FIFA 08 demo available for download on 360 and PS3

[Zabka]

I am downloading it now. 7 playable teams. I don't know if the multiplayer is available in this demo--I am guessing not.

[Zabka]

Wow. the gameplay on this is leaps above what has been available before. Unfortunately, that also means that I am not proficient enough to be able to evaluate how good or poor the AI is.

One nice thing is that you can customize the degree to which you allow the computer to assist your passing, crosses, etc....so you can direct your passes to whom you want and into space instead of it always going to another player's feet. The bad part of that is that it is hard to control the power of each little pass.

The demo is also really short. 7 teams playable on single player for 1 four minute half. Too hard to see how realistic the soccer intelligence is. But the goal scoring and crossing is definitely more realistic.

Also--one fun item that they added is that while you are waiting for the game to load, it puts you into this 1v1 game with you as Ronaldinho vs a goalie in an old school NASL shootout style (like in hockey). you can practice all of your trick moves and see how the shots can very in accuracy as a result of how your body is leaning.

[SithWarrior]

They have the one on one in FIFA '07 Zab

[Zabka]

Gotcha. I skipped 07 even though I heard about the ball physics having its own engine.

I screwed around a little bit with the customization of the passing controls (assisted, semi assisted, manual) and it really does change the game.

the other thing I thought was interesting too was that the AI had problems scoring inside the 18 a lot due to a little jostling or sometimes simply because it was a hard volley to hit. Very realistic---but probably not a game for people looking for a more arcadey type game as FIFA has historically been (send the ball down the flanks, cross it in to a striker who heads it in despite a man on him working way too easily). The scoring is not easy in this game--0r maybey I am too crappy at it for now.

I also like the Pro view (don't know if that was in 07), where you view upfield from a 3rd person view. The problem is that you can't see the people making runs behind you for support---but I guess that is more realistic as well---but harder.

This should be a lot of fun for soccer fans and looks like it might be the first game where people aren't talking about FIFA narrowing the gap---maybe FIFA surpasses the gameplay in this installment.