While Electronic Arts' other sports games may be locked in a deadly rivalry with their competitors there really hasn't been a golf sim to go head-to-head with Tiger Woods for years. There doesn't seem to be too much laurel sitting going on though, especially since this is, like many Electronic Arts games this year, the first time the game has been designed specifically with the next generation of consoles in mind. Naturally that means the most realistic graphics yet, not only for the course itself but also for Tiger and the other real-world golfers. Their faces and expressions look totally life-like and on the PS3 and 360 you can use a webcam or digital camera to import your own face and graft it to your own in-game custom golfer.

In terms of gameplay the major new feature is the concept of "shot confidence" which monitors your performance through your whole career, adding an extra degree of tension to difficult shots but also allowing you to examine your game in detail to find out where you're going right and wrong. After criticisms that last year's game was a bit thin on options this new game has the greatest number of courses ever including Westchester Country Club, TPC Boston, Cog Hill and East Lake. There's also the expanded GamerNet mode which acts like a sort of YouTube just for the game, allowing you post in-game videos and challenge other people to a game in an online world dedicated to nothing but golf.

Harrison Dent

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

The greatest battle of the new football season is not between any real world club but between the virtual giants of FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. Konami's game has always been the favourite but last year FIFA closed the gap to such a degree that the title race has never been closer. This year's FIFA uses a completely new game engine, for the first time built specifically for the next gen consoles. But improved graphics and animation are only the half of it, with just as much focus going on the artificial intelligence thanks to the new "35 point decision engine". What this basically means is that every player on the pitch is fully aware of those around him and constantly thinking about tactics and position when not under your control.

Other changes include better modelled physics for taking a shot on goal, which take into account everything from air pressure to the angle of your foot. You're also able to create your own special moves to replicate every possible trick from real life. There are also new game modes including Be A Pro which challenges you to play the role of a single player through a whole season or career. On top of this there are revamped online leagues to play a virtual season in the Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division against real opponents. With 620 licensed teams, 30 offline leagues and 15,000 players as well FIFA might just have made enough new signings this year to put it over the top.

Harrison Dent

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

Its not a bad game. , 19 Jun 2008
I think some of these reviews were written too soon. I have played a few months and yes it is harder but the game play has improved immensely. You just need time to master it. I think FIFA need to work on these bugs before they release the game. There are a lot of odd things here from the commentary being totally wrong, or your defenders standing aside as the PC strikers run towards goal.. Aside from that the management section is as good as it gets.

Still a Fifa Fan, 22 Apr 2008
Ok so reading through these reviews there are a mixed bag.

I will admit when i first put the game on i thought jeez its hard to score compared to 07 and also was a little disappointed that the menus and features are not really updated.
But for me the look of the menus is like booking a hotel room, you don't spend much time there so as long as its simple then i'm happy.

After about a months of play i found Fifa 08 more fun than any of the previous versions, why?

Ok so its harder to score but isn't that what real football fans want, unlike 07 where you can leather a ball from 45 yards with Lampard and always score!!

Maybe not alot had changed but i prefer that than when you buy a game and they add 10 new controls and change the aspect, for me all they could do to Footy games now is add new features and increase the graphics, Game play seems to be at its best.

All in All its a great Football game for Football fans!

Disapointed in EA Games.., 25 Mar 2008
Well, I am a loyal fan of EA games and the fifa series and this game is a awful!! This game is litterly just 'FIFA 07' in every way, they have not even changed the layout.

I own a PS3 and I have a copy of FIFA 08 for that and its an amazing game, but to launch this game is a waste of space, the put all there time and effort into the next gen game and left this with 1 member of staff to do some pitafull 'upgrades' to make the game a year older! I can not begin with the flaws this thing has.

The skin and the menu styles are the same just a different colour, all they have done with the players is change some of the boots colours and updated the squads, I counted only two new real player models, the rest are the same as FIFA 07. The commentry is exactly the same, I think there are a few new phrases that were probably pre-recorded, so its all the same phrases from the previous game which is annoying. The gameplay is exactly the same, no new skills or styles of play, the manager mode is an exact replica with a couple of pitaful upgrades, even the manager icons are the same.

The gameplay is infact even worse and flawed than the previous game, FIFA 07 is actually better, in this game its so boring and hard to score, the difference in difficulty levels is pathetic, on semi pro you can win 5-0 but on professional its like legandry on FIFA 07, its flawed because its so easy to defend, the CPU is the most annoying thing in the world, they just run to the sidelines every time, one game the opposite team had 50 throw ins, no joke. None of your team goes up the field, even if you have the box overload function on, which means your attacking with about 3 people against 8 defenders, its really boring, frustrating and you get fed up, I have been playing FIFA since 1999 and this gameplay is the worse I have ever encountered.

