Yellow Card indefinately.
FIFA 08 was a very handsome game, like proper handsome, if your girlfried was going out with it, you would definately be jealous. The animations were brilliant as Ronhildinho dribbled the ball and performed all his magnificent tricks on the pitch, compared to Pro Evo 2008, it definately was the looker of the two. So UEFA being built on the same engine, howcome it looks slightly less amazing? I even sat down and compared it to FIFA 08 and it looked a lot more jaggy and pixelly. Seriously WTF?
The animations were still great but I couldn't tell who players were from a distance and in the video sections celebrating a goal, it slowed down. It went all stuttery and and stuff, like a bad TV signal. And it being a game about elegance on the pitch, juttering celebrations aren't a good sign.
The pitches don't even look as fantastic and it looks sometimes as a spewed out cash in.
However, tactics and play have been significantly improved and make for a generally better flowing and interactional game. Whilst playing my dad, who is 47 and loves games by the way, the tension and excitement built to such a climax that when I scored, the sensation was fantastic. The crowd atmosphere cheering at your stonker of a goal, it was captivating, something very few types of games can do. Celebrating round the front room with my t-shirt over my head and going smack face into a wall.
All of this is accompnied by an up to date and fully licensed sountrack, all of which are either classic modern day anthems or belting tunes that 100% capture the essense of the game. Pigeon Detectives have been in a lot of EA games recently and they are more than welcome to return here.
The lack of teams available compared to FIFA 08 is also a bit of a let down, but then I remembered it was UEFA Champions League and of course there are fewer teams in the competition, but I still prefer to have the choice. However all avid England leg-humpers can have a go with JT and the gang and perhaps win a competition in UEFA, still though the chances are big and fat.
Overall, UEFA makes a few tweaks to the formula which tighten up gameplay and perhaps is a step closer to greatness for FIFA 09. Hwever disappointing graphics hinder this games from being as good as FIFA 08 as the overall look suggest it was rushed out in time for the competition.