Xbox 360 FIFA 2008 first impressions

[OrgulloVikingo]

First off, I'll say that a first impression counts. As far as Fifa 2008 is concerned in that respect, it is a poor first impression. Graphics are a bit better than Fifa 2007 but pales compared to UEFA CL. Audio is non existant basically (due to keeping the file size small), cut scenes are still choppy and player models during the cutscenes look poor. Overall animations are very good, gameplay is a bit too slow, passing can be painfully slow at times, use of the right stick to switch players is way off, tricks can be pulled off but with the right players and right timing. I think they did a good job there. One thing that really bugs me is that when you take ashot and miss the net, the ball comes back at you as if someone shot it from the other direction (rebounds off the adboards?). This is annoying and can create confusion when the net is crowded. CPU players catch up to Ronaldinho, Messi, etc n o matter what. In other words, cpu is always faster than you regardless who it is. Shooting is ok but takes some getting used to (it's more sensitive like PES) You have to press it one millionth of asecond or else the ball will go up to the top tier and curve like a whiffle ball. I haven't figured out how to control the goalie like they said you would be able to do. These are just my first impressions. I am trying to really like the demo. I've played 9 matches so far and I am really trying to like it. I absolutely love the animations but don't know if that will be enough. The bad graphics really turned me off especially since EA usually has great looking sports titles. I remember when I first tried the UEFA CL demo, I liked the leap in tweeks between that and Fifa 07 and thought the graphics were crisp, vibrant and smooth. I was expecting more but I guess I will have to wait for the final product to see. Only thing giving me hope for the final product is that EA has done very well with this years sports titles (NBA Live, NHL 08, Tiger Woods).

 

[cfdemarco]

I'm with you on everything but the graphics...

I don't understand why everyone is saying that the game doesn't look as good as Champions League. Are you guys playing in high-def? Because the 08 demo looks just as sharp and much more vibrant than CL, which had kind of a washed-out look.

 

[OrgulloVikingo]

I'm with you on everything but the graphics...

I don't understand why everyone is saying that the game doesn't look as good as Champions League. Are you guys playing in high-def? Because the 08 demo looks just as sharp and much more vibrant than CL, which had kind of a washed-out look.

Yes HD all the way. Allianz Arena looks bad, pitch looks very fake, over the top details on kits are biting EA in the @ss since the wide camera angles (which will be used online and most people use) make the details appear as jaggedy krap. Intro scenes show off no advancement in player models at all. etc, etc.

 

[cfdemarco]

Yes HD all the way. Allianz Arena looks bad, pitch looks very fake, over the top details on kits are biting EA in the @ss since the wide camera angles (which will be used online and most people use) make the details appear as jaggedy krap. Intro scenes show off no advancement in player models at all. etc, etc.

It honestly doesn't look any worse to me than CL did.

 

[Jore2]

It honestly doesn't look any worse to me than CL did.

Same here. It looks better. Shirts are moving etc.

And about the rebound thing to Vikingo, didn't you look the arena? It have big net behind the goal which is bouncing the balls back as well AD-boards. Imho it's great that those parts of arena are working, not just graphic trix.

And about slowness, well I think it's better, realistic and more football than arcade gaming. It's still fast enough and you can sprint etc.

There is couple of things which I don't like, but cfdemarco already did mention those. Players aren't coming to get pass, but just standing and waiting. That's irritating when even H-juniors(6y old) are teached to come forward when they are getting pass.

Otherwise I like this game a lot. Yes there is flaws like that which are irritating, but ie. shooting is much more realistic than before. It actually can go outside of goal, but when you hit it well it will fly well.

 

[nickclubman]

I disagree, the gameplay is real simulation for me. I'm yet to find any gripe. But to each their own.

The FIFA franchise has been an arcade game for years, especially this years current-gen. It's still arcade, just a bit harder.

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

EA got it organic, I feel a lot of people need to let it grow on them.

NK.

 

[Jore2]

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

Yeah, I totally agree. And for those who doesn't like shooting, imho it's best ever in FIFA series. You have to be precise with shooting, like in the real world. Shooting have to be hard to be rewarding like in real life. Not like in some FIFA series when goals had magnets for ball...

So far just 2 complaints.

1)As I did mention players aren't going forward to get passes

2)CPU is too accurate in freekicks and my goalies can't take those too well.

 

[renski]

Graphics look to be on par with Champions league, if anything they are clearer/cleaner then champions league.

Game play is miles ahead of fifa 07 and better then UEFA... I'm impressed

and CAN'T WAIT until the full release in 2 weeks time

The simulations in the game are incredibly real, for mine thats the difference between uefa/fifa07, like the movements of the players, the ball movement is much more real

 

[jjgadget]

the gameplay is real simulation for me. I'm yet to find any gripe. But to each their own.

The FIFA franchise has been an arcade game for years, especially this years current-gen. It's still arcade, just a bit harder.

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

EA got it organic

Absolutely Spot on

 

[valioso]

I agree with Nick as well... if you are trying to play this like you would fifa07, specially with assists off, you're not going to make it very far.

 

[Mel Brennan]

I disagree, the gameplay is real simulation for me. I'm yet to find any gripe. But to each their own.

The FIFA franchise has been an arcade game for years, especially this years current-gen. It's still arcade, just a bit harder.

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

EA got it organic, I feel a lot of people need to let it grow on them.

NK.

I agree; already feels like the best FIFA in a long time, maybe ever. I think with the stick/pad in many ways the way I've got to think as a player in real life...the ultimate compliment.

I still enjoy the feel and experience of PES, no doubt, and I expect to this year; but I'll feel entirely comfortable playing FIFA on next-gen console (I'm playing on xbox 360 elite), and enjoying PES on PC precisely b/c the community will make the game better.