I don't even know why they could bother programing this game, they are taking advantage of people who have not upgraded to next gen consoles, the PS2 version is the same as this PC one, I would of thought a PC could run the next gen version of the game but this must of been easier and cheaper to release.

There are very, very few, and rubbish upgrades from FIFA 07 in this game which are Formation editor (flawed) Training sessions in Manager mode (horribly flawed) and a new stadium White Hart Lane which is half made, oh, and lets not forget the keeper charge when your losing in the final minuets of the game, its the most pathetic little animation of the keeper running up the field, then he just appears in the box, that is litterly it, for a full year of updates, disapointing and shame on EA for releasing this.

The next gen version on PS3 and XBOX360 is a very good game, I own it and its brilliant, but this.... is a pathetic waste of money and is an insult to any football and Fifa fan, I feel this has done more damage than good to EA.

Overall, please, please, please DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! You will regret it!!!

Give it a try, 18 Mar 2008
Ok, so I have read through the reviews here and it's clear you all just want an easy game. Yes, it's hard to master, but it can be done you just have to put the effort in. As for getting players back when defending, well that is nothing new. Don't teams do that. The only valid comment is the commentry which is a little annoying, but you can always turn that off.

Just Fair, 17 Mar 2008
I have been a PES aficionado for many many years now. Fed up by their rubbish online servers, I turned to the dark side and bought FIFA. It is not that bad but nothing compared to PES6 as far as simulation is concerned (although PES2008 sucks!!! See my other review).
The thing that kills it for me is, again, online. In particular, whereas PES was unbearable for lagging, FIFA is nervewrecking because of online quitters! If you quit a match before the end u don't lose points! That means, zillions of quitters who will exit the match before the end if they are losing. In PES, if you lost connection, you would lose points and the other person would gain them. In FIFA, there is no penalty for quitting and if you get quit on, you do not gain any points even if u were winning!!! I have complained a lot with FIFA but they so far have not found a way over this. For me this is a BIG BIG issue. Sure, there is less lagging, but there is much higher chance of actually finishing a match only if u r losing! I am sure that my real ranking is at least 100 points higher than it is. Very very bad!
Also, FIFA seems more like a kid game with very unrealistic movements (i.e. u can actually manage to shoot at goal even running away from it...)
However, I find the whole team movements more realistic than PES (6 of course)

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

Its not a bad game. , 19 Jun 2008
I think some of these reviews were written too soon. I have played a few months and yes it is harder but the game play has improved immensely. You just need time to master it. I think FIFA need to work on these bugs before they release the game. There are a lot of odd things here from the commentary being totally wrong, or your defenders standing aside as the PC strikers run towards goal.. Aside from that the management section is as good as it gets.

Still a Fifa Fan, 22 Apr 2008
Ok so reading through these reviews there are a mixed bag.

I will admit when i first put the game on i thought jeez its hard to score compared to 07 and also was a little disappointed that the menus and features are not really updated.
But for me the look of the menus is like booking a hotel room, you don't spend much time there so as long as its simple then i'm happy.

After about a months of play i found Fifa 08 more fun than any of the previous versions, why?

Ok so its harder to score but isn't that what real football fans want, unlike 07 where you can leather a ball from 45 yards with Lampard and always score!!

Maybe not alot had changed but i prefer that than when you buy a game and they add 10 new controls and change the aspect, for me all they could do to Footy games now is add new features and increase the graphics, Game play seems to be at its best.

All in All its a great Football game for Football fans!

Disapointed in EA Games.., 25 Mar 2008
Well, I am a loyal fan of EA games and the fifa series and this game is a awful!! This game is litterly just 'FIFA 07' in every way, they have not even changed the layout.

I own a PS3 and I have a copy of FIFA 08 for that and its an amazing game, but to launch this game is a waste of space, the put all there time and effort into the next gen game and left this with 1 member of staff to do some pitafull 'upgrades' to make the game a year older! I can not begin with the flaws this thing has.

The skin and the menu styles are the same just a different colour, all they have done with the players is change some of the boots colours and updated the squads, I counted only two new real player models, the rest are the same as FIFA 07. The commentry is exactly the same, I think there are a few new phrases that were probably pre-recorded, so its all the same phrases from the previous game which is annoying. The gameplay is exactly the same, no new skills or styles of play, the manager mode is an exact replica with a couple of pitaful upgrades, even the manager icons are the same.

