UEFA EURO 2008 Full Game

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:17 pm

Just though to start a new one since this isn't a demo.

I love the Be a Pro mode in this game. I hope they expand it for FIFA 09. It would be neat to start on the the reserve squad and have to work you way up. For the bigger teams you need to be really good, or they loan you out; possibly even selling you. This would be a great alternative to manager mode.

One huge negative... you get a really nice game of football in Captain Your Country (Be a Pro) mode. Yet in the teamplay I still see the same funky AI that was in FIFA 08. Just strange that the CPU teammate movement is that much better in this mode.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:33 pm

How's the AI in the game JRod? IGN says it's still messy and uneven. Is it more improved than in FIFA 08? Does the offensive AI try and create more space?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:39 pm

I have the same questions I posted in the other thread. How's the passing system overall? I found the new meter passing in the demo pretty useless until I had to turn it off. How are the through passes and headers overall? Not quite sure if there's enough improvements for 50 bucks un my view, looking forward to more impressions. Captain your country seems to be the selling point of the game but how does it work exactly, are you locked to only one player at all times?

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:50 pm

Thank you for the impressions JRod, but more importantly thank you for starting a new thread for actual final release impressions.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:29 pm

10spro wrote:I have the same questions I posted in the other thread. How's the passing system overall? I found the new meter passing in the demo pretty useless until I had to turn it off. How are the through passes and headers overall? Not quite sure if there's enough improvements for 50 bucks un my view, looking forward to more impressions. Captain your country seems to be the selling point of the game but how does it work exactly, are you locked to only one player at all times?

CYC as it's abbreviated is all I've been playing this afternoon. In my first CYC I took Gabby Agbonlahor to try to get him to the england squad. You play 4-5 games on B squad matches. For those non-soccer fans, yes there really are B national teams. You do however have to pick 3 competitors; either human players in the hot seat or CPU teammates.

I failed in my first CYC and did not get into the full squad. I have no idea if you sit the bench or what. It's rather limited in one sense and true to EA's idea of accessible unrealism. The CPU manager isn't going to take you off or see what you can do from the bench on the B team. It seems you either start or not.

I suppose it will be the same for the national squad. A shame really because it would have been something to come off the bench and put in a performance. EA has never really applied themselves in creating this type of realism. (Ex. see Madden Superstar and NCAA Campus Legend.)

However, I am glad that you have to play well to get onto the national team otherwise, this would have been a terrible game.

Right now, I'm Alan Hutton at Scotland. We'll see what I do.

Passing:
It's better. The ball has more zip and you won't see so many defenders jump your passes while your CPU player tries to call Niko on his cell phone. I haven't really played that much in team mode.

CYC is pretty fun so far.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:41 pm

I agree CYC is the selling point of the game, and I've enjoyed it so far.
I started off creating myself as a RM for England. And Steve McClaren show his worth, first by sticking me in the middle and then by shifting me out on the left.
I did wound up scoring a goal in my last B game, but I did not get the call up to the national side.
BTW my competition was Gerrard, Walcott, and Beckham.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Wed May 21, 2008 1:28 am

CYC is fun but I don't like having to play against three other computer players as their stats just seem totally pointless. I created my own player (named after yours truly) and was totally crap. It's a bit unfair that they don't allow you to make your created players skills even halfway decent which makes getting onto the A squad basically impossible for me. Maybe I just need more time with it.

The good... I like the meter for passing. Passing in general feels tighter and more responsive. Shooting has gotten tougher for me as I now find that the defense likes to huddle around at the top of the box making my usual FIFA shooting spots less effective. The gameplay is a bit more smooth and the graphics are improved especially the facial features. The post-goal celebrations are totally fun. My current celebration I run around in a circle alternating between raising my left and right hands with a kneeling fist pump to finish it off. Its really funny when you see it.

A few gripes... The computer's thru passes are sometimes a bit too accurate for my liking. Too frequently during a game the cpu will also channel the crossing abilities of Beckham in his prime, regardless of who has the ball, and perform some of the most amazing downfield crossing lobs I've ever seen. Luckily their finishing skills are terrible so they rarely ever score from them.

Currently I'm without internet until Thursday AM so I can't check out any of the online features. As far as I can tell there is no OTP which is a bummer.

Oh and I've gotten England into EURO 2008 (woo hoo!) on professional difficulty and if I manage to win it all then I'll give it another go on world class.

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:36 am

Here is my .02.

I've played a small handful of games online and all of them have been awesome. I really dig the knockout tournaments. I won a match and then could not find an opponent form my second round. I put that session on standby and a minute or two later a box popped up saying an opponent was available for my match.

All of my online games were very smooth in the game play department. The cut scene transisitons are not as smooth as i'd like, but the gameplay itself is silky smooth.

I love the broadcast camera and agree that CYC is pretty cool. I'm a RAM attempting to break into the Netherlands squad.

I'm not one to break a game down and dissect it.. However I do see the AI doing things on the attack that I don't see in Fifa 08.. They appear to be a bit more creative and patient - as in sending the ball back out to re-build the attack.

