Digital Sportspage Blog

I’m not too impressed.

The audio is great. I liked the German stadium announcer in the Allianz Arena.

On my first cross into the box, I had a player unmarked who (even though I was pressing the shoot button) decided to chest it in the air to the GK. I’ve seen a lot of this in the demo (and in 07)…where players decide to try and trap the ball in a crowded box instead of shooting.

Player control does seem a little sluggish. It seems difficult to beat someone off the dribble, even with a Ronaldinho or out on the wing.

I can’t stand through balls in this game. If a winger has a lot of space, the through ball won’t be pushed deep into that space…and sometimes it’ll end up short enough that it’s intercepted (even if there’s lots of room on the wing).

Defensive positioning is pretty good. Though in general, player movement doesn’t seem very dynamic…outside backs will make runs, but seem to stop at odd moments. AI movement is still MUCH more fluid in Winning Eleven.

My first goal was poor…a cross into a semi-unmarked Rooney in the box. He starts on a volley animation where the ball is sure to fly back to the corner flag if he hits it with his instep. Instead, the ball impossibly, powerfully goes off his cleats and goes in inside of the near post. Eek.

It may be a little improved from FIFA 07, but it still seems well behind Winning Eleven.