The gameplay is infact even worse and flawed than the previous game, FIFA 07 is actually better, in this game its so boring and hard to score, the difference in difficulty levels is pathetic, on semi pro you can win 5-0 but on professional its like legandry on FIFA 07, its flawed because its so easy to defend, the CPU is the most annoying thing in the world, they just run to the sidelines every time, one game the opposite team had 50 throw ins, no joke. None of your team goes up the field, even if you have the box overload function on, which means your attacking with about 3 people against 8 defenders, its really boring, frustrating and you get fed up, I have been playing FIFA since 1999 and this gameplay is the worse I have ever encountered.

I don't even know why they could bother programing this game, they are taking advantage of people who have not upgraded to next gen consoles, the PS2 version is the same as this PC one, I would of thought a PC could run the next gen version of the game but this must of been easier and cheaper to release.

There are very, very few, and rubbish upgrades from FIFA 07 in this game which are Formation editor (flawed) Training sessions in Manager mode (horribly flawed) and a new stadium White Hart Lane which is half made, oh, and lets not forget the keeper charge when your losing in the final minuets of the game, its the most pathetic little animation of the keeper running up the field, then he just appears in the box, that is litterly it, for a full year of updates, disapointing and shame on EA for releasing this.

The next gen version on PS3 and XBOX360 is a very good game, I own it and its brilliant, but this.... is a pathetic waste of money and is an insult to any football and Fifa fan, I feel this has done more damage than good to EA.

Overall, please, please, please DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! You will regret it!!!

Give it a try, 18 Mar 2008
Ok, so I have read through the reviews here and it's clear you all just want an easy game. Yes, it's hard to master, but it can be done you just have to put the effort in. As for getting players back when defending, well that is nothing new. Don't teams do that. The only valid comment is the commentry which is a little annoying, but you can always turn that off.

Just Fair, 17 Mar 2008
I have been a PES aficionado for many many years now. Fed up by their rubbish online servers, I turned to the dark side and bought FIFA. It is not that bad but nothing compared to PES6 as far as simulation is concerned (although PES2008 sucks!!! See my other review).
The thing that kills it for me is, again, online. In particular, whereas PES was unbearable for lagging, FIFA is nervewrecking because of online quitters! If you quit a match before the end u don't lose points! That means, zillions of quitters who will exit the match before the end if they are losing. In PES, if you lost connection, you would lose points and the other person would gain them. In FIFA, there is no penalty for quitting and if you get quit on, you do not gain any points even if u were winning!!! I have complained a lot with FIFA but they so far have not found a way over this. For me this is a BIG BIG issue. Sure, there is less lagging, but there is much higher chance of actually finishing a match only if u r losing! I am sure that my real ranking is at least 100 points higher than it is. Very very bad!
Also, FIFA seems more like a kid game with very unrealistic movements (i.e. u can actually manage to shoot at goal even running away from it...)
However, I find the whole team movements more realistic than PES (6 of course)


OK, could be better, 05 Jul 2008
Technical Review

Graphics - 6/10
Sound - 7/10
Value 9/10 if you havent got rugby 06, but 2/10 if you have
Gameplay 7/10
Interface 8/10

Average 7/10 or 6/10

Pro:

-Easy to use simulation
-Real Players and teams, with original stadiums and kits (correct to 2008)
-Play real competitions and the 2007 world cup

Con:

-Too similar to Rugby 06
-Players move around the pitch unrealisticly

My Opinion

This game had potential, but as most of the people EA will be selling to will be fans of the Rugby series and have the previous one (06), they should have made a lot more changes to it. The only big difference is the 'World Cup' Mode, which is exactly what it says on the tin.

The graphics are just, well, not-good-enough. the players can only move in eight directions, and turn instantly to face the direction you want them to face. Having played FIFA 08, I expected the motion to be as fluent and realistic as in that, but its not. EA need to work on that before the 2010 version comes out.

My advice on this game: If you really want a rugby game with mediocre graphics, poorly stitched sound and boring commentry and you dont have Rugby 06, get it.

