UEFA EURO 2008 (XBOX 360) Review

Posted by Sean Garmer on 06.08.2008

Want more than just the live games, play EURO 2008 all day with this fantastic title.

Since its inception in 1960, the European Championships have been a showcase of some of the best teams and players to ever lace up a pair of boots. UEFA EURO 2008 looks to be no different with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Andrea Pirlo, and Miroslav Klose ready to dazzle on the field. EA has decided to attempt to match all of the drama and intensity with their video game bearing the same name. While it may not have the immense amount of options included in last year’s FIFA 08, it does make improvements on that fantastic game. What are those you may wonder? Well continue to read to find out.







Graphics:





EA always gets this part of the game right and this one is no different. The graphics do not vary much from the improvements made by FIFA 08. They do have a bit more of a glossy, almost shiny look to them when the camera pans up close, but the players are still as recognizable as ever. EA has modeled all of the tournament stadiums of Austria and Switzerland quite well, with the only bugs coming during the pre-game pageantry. The game gets choppy at the outset when the national anthems are being played. It also occurs when the game does these random pans (during play) to the managers. There are no problems during actual play it runs very smooth and fluid. The camera has been moved closer to the players giving a person more of the action, making you feel almost like your there, instead of watching the game move on a screen. It is still far enough away to allow you to see who is making that vital run towards goal, and that is what’s most important.


Gameplay:





This game’s engine is the same as FIFA 08 but it does improve some aspects of play, making them a bit sharper and easier to accomplish. First the trick system has been tweaked a bit, taking a page from FIFA Street 3, the right stick is still used to pull off maneuvers, but by pressing down the Left Trigger, a whole onslaught of different tricks are ready to use on your opponent. Overall, I found this slightly easier than FIFA 08, but I could also get around players without using the tricks, so it is really up to each player.

The pace of the game has been quickened too, but that’s expected as these are all high caliber footballers on the pitch at the EURO’s, but it is still in tune with the realism of the players. You aren’t going to see Jan Koller winning 1 v 1 running battles against quick defenders. The A.I. has also been improved, and they get harder as you progress through the game. If you are playing through qualification with a big team, then pretty much only the tough teams will be a bother (unless you play on Legendary), whereas, if you get to the Knockout round of EURO 2008 every team will be more difficult.

This game may not be as slow paced as FIFA 08, but the game still requires you to play similar to the real thing. Barging balls straight from defense to the strikers still happens on occasion but there is a line of defense in front of you, which will force players to use their midfield to connect passes to the front men. No longer will a player be able to just hit a button and instantly get in the 18-yard box. You have to find the spaces and build up the play just like a real game of footy. Once you get in goal scoring position, the position of the analog stick when a shot is released and the power used on the shot button are the keys to victory. However, the fun doesn’t stop with just scoring the goal in UEFA EURO 2008.

Celebrations are important too, EA has instituted a create-a-celebration feature. When a goal is scored pressing the right stick while still moving with the left stick, and using the modifier buttons, allows players to make their own celebration. Anything from Luca Toni’s ear gesture to the trademark slide, you can choose exactly what celebration fits the occasion. It isn’t a ground breaking feature but at least it gives people a fun option to make each goal just a wee bit different.


The major improvement is the Captain Your Country Mode. This is the EURO 2008 take on the Be-A-Pro Mode instituted in FIFA 08. This is what EA was promising Be-A-Pro would be in FIFA 09. You can create-a-player of your own or use an existing player, and compete against three other players (that you pick) to try to become the captain of the national team of your choosing (You can play as any position but Goalkeeper.) The mode can be played with three friends cooperatively or by yourself with the CPU controlling the three others. First, let me say that I love that they changed the camera. The whole Gears of War roadie camera located behind the player may have been cool, but it was atrocious to use. It limited your view of the field and made it hard to dodge defenders. The camera for this focuses on your player but it looks more like the default camera in FIFA 08. You can clearly see your player, but it also lets you see all the other players on the field at the same time. It allows you to see who should get the ball and how to open up space in the defense a lot easier, than with the other camera. The main reason for this is because it would have been impossible to play with friends using the other camera, and it would prevent you from being able to keep an eye on your competition.

The mode itself is simple, you begin as part of the B team, where you must compete against three other players and gain points. The player that’s highest will become captain of the B-Team. That’s a wonderful step, but you also must get into the squad for friendly’s, qualification, and the ultimate goal EURO 2008 itself, hoping that by then you are the captain of the squad, so you can lead your team to victory and capture the European championship.

This is how it works: next to the player bar is a number that rises and falls as you do things on the pitch. The game will try its best to keep you in position with yellow arrows that appear under him. It also has the bars and ratings of the other three players as well, to let you know if you need to play better. You gain points depending on position. A defender gains points for keeping position, making defensive stops, keeping a clean sheet, and stringing passes (unless your lucky enough to score a goal). While a striker needs to make sure, they get the ball and keep themselves involved in the play, as well as doing the obvious and scoring a goal or two. The player loses points depending on position as well. For example, everyone loses points for messing up a pass, but a striker or midfielder won’t lose points for the defense conceding a goal. Likewise, a defender or a midfielder not involved in the play won’t gain points for a goal scored. Of course just like in Madden, some positions are easier than others, but that’s the joy of the mode. People are free to choose what position they prefer best. This mode can actually get addicting if you get good at whatever position you choose.

