FIFA Soccer 08

"How does FIFA 08 compare to FIFA 07 on the PSP"

I'm basing the following comments on the PSP version only since I think it is a waste of time trying to compare a handheld version of a game to a console version, especially when you have to take into account the limitations of the PSP control set-up.

I thought the best way to go about comparing FIFA 07 to FIFA 08 was to play the same game, in this case Brazil versus Barnet.

Well playing Brazil in semi-pro in FIFA 07, I beat Barnet 8-0. However in FIFA 08 the score dropped to 4-0. I put this down to one single element the goalkeepers. Boy oh boy do the goalies in FIFA 08 know how to make finger tip saves. Another annoying factor and I've seen this mentionned on the gamefaqs forum boards is the very unfair way the ball always seems to bounce favorably in the direction of the cpu team. It's like the cpu players have magnets on their feet. And don't get me started on the number of fouls I seem to commit. I thought pressing the 'o' button was to apply pressure but more often than not the ref will award a foul against you. A-nnoying!. and how many times to I get awarded a free kick? Yes you quessed it maybe once or twice in a game.

Talking about fouls brings me onto offsides. How is it that in FIFA 08 the screen just goes blank for a second every so often when you are allegedly offside? This is clearly another sloppy piece of EA programming.

However that said there are a few improvements. The player models seem a bit better. Especially when you're playing with Brazil. The players seem a bit more realistic, little touches are pretty well done. As I said above the goalies are really good, so when the do make a save (which is 99% of the time), the replays are absolutely excellent. You think to yourself how did the goalie save that one and then you see the replay and you say to yourself 'what a save'.

This year EA have added a football quiz thingy. I can't say that I was that interested in this feature since I prefer playing football rather than pondering on statistics and trivia but for those of you who like than sort of thing you will probably enjoy it.

I've given FIFA 08 8/10 because it is good but still isn't quite there yet. I suppose it is a yearly thing, every year you think that FIFA might just get one up on its rival and then EA makes a few good tweaks and few bad ones and you get the impression you should have just stuck to the previous year's version. I make this mistake every year on the PSP but do apply the rule to my console version since I'm still playing FIFA 05.

So I'm afraid to say that my advice would be to stick with FIFA 07 on the PSP unless you really fancy taking on the FIFA 08 goalies, although I must say after a while you do get used to them. FIFA 08 is a bit better but not really that much better to warrant the extra money.

On the glitch side there are a few problems with the settings reverting back to default. The most annoying of these is when you set your defensive tactics only to find in the game they have also reverted back to default. The game as did FIFA 07 does crash every so often so frequent saves are advisable.

Enjoy

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/19/07, Updated 12/05/07

Game Release: FIFA 08 (EU, 09/28/07)