A League in the big time

IT seems Australia's qualification for and subsequent good showing at last year's FIFA World Cup in Germany is still paying dividends.

Interest in the round-ball code is strong, the local A League is drawing more crowds and attention and the national team has embarked on a new era on the road to the 2010 finals as a member of the Asian Football Confederation.

Last but not least, Australia is being recognised as a legitimate entrant in the latest version of EA Sport's football game, FIFA 08.

The A League's inclusion as one of the national leagues open to players of FIFA 08 can only boost the game here.

All eight A League teams are offered, and the player roster seems up to date, with even Brazilian import Juninho getting a start with Sydney FC.

That doesn't help the team's star rating, which probably quite realistically doesn't match up anywhere near overseas glamour teams such as Bayern Munchen, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

FIFA 08, like its predecessors, is most definitely a fan's game.

From its initial boot-up, when you are asked to lock in your favourite team from the various world leagues, it rewards the total-football fanatic.

From there you can jump straight into quick-match mode or indulge in other challenges, such as team management mode, challenge mode (having to fulfil a series of goals in 10 regions), or tournament mode.

All these various options and modes help keep the game fresh.

Mastering one doesn't necessarily mean the end of the game's usefulness, as there are plenty more to tackle.

A new mode particularly worth mentioning is pro, which lets you take the role of a single player rather than control a whole team.

This isn't as easy as it sounds. It involves brushing up on his various skills, monitoring his performance and communicating and interacting with fellow team members and opposing players.

It's an interesting inclusion and bound to bring new fans to EA Sports' FIFA series.

The graphics, at least on the Xbox 360, are top-notch. The stadiums, for example, are beautifully recreated, from the new Wembley to Allianz in Munich. Unfortunately, despite the A League's inclusion, none of the local venues get a start.

The online aspect, particularly on the Xbox, adds a new dimension, such as participating in online leagues and tournaments.

I would have liked to see some national options and confederation and World Cup tournaments, but there are many options that you can tailor.

SPECIFICATIONS

Publisher: EA Sports
Platform: Xbox 360
Price: $99.95
Rating: 7/10