The only criticism I have is that players shouldn’t be penalized for every pass they mess up. Especially on crosses, because not even the great David Beckham gets it right every time. It should only affect defenders because their passes out of the back are vital. Sure, you only lose like two points for every pass missed, but that can be the difference between progressing and losing out. I can’t wait to see what this mode will be like in FIFA 09, but putting the improved version in this game was a smart idea. Let’s hope eventually you will have the ability to play Be-A-Pro as a Keeper.





Aside from this mode, you can play the UEFA EURO 2008 tournament itself taking a team such as England that didn’t make the tournament through qualification (I’m deeply sorry for having to make that reference) (and the game still has Steve McClaren as manager, sorry), to the tournament. You can also just choose to play the tournament alone without qualification, but you can only choose teams that actually made it to the real one.

There is also online play, which besides the standard lobby play, you can also enter a 16 team knockout tournament, called the Online Knockout Cup. If you have to miss your scheduled game, the game itself will just pick another available opponent for you when you return. That is awesome; I don’t how many times in FIFA 08 I would get disqualified from a tournament because I didn’t make the scheduled time. The online play itself is great, there is no lag and I didn’t have any problems.

Finally there is the Story of Qualifying Mode, which let’s you re-enact actual events from the qualification games and try to repeat or rewrite history. These challenges can be as simple as winning a game, to controlling a certain player and scoring two goals in ten minutes. It is a nice way to relive some moments and a good way to deviate from just the standard game, plus, if you unlock all of those challenges, you get to unlock some from the actual UEFA EURO 2004. I’m still hoping that one day we will be able to play with classic national teams, alas, maybe in my lifetime it will happen.


The game does have one problem with the actual gameplay and that is the Goalkeepers. It doesn’t happen all-the-time, but it does happen frequently, especially on long range shots (maybe EA was anticipating that the Goalkeepers would have trouble with the official ball.) Jokes aside, there are many times where the Keeper will parry the ball when it would have been just as easy for him to try to catch it, and it sometimes can lead to dangerous rebounds that are easy for the opposition to score on. There was never a time that the Keepers didn’t go for balls going towards the net, but the way they are programmed to make some of the saves comes off very odd and costly.


Sound:

The crowd is lively and the sound is how it should be. EA did a great job nailing the atmosphere with the national anthems and the celebration of each game at the beginning and at the end. Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend give great commentary that keeps you involved in the match. EA also added a list of names that can be announced for your created player so that every time he touches the ball he isn’t left out of the play call. EA always seems to hit it with the EA Trax for their footy games, this one uses a bit from FIFA Street 3, FIFA 08, and also adds some of its own flavor to the proceedings. I do wish they would have added the official theme songs of the tournament into the game and the cool intro theme, but they may have been announced a little late for that, Regardless the tracks are still a nice mix to listen to in the Menus.


Lasting Appeal





The improvements to the Be-A-Pro and the challenge mode give this game some length. However, this is truly just a game made for this tournament and once the novelty where’s off there isn’t much use to keep playing. The other problem is that EA is only keeping the online servers on until the end of the tournament.

The other feature that EA introduced in this game is the Battle of the Nations. It is sort of like a buffed up version of the interactive leagues. When you begin the game, you choose which country you want to represent. Then as you play any actual gameplay mode (except for Story of Qualifying), you gain points for everything that you do in the game. If you are connected to XBOX LIVE and the EA servers, those points are transferred to the overall score for that country. Leading up to the actual UEFA EURO 2008 Final, where during the pre-game they will announce the winning country. The day after the game takes place EA will shut off the online servers. So pretty much after June 30th, online for this game is over. Any extra playablity the game may have had is thrown down the drain because of that. I know there is a cost issue involved, but they could have at least given people until August when the European season starts again. That makes it unfair to those in America that got the game a whole month later than those in the UK. It just doesn’t make sense to me, if EA knew they were going to do that they should have lowered the price tag on the game by 20 dollars, not just 10, and made it a worldwide release.


Fun Factor:




Very much like FIFA 08, this is a blast to play. If you have no interest in the EURO’s this probably isn’t the game for you, but anyone looking to get an extra fix besides just the real live games, you will not be disappointed. The Captain Your Country Mode can get you addicted and playing online in those Knockout Cups are fun. Too bad it has to end so quickly.


The 411: For those that aren’t online fanatics I would recommend purchasing the game, as it has enough in it to warrant a play through until the release of FIFA 09. For those that are buying for mainly the sole purpose of playing online and doing the whole battle of the nations thing, just rent it because you will be sorely disappointed when the tournament is over and at $50 dollars, it is kind of a rip-off. Regardless, EA made another great football game and for that, you have to commend them. I hope that this means FIFA 09 is going to be the game everyone has always wanted. Except for the online blip, EA might finally be taking back the footy videogame crown.

Graphics	9.0	The players and stadiums all look great
Gameplay	8.5	Captain Your Country is a big improvement to the Be-A Pro, Online play is fun, the only blip is a Goalkeeper issue
Sound	9.0	The EA Trax and the commentary from Tydlesley and Andy Townsend is spot-on
Lasting Appeal	7.0	The modes can all keep your attention, but the online servers are shutdown after the tournament so it doesn't have much lasting appeal
Fun Factor	8.5	The gameplay is taken straight from FIFA 08 with a slightly faster pace and better camera, add great modes and online, yeah.
Overall	8.5   [ Very Good ]

Screenshots
All 3 UEFA EURO 2008 Screenshots