Great fun for kids and it improves their tactics, 10 Mar 2008
We've never had a rugby game before. This was given to my eldest for his birthday by someone whose son (11) had played it non stop since Christmas. My boys (13, 11, 9) have played it non stop since. It does occasionally freeze on our set up and (according to my 13 year old) its not brilliant on all the laws - you can late tackle with impunity (but not early tackle), it has a tendancy to penalise you for an un-straight throw-in at the line out even when the opposition wins the ball and it can't do some other laws well either. However, they have had enormous fun with it, and (according to their Dad and coaches) it has definitely improved their overall understanding of the game and its tactics as they can see the whole game and how different options can be played out. All they need now is the ball handling skills to put their vision into action.

Fresh of the shovel., 09 Feb 2008
Let's not beat about the bush; If you've been following rugby all your life this review is for you. Firstly, this game is criminal. It has been released by EA without a care in the world. To be fair to EASports they release some excellent games but over the past two years they have decided to stop producing 'innovation' and go straight for the let's turn out the same crap and hope no one notices! Well, they have, but like loyal fans we all hope things will get better, Rugby 2009? Who will be brave enough to buy the first copy and write the review. I can assure this it wont be me.

If you love..., 22 Nov 2007
...Awkward interfaces, out of date graphics, lazy game design, inexplicable refereeing, completely random turn overs and rucks which bear no relation to what happens in real life then this game is for you. Sadly until the day Konami (or anybody else) create a Rugby "Pro Evo" we're stuck with EA's usual shallow and lazily designed franchise as the only real option for rugby fans.

I Love It!, 13 Nov 2007
Having not bought a rugby game for about 4 years (as the ones I have tried have been very poor) I was very impressed. The gameplay is fairly realistic, and at least penalties are given away by both sides (not just against you). Graphically it is excellent, and runs very smoothly (Windows XP, AMD X2 4600, GeForce 8800 GTS 640). I have had no lock ups or crashes as experienced by other reviewers. It lets you pick your international team from a huge pool of players (England at least) and has enough variety in the tournaments. The club rugby side of things is excellent if you are wanting to play the Guinness premiership, with most grounds accurately represented. My only criticisms are - it is too easy to score penalties, drop goals and conversions if you have a half decent kicker. It is fairly hard to defend against running rugby, and occasionally the AI lacks a little. Oh, and some of the 'superman' dives to score tries are OTT. Looking at the other reviews, this is definately worth buying if you don't own Rugby 06. It sounds like this game may suffer like the FIFA series, when slight refinement is not enough...

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

Its not a bad game. , 19 Jun 2008
I think some of these reviews were written too soon. I have played a few months and yes it is harder but the game play has improved immensely. You just need time to master it. I think FIFA need to work on these bugs before they release the game. There are a lot of odd things here from the commentary being totally wrong, or your defenders standing aside as the PC strikers run towards goal.. Aside from that the management section is as good as it gets.

Still a Fifa Fan, 22 Apr 2008
Ok so reading through these reviews there are a mixed bag.

I will admit when i first put the game on i thought jeez its hard to score compared to 07 and also was a little disappointed that the menus and features are not really updated.
But for me the look of the menus is like booking a hotel room, you don't spend much time there so as long as its simple then i'm happy.

After about a months of play i found Fifa 08 more fun than any of the previous versions, why?

Ok so its harder to score but isn't that what real football fans want, unlike 07 where you can leather a ball from 45 yards with Lampard and always score!!

Maybe not alot had changed but i prefer that than when you buy a game and they add 10 new controls and change the aspect, for me all they could do to Footy games now is add new features and increase the graphics, Game play seems to be at its best.

All in All its a great Football game for Football fans!

Disapointed in EA Games.., 25 Mar 2008
Well, I am a loyal fan of EA games and the fifa series and this game is a awful!! This game is litterly just 'FIFA 07' in every way, they have not even changed the layout.

I own a PS3 and I have a copy of FIFA 08 for that and its an amazing game, but to launch this game is a waste of space, the put all there time and effort into the next gen game and left this with 1 member of staff to do some pitafull 'upgrades' to make the game a year older! I can not begin with the flaws this thing has.

The skin and the menu styles are the same just a different colour, all they have done with the players is change some of the boots colours and updated the squads, I counted only two new real player models, the rest are the same as FIFA 07. The commentry is exactly the same, I think there are a few new phrases that were probably pre-recorded, so its all the same phrases from the previous game which is annoying. The gameplay is exactly the same, no new skills or styles of play, the manager mode is an exact replica with a couple of pitaful upgrades, even the manager icons are the same.

