A deep and innovative card system is what makes UEFA worthwhile. In terms of gameplay; minor improvements upon FIFA 07.
A potentially very addicting card system is the key feature in UEFA. The new feature is called Ultimate Team Mode where you start from scratch and build your very own dream team by buying cards with the credits you will earn when completing matches against varied teams. You can really lose yourself without even playing a single game of soccer by just managing your team. Aspects such as player contracts, staff contracts, injuries, fitness, gameplay cards, skill enhancement cards etc. all keep you pretty busy when trying to structure your team accordingly.
Apart from Ultimate Team Mode, which is probably the best mode on the game, you can enter in a UEFA Champions League tourney. You pick your favourite team and play thru group stage games, then work your way up to the final. Online play is top-notch! Virtually no lag. However, that DUMB sprint-glitch can STILL be used in UEFA. You would think EA would have the brains to get rid of that glitch, but apparently not. Other than that, online play will keep you busy when the Ultimate Team Mode is over with.
So, overall, the game boasts some great modes. As i have stated before, the gameplay needs MUCH work although, I am very excited to see where this new ball physics system could potentially go. (Perhaps FIFA 08?) The game is much slower (but more realistic) paced. Passing is quicker and shooting has been tweaked. The finese shot has been toned down, making it almost useless in most situations. You can no longer score by placing your striker in the perfect position just outside the corner of the box and shoot it over the goalie's head. In my opinion, the NEW through ball mechanics are a complete miss. Dare I say I like the through ball more in FIFA 07?? The through ball is always placed much ahead of the intended recipient, which is fine. Although, passing in general, is UEFA's biggest problem. It is DEFINITELY not precise enough, you will find yourself cursing at the game because your player will pass the ball to open space. You will always find yourself an excellent place to pass the ball (just outside the defender for example) but will not be able to do it because the normal pass goes right to the recipient and the through pass usually does not place the ball where you want it to go.
One of the biggest improvements is tackling, it is much more realistic. It is harder to get the ball off of players now. The A.I. however, is a different story. It is so ridiculously hard to get the ball off a computer A.I. player, it's just down-right frusterating. It often becomes a one-man show who SOMEHOW deke your entire defence.
Speaking of defence, I'll be blunt - defenders act as if they're ALL lazy. It's just a giant mess; sure, you can control one of the defenders yourself, but the others just kind of stand around and make fools of themselves. Something must be done with the way defense is played in FIFA games.
Attacking, on the other hand, is pretty good. Your team will run up the field with you and do a nice job of getting into a position for an attack. AND NOW! You can ACTUALLY successfully pass in the BOX! Which was a rare ocassion in FIFA 07.
EA compensates for the fact that this is the FOURTH soccer game for the 360 in just over a year, primarily with the Ultimate Team Mode. I will say that this is the very best playing soccer game the 360 has to offer, but it is no gem. UEFA is a half-finished version of the REAL soccer game EA could potentially offer to its fans. It depends though, EA has recently been criticized to deliver under expectations. In conclusion, take it from me, a player who's online record stands at 410-150 (online) in FIFA 07. I know what I'm talking about. This game is decent but my GOD, this game, with a little more precisive passing and a rework of the dribbling (maybe a reintroduction of the skill stick?) EA could have a REAL gem of a soccer game on their hands. Much work is to be done, but I look forward to the FIFA 08 instalment.