Soccer is a funny sport. I've can, and have, played numerous soccer videogames and usually enjoy myself. However, when it comes to watching the real thing, it can never hold my attention for longer than a few minutes of regulation time. What surprised me about FIFA Soccer 2008 was that, compared to past games, it did as good a job at holding my attention as real games. While this wasn't good for me, it does work out well for soccer fans.

For whatever reason, FIFA has always been one of the better looking sports games on the market. With the exception of a few framerate drops, FIFA 08 does not disappoint. Player models look and animate really well. The number of animations has been upped and lends a smoother flow to gameplay. Although I wouldn't know one player from another, each has their own distinct look that sets them apart from the other players on the field. One of the more noticeable aspects about players is that they no longer have a "shine" to them, allowing them to look more like real people and less like action figures.

Even though I don't like the sport that much, I've always loved listening to play-by-play commentary during soccer games. With the exception of local, home team broadcasts, the commentary in most sports is generally kept low-key; something that is reflected in the usually drab commentary on other sports titles. This is not the case in most soccer games, which manages to make a simple kick sound like a game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Andy Gray and Martin Tyler provide commentary and do an outstanding job. Though some of their comments can get repetitious after a few games, it is always spot on and fun to listen to. The soundtrack is pretty great too.

The latest gameplay addition to FIFA 08 is the Be-A-Pro mode. Here you choose one player and perform all of his duties on the field. The camera stays on your player the entire game and keeps tabs on your personal stats during the game. For non-soccer fans, the mode is similar to the Madden's Superstar mode where you play one position and are responsible for all of that position's duties. The mode is compelling, especially once you realize that the only way to succeed is to play as a team. However, this can be hard to do at times; especially if you're playing a position that doesn't see the ball all that often. The only major downside is that you can only play through it in offline, single-player matches. While it would be cool to see the style included in a Season mode, it would be even more fun if you could play a game where every player was controlled by a different person.

Other than Be-A-Pro, FIFA 08 packs in numerous offline and online modes. You can play through whole seasons, or in one-shot exhibition games. You can also play through any number of real-world tournaments as well as custom tournaments. The only notable absence is the World Cup, which usually gets its own game anyway. A simple Manager Mode is also included, which lets you manage a team and decide everything from who to sign to how much tickets cost. Manager is an okay mode, though it isn't something most players will want to spend a lot of time with.

Most of the single-player modes have online variations. You can also set up your own online league with up to 31 other players. The online performance is pretty good. It is easy to find a game and there is rarely any lag.

Outside the game modes, EA has also added a lot of ESPN integrated content to hold soccer fan's attention just a little longer. The game keeps track of every game you play and as well as keeping track of your in-game Accomplishments (which are sort of like Achievements but without the cool sound and brag points). You can also get news updates from ESPN as well as follow your favorite teams. The entire package is really well done and offers a bit of a personal touch to the experience.

The one major detriment to all of the good things FIFA Soccer 08 does is the difficulty level. From the start, it is pretty apparent that the game was built for soccer fans who know what they are doing. The A.I. is absolutely brutal and makes it hard to score a point. A.I. players swarm the ball and always seem to have one trick or another up their sleeve. Though this will turn off more casual fans, it is sure to fire up the hardcore soccer fanbase.

One bonus about the new difficulty level is that it brings the game much closer to a real soccer game; which is probably why it didn't hold my attention as much as past games. The pacing is a lot slower and you really have to think about your on-field tactics. Scores are generally pretty low since much of the emphasis is on maintaining control of the ball and waiting for openings rather than just taking long shots down the field.

FIFA Soccer 08 uses a new skills feature which allows you to perform a variety of tricks using the right-analog stick. The general idea behind the feature is similar to the ball-handling controls in NBA Live; with a few flicks of the right stick, you can feint a pass, turn or do a step-over move. Every player can pull off some sort of moves, though the better, more skillful players have more options and can perform better moves. While the skills look cool and are fun to play around with, they aren't very useful in game situations. However, I could imagine someone who really knows soccer getting a little more out of the moves since they'll know when to use them.

Although there are a few question marks hovering over the tricks you can perform, the basic ball handling is actually pretty good. The ball actually feels like it has a bit of weight to it, which plays well into the game's physics system. There's a little more to kicking the ball and you never feel like the game is going to float away from you - something that has been a problem in past games.

For a casual soccer fan, FIFA 08 probably isn't a good choice, at least if you're not willing to delve a little deeper into the sport's mechanics. FIFA 08's learning curve is steeper than past games which felt a little more "arcade-y". On the flip side, hardcore fans who generally overlook FIFA for those same reasons may want to give the '08 edition a look.