In a nutshell I like the game.. and since I hardly buy games anymore I can't argue with the price. I really like the Online knockout tournament mode.. I've never been one to play randoms, but this has been pretty fun.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:05 am

CYC is what interests me at this point. I haven't picked it up yet, but I'm glad to hear this mode has some depth to it.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:08 am

So does CYC use the same camera that Be a Pro did?

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed May 21, 2008 1:03 pm

so How many games are in a Euro Tourney from Qualifying to winning the whole thing?

Debating about getting this

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:03 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:So does CYC use the same camera that Be a Pro did?

You can use any camera even be a Pro cam.

so How many games are in a Euro Tourney from Qualifying to winning the whole thing?

There are around 14 qualifiers (8 teams home and away). One or two friendly and then there's the tournament. 3 games in group and maybe 3 more to win it all.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:10 pm

JRod wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:So does CYC use the same camera that Be a Pro did?
You can use any camera even be a Pro cam.

so How many games are in a Euro Tourney from Qualifying to winning the whole thing?
There are around 14 qualifiers (8 teams home and away). One or two friendly and then there's the tournament. 3 games in group and maybe 3 more to win it all.

20 game season...Really worth it...I don't know!!

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:42 pm

Zlax45 wrote:
JRod wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:So does CYC use the same camera that Be a Pro did?
You can use any camera even be a Pro cam.

so How many games are in a Euro Tourney from Qualifying to winning the whole thing?
There are around 14 qualifiers (8 teams home and away). One or two friendly and then there's the tournament. 3 games in group and maybe 3 more to win it all.
20 game season...Really worth it...I don't know!!

Why ? Does the disc self distruct mission impossible style after you complete a season ?

Gman33 · Post by **Gman33** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:32 pm

An NFL season is 16 games plus potentially 3 playoff games for a total of 19, which is one game less than Euro 2008. Additionally there are only 32 teams in the NFL compared to the 52 in Euro. I will be picking this up on Friday as I loved the demo. Not sure why a 20 game season matters if the gameplay is improved from FIFA 08.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:37 pm

Picked up the game and have played 4 on CYC as Scotland - yeah, I know I'm a glutton for punishment.

I'm a little mixed on the game right now. Responsiveness is definitely better and that helps the game quite a bit. But I just played Faero Islands and they were pinging the ball around like they were Brazil or Italy. For five minutes I practically couldn't get a touch on the ball. I wish they'd figure out a way to adjust the gameplay and AI so that weaker teams played like weaker teams.

Best wishes,

Doug

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:46 pm

One of the things this series really needs are sliders. That's too bad that EA can't seem to get the teams to mimic how they play on real life.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:19 pm

Rodster wrote:One of the things this series really needs are sliders. That's too bad that EA can't seem to get the teams to mimic how they play on real life.

I think they need to figure out a way to integrate the player ratings into the game more effectively. If the ball control skills for weaker players weren't so darn good they wouldn't be able to ping it around so effectively. In the game I played the Faero Island players were playing perfect 1 touch soccer and that simply shouldn't happen - particularly when they are under pressure.

That and playing more route 1 which is a hallmark of weaker sides.

Best wishes,

Doug

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:49 pm

I thought they said weaker teams play like they did in real qualification when up against a good side they pack 11 men behind the ball and get you on a break.

Is no one noticing that.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:54 pm

Liechtenstein consistently packed in 10 behind the ball in my game as Spain--only Frick was roaming up top looking for a break, which he got thanks to some of my worst defending yet. It is interesting to get what seems like a nice attack going only to see a sea of red and blue in front of you.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Thu May 22, 2008 11:50 am

In the Eufa Euro 2008 mode (the main campaign) can you play in be a pro mode or is it team mode only ?

Basicly is an exhibition match or cyc your only options for a be a pro style game ?

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:38 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:I thought they said weaker teams play like they did in real qualification when up against a good side they pack 11 men behind the ball and get you on a break.

Is no one noticing that.

The packed defense maybe. But the weak teams are still way too good at passing the ball around.

Or maybe Scotland just suck that badly!

Best wishes,

Doug

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:59 pm

Is anyone able to score consistently from outside the box? I think I have one goal from range in the 15-20 games that I've played, and I've been trying more aggressively since I've perceived it as a possible problem. The keepers seem to get to everything.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:13 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:In the Eufa Euro 2008 mode (the main campaign) can you play in be a pro mode or is it team mode only ?

Basicly is an exhibition match or cyc your only options for a be a pro style game ?

Can Captain your Country through and entire qualifying campaign. Right now I'm suspended for a qualifying game against France and we're down 3-0 in the first half.

Best wishes,

Doug

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:15 pm

RobVarak wrote:Is anyone able to score consistently from outside the box? I think I have one goal from range in the 15-20 games that I've played, and I've been trying more aggressively since I've perceived it as a possible problem. The keepers seem to get to everything.

That's been a problem with the Fifa series for a while. Too many long range shots are on target, so the keepers are set up to be super human in order to keep the scores down. Closer in they tend to play like idiots.

Best wishes,

Doug