But to ignore that FIFA has responded this year, has worked hard to produce something worthy, is blind and unfair in my view.

 

[The Don't]

I can't get used to using the analogue stick for movement. As long as they continue to neglect the d-pad, this game will always be runner up to PES for me.

 

[OrgulloVikingo]

Same here. It looks better. Shirts are moving etc.

And about the rebound thing to Vikingo, didn't you look the arena? It have big net behind the goal which is bouncing the balls back as well AD-boards. Imho it's great that those parts of arena are working, not just graphic trix.

And about slowness, well I think it's better, realistic and more football than arcade gaming. It's still fast enough and you can sprint etc.

There is couple of things which I don't like, but cfdemarco already did mention those. Players aren't coming to get pass, but just standing and waiting. That's irritating when even H-juniors(6y old) are teached to come forward when they are getting pass.

Otherwise I like this game a lot. Yes there is flaws like that which are irritating, but ie. shooting is much more realistic than before. It actually can go outside of goal, but when you hit it well it will fly well.

I meant during the games at Allianz arena. Every shot came back zipped at 60 mph onto the field. It's strange, doesn't happen in real life. Have no idea why they invented this.

 

[valioso]

I meant during the games at Allianz arena. Every shot came back zipped at 60 mph onto the field. It's strange, doesn't happen in real life. Have no idea why they invented this.

i havent noticed that.

also the control the goalie is currentgen only i think

 

[OrgulloVikingo]

I disagree, the gameplay is real simulation for me. I'm yet to find any gripe. But to each their own.

The FIFA franchise has been an arcade game for years, especially this years current-gen. It's still arcade, just a bit harder.

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

EA got it organic, I feel a lot of people need to let it grow on them.

NK.

I am hoping so. I really am giving it time to grow on me. This iteration is definately sim, no question. Perhaps it's why people like me are bewildered, since EA has put out nothing like it.

 

[TheBizkit03]

theres one HUGE problem with his game which will mean you can NEVER love it



THE PLAYERS DO NOT COME TOWARDS THE BALL WHEN ITS PLAYED TO THEM


the f**king first thing a footballer taught at a young ages, jesus

 

[bowster]

when passing the ball just press towards the direction of the ball from the recieving player, because u take over the player recieving before the ball arrives to him, u actually have to move the player towards the ball...

well at least for me anyhow :P

 

[Sinspaw]

I disagree, the gameplay is real simulation for me. I'm yet to find any gripe. But to each their own.

The FIFA franchise has been an arcade game for years, especially this years current-gen. It's still arcade, just a bit harder.

FIFA 08 on next-gen IS simulation. It's very good. You have to know football to get the timing right, think how much time you actually have on the ball in real games. Not a lot especially against top teams.

EA got it organic, I feel a lot of people need to let it grow on them.

NK.

[PS3 Here]

I do agree, FIFA has become better and better. But it's not good enough.
I don't mean to flame anyone in anyway, I'm just gonna give my opinion on the demo that I've been playing for some hours.

Shooting is quite impressive considering how it has evolved, but it's just not good when compared to , and yes it has to be like this, PES. I'm not a fanboy because I considered buying FIFA if it was better, just so we're clear. The reason shooting is just not good it's because you rarely miss it wide or anything alike, it's just weak, or easily defended or it goes just a little beside the post. And that's not real, it just isn't, I feel like there's no lucky goals ( hence, like real life) it's just as it is, if you get it right it's goal, if you don't it's on the goalkeeper. Shooting just doesn't feel real because it's too 'GK or GOAL'. Crossing and passing in general feels a bit edgy, sometimes you just wanna do a simple pass to a guy next to you uncovered, and it's so slow that even a guy far away intercepts it. Crossing just feels like noone is gonna catch it and I've yet to had a header towards the goal.Then there's the speed thing that someone else mentioned, you get caught everytime in a sprint. The first touches are incredibly frustrating, sometimes I pass the ball to ronaldinho and he's like 6 or 7 meters away from the defender but he's first touch is so bad (even when not pushing R2) that the defender goes there and takes it away like it's his already. The animations look very good though, and the presentation looks good too, EA has some nice work with faces for a change, PC version is still really blurry to say the least though.

FIFA has improved no doubt, but sorry to say this , and I really am I was looking forward to fifa, there's still a not-so-small gap between the games and I'm gonna stick with PES this year aswell. I feel like if I play the demo until the game comes out I'm gonna explore 90% of the ways of scoring goals. I score and discover new stunning goals even after almost a year of PES. But hey, if you guys like FIFA, I say, enjoy it! because that's the point in all this.

 

[jjgadget]

when passing the ball just press towards the direction of the ball from the recieving player, because u take over the player recieving before the ball arrives to him, u actually have to move the player towards the ball...

Yep I totally agree, thats what your meant to do..complete freedom of movement and NO scripting.

it's just not good when compared to , and yes it has to be like this, PES

I dont think there is a point in COMPARING these two games anymore because they are just too different, Fifa 08 is now a simulation of Football and PES is an Arcade football game(not a bad thing)............I am going to bye fifa 08 for the Xbox 360 & PES 2008 for the PC which means I get Next Gen Football with Both console and PC, But I will not compare them because I love each equally but for different reasons.
Each game has their weakness and each game has their strengths , I am just happy that both Konami & EA are starting & I mean Just starting to listen to their consumers. I personally cannot wait to play each depending on what mood I am in...............you know!..... do I want to play serious simulation football or have fantastic all out Football fun action

 

[dangreen559]

I have a simple question, what teams are included in the 360 version of the demo?