisation goofs aside, the tenancy to include poorly considered or unsuccessful features pervades the game. Returning for another crack of the whip is Manager Mode, a half-assed attempt at fleshing out the football on offer. More Match Of The Day 1992 than Football Manager 2007, the superficial level of control on offer makes more sense on the PSP edition of the game where playing a whole match may not be realistic but dipping in to slap your scout over the back of the head for his poor performance is. As with last year, sharing progress between the home and portable versions is possible, but only for those well-heeled enough to buy both, and likely only of appeal to a minority of gamers.

At least this season's token addition makes a bit more of an effort. The "Be A Pro" mode, despite the implications of gamers selling their behind on the nearest street corner to fund their FIFA habit, provides an experience akin to Namco's LiberoGrande, where the player controls only one member of the team for the whole match. It's markedly more successful than that attempt thanks to the unavoidable fact that FIFA still plays a good game of football, with correct player names instead of Zogabog Zoodine, and some additional well though out additions. Creating your own player is an option, but the limitations of the game's character-building system may well result in fielding a team of gangly-legged Jimmy Hill-esque mutants, all chins and elbows.

Having fought for a preferred character, then, there's a natural feeling of team camaraderie once on the pitch. Beside the sense of responsibility having only one player to control at a time provides, four-player co-op play is a brilliant touch - bulked out to a degree with an RPG-inspired EXP system that rewards skill and meeting predetermined team challenges with points to enhance your custom-made mutant football lizard creature. Combined with the "instant-death" nature of getting red-carded (getting sent off effectively leaves you watching from the sidelines if a reserve player isn't set up in advance), preforming well at a per-player level reaps rewards.

Gallingly it's a mode that is only playable online on the PS3 and 360 editions of the title, and in net play there is very little to differentiate this edition from FIFA 07's attempt, down to the returning Interactive Leagues. You can listen to the FIFA Podcast in the menus, take on other players internationally, and all from the comfort of your own armchair, assuming you can survive signing up to both Sony and EA's online services. As updates go, it hardly inspires confidence or the wallet, and as almost certainly the last FIFA title on the PS2, it's a major disappointment.

They say familiarity breeds contempt; maybe that's the reason for Pro Evo Soccer's continued assault on EA's footballing monopoly. Considering the resources at EA's disposal, the practised excellence of their programmers and artists, and the experience of well over a decade of development, there should be more put into the game. Some would call it inevitable diminished returns, but with Pro Evo still the footy game of choice for serious gamers and the draw of the familiar license only capable of so much, perhaps EA genuinely need to reboot the football game in the same way Skate reboots the extreme-sports genre, if only to stay competitive.

Rating: 6 / 10

Words by Colin Whiteside