[blacklover]

After reading all the great info here regarding FIFA 09 I popped 08 back in to the 360. Had not played it for many many months. In the interim as far as futbol games go I have played PES08 and EURO 08. Both games are okay but still lacking in many areas we all know about.

Revisiting FIFA 08 has been interesting though. 6 matches played after loading the FEB 2008 roster file again.

My number one complaint about gameplay (free flowing gameplay) is how a re-directed or change of possession knock always goes directly to the feet of a player who is on the run or standing in space. I have yet to see one single ball fall into a 50-50 situation away from anyone which would result in a chase for possession. Which we all know happens incredibly frequently in all futbol matches. What the lack of balls knocked to nobody does is create artificial "rush attacks" (and 90% of the time it's in the CPU's favor when this happens) where the person who just played the ball is heading the wrong direction and has to then fight to catch up to the sudden immediate possession switch.

Euro 08 handled this a bit better but there are still issues with too many balls played directly to a players feet off of random normally uncontrollable touches of the ball.

For example, the keeper hoofs it upfield just clearing the halfway line (never to the opposing penalty area or anywhere as long or far as real keepers can), the CPU heads it directly to the feet of a runing CF/ST and it's off to the races. Once or twice a game? Ok that would be fine. 5-6 times a half? No. Now of course you can angle your boots upfield away from players but if it does not go out of bounds it always goes to a player or set of players waiting exactly at the landing point.

Another example would be any long ball played upfield from anywhere near your own penalty area that goes right to players standing waiting for it.

It just happens too frequently in the game.

Second thing I wish for is a return to a free kick meter or something that provides more feedback than the hit it and hope method currently in all futbol games. I can't remember which FIFA had the ball meter (99?) that you could set the spin on and had some sort of goal to achieve to get the ball on target. This needs to return. Just some meter points to try to hit that would equate to a well struck free kick. It certainly doesn't have to go in every time you hit it perfectly but it could be excitingly parried away by the keeper due to how well struck it was. This way at least you would have some sort of skill based routine to work with to get your results.

All the news for FIFA 09 sounds good so far except the manager mode bits.

Ok back to playing FIFA 08 Euro 08 and PES 08.