NIDZUMI+

Every 2 years we get treated to another game based on the FIFA engine for the World Cup & Euro tournaments and it’s now that time for latter to make its appearance in the form of UEFA Euro 2008.

Let me start out by saying I’m a PES-Head and although I have found myself enjoying EA’s latest outings with FIFA, I’m still sticking by the Pro Evo. With that said I was pleasantly surprised when I started to play Euro 2008, to find out that it’s not stupidly paced like its predecessors. You have to think more about what to do and when to do it and although you can just run through the defense this isn’t always the case. It’s a shame that they have made this aspect a lot more likable because it makes me feel bad when I don’t really like it.

Graphically its great, mainly due to the rain effects that the demo forces upon you. Players look realistic despite strangely dark areas around the eyes, maybe they all went out with Jack Sparrow the night before the big match or something. Anyway, the only small graphical error I can spot is that when its showing you a replay there is a split second before the players pop up. Meaning you look at a empty pitch if only for a flash.

The commentary is so-so. Obviously its going to be limited due to the demo size but they still haven’t found away to make the commentary flow. It sounds really weird when they are calm and nothings happening and then they just go berserk when a good player receives the ball.

My main problem with the game is the way it controls because you seem to be stuck to a grid and there is a serious lack of power that you can put into the passes. Apart from the clunky controls the game did impress, mainly due to some smaller little additions they’ve made. The power-bars are now above the player’s heads instead of tucked away at the bottom. and you can also take control of your celebrations by mullering buttons.

The demo is limited but you actually get to play a full game instead of the regular ‘play-until-half-time-FIFA-demos’ we have seen in the past. You also get to play the ‘Be A Pro’ mode which lets you play as just one player. You can pick anyone one on the pitch from any position except the goalkeeper but obviously you are going to pick a striker and this is surprisingly fun. As Henry I had to watch the line for offside, make runs when needed & occasionally bang the ball in the back of the net. It gives you a marker to tell you were you should be and you can shout for the ball when you are in space.

With the additions I couldn’t help but be impressed but due to some slight graphical errors and the clunky controls, I can’t see this one I’d play for hours on end. The full game will have a full Euro 2008 campaign mode and a new mode were you create a player, then work your way up through the Countries B-Team to eventually become the captain at the Euro 2008 Tournament, by using the games ‘Be-A-Pro’ Mode.UEFA Euro 2008 is due out April 11th, in Europe and May 20th in North America. It will be on Xbox 360, PC, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP.

No plans have been made for either of the Nintendo systems yet.