Video game reviews: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, Fifa 08, and Football Manager 2008

Three games for football fans

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
PC, PS2 (version tested), PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP. Available now, from £29.99

Some welcome finesse has been added to the latest in the Pro Evo series. Those "hit and hope" passes are a thing of the past, while a greater emphasis on physicality reflects the modern game. Players with a high dribbling skill can now be used as one-man armies. Goals, however, require more patience although they are spectacular when you get it right.

New features such as the shirt-pull, dive and targeted cross are tricky to pull off, but add new ways to break down the defence, a must given that the game now uses artificial intelligence. Sadly, the menu is only slightly less confusing than before and the soundtrack is typically irritating. But commentary is far more fluid, adding that extra touch of authenticity to those sofa-based cup ties. Clever, high-tempo football is the order of the day here and the recurring feature that makes PES the game of choice among amateur tacticians.
Rob Davies

Fifa 08
PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox360 (version tested), Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC. Available now, from £39.99

Every year, EA releases a Fifa title and every year, despite selling by the truckload, the same complaint is levelled at it - it's not as good as Pro Evolution Soccer. Perhaps hoping to quash this criticism, Fifa 08 has ditched the easy arcade-style game-play of its predecessors, and opted instead for a more realistic rendition of the beautiful game.

In Fifa 08, careful passing is essential, through-balls are vital and players who try to win by simply charging forward will quickly find themselves at the bottom of the league. Above all, practice is paramount as the game's difficulty levels (even on easy setting) are extremely high. It also looks and sounds brilliant, has a smooth control system, and boasts a ton of modes - if you can get past the fiddly menu. Overall, EA has transformed its flagship football title from a rival to a genuine alternative to PES. Fifa 08 is more of a potent contender than ever before.
Nick Cowen

Football Manager 2008
PC. Available now, £34.99

For computer-gaming football fans, the two most exciting days of the year are the start of the season and the day the new Football Manager game is released. As always, the latest edition will have you wave goodbye to your social life.

The 2008 game is as compulsive, time-absorbing and exhaustive as ever. Fans will buy the new edition anyway for the updated teams, managers etc. But when they do, they'll find a radically overhauled game with an excellently updated interface and tons of new technical, financial and managerial detail and decision-making to occupy them into the wee small hours. Rather than sit on their laurels and rely on the huge and loyal fanbase, the makers have made significant improvements, too numerous to mention here. You know you were going to buy it anyway, but you'll be pleased to hear the best football management game on the planet is now even better.
Nick Pettigrew