The gameplay is infact even worse and flawed than the previous game, FIFA 07 is actually better, in this game its so boring and hard to score, the difference in difficulty levels is pathetic, on semi pro you can win 5-0 but on professional its like legandry on FIFA 07, its flawed because its so easy to defend, the CPU is the most annoying thing in the world, they just run to the sidelines every time, one game the opposite team had 50 throw ins, no joke. None of your team goes up the field, even if you have the box overload function on, which means your attacking with about 3 people against 8 defenders, its really boring, frustrating and you get fed up, I have been playing FIFA since 1999 and this gameplay is the worse I have ever encountered.

I don't even know why they could bother programing this game, they are taking advantage of people who have not upgraded to next gen consoles, the PS2 version is the same as this PC one, I would of thought a PC could run the next gen version of the game but this must of been easier and cheaper to release.

There are very, very few, and rubbish upgrades from FIFA 07 in this game which are Formation editor (flawed) Training sessions in Manager mode (horribly flawed) and a new stadium White Hart Lane which is half made, oh, and lets not forget the keeper charge when your losing in the final minuets of the game, its the most pathetic little animation of the keeper running up the field, then he just appears in the box, that is litterly it, for a full year of updates, disapointing and shame on EA for releasing this.

The next gen version on PS3 and XBOX360 is a very good game, I own it and its brilliant, but this.... is a pathetic waste of money and is an insult to any football and Fifa fan, I feel this has done more damage than good to EA.

Overall, please, please, please DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! You will regret it!!!

Give it a try, 18 Mar 2008
Ok, so I have read through the reviews here and it's clear you all just want an easy game. Yes, it's hard to master, but it can be done you just have to put the effort in. As for getting players back when defending, well that is nothing new. Don't teams do that. The only valid comment is the commentry which is a little annoying, but you can always turn that off.

Just Fair, 17 Mar 2008
I have been a PES aficionado for many many years now. Fed up by their rubbish online servers, I turned to the dark side and bought FIFA. It is not that bad but nothing compared to PES6 as far as simulation is concerned (although PES2008 sucks!!! See my other review).
The thing that kills it for me is, again, online. In particular, whereas PES was unbearable for lagging, FIFA is nervewrecking because of online quitters! If you quit a match before the end u don't lose points! That means, zillions of quitters who will exit the match before the end if they are losing. In PES, if you lost connection, you would lose points and the other person would gain them. In FIFA, there is no penalty for quitting and if you get quit on, you do not gain any points even if u were winning!!! I have complained a lot with FIFA but they so far have not found a way over this. For me this is a BIG BIG issue. Sure, there is less lagging, but there is much higher chance of actually finishing a match only if u r losing! I am sure that my real ranking is at least 100 points higher than it is. Very very bad!
Also, FIFA seems more like a kid game with very unrealistic movements (i.e. u can actually manage to shoot at goal even running away from it...)
However, I find the whole team movements more realistic than PES (6 of course)


OK, could be better, 05 Jul 2008
Technical Review

Graphics - 6/10
Sound - 7/10
Value 9/10 if you havent got rugby 06, but 2/10 if you have
Gameplay 7/10
Interface 8/10

Average 7/10 or 6/10

Pro:

-Easy to use simulation
-Real Players and teams, with original stadiums and kits (correct to 2008)
-Play real competitions and the 2007 world cup

Con:

-Too similar to Rugby 06
-Players move around the pitch unrealisticly

My Opinion

This game had potential, but as most of the people EA will be selling to will be fans of the Rugby series and have the previous one (06), they should have made a lot more changes to it. The only big difference is the 'World Cup' Mode, which is exactly what it says on the tin.

The graphics are just, well, not-good-enough. the players can only move in eight directions, and turn instantly to face the direction you want them to face. Having played FIFA 08, I expected the motion to be as fluent and realistic as in that, but its not. EA need to work on that before the 2010 version comes out.

My advice on this game: If you really want a rugby game with mediocre graphics, poorly stitched sound and boring commentry and you dont have Rugby 06, get it.

Great fun for kids and it improves their tactics, 10 Mar 2008
We've never had a rugby game before. This was given to my eldest for his birthday by someone whose son (11) had played it non stop since Christmas. My boys (13, 11, 9) have played it non stop since. It does occasionally freeze on our set up and (according to my 13 year old) its not brilliant on all the laws - you can late tackle with impunity (but not early tackle), it has a tendancy to penalise you for an un-straight throw-in at the line out even when the opposition wins the ball and it can't do some other laws well either. However, they have had enormous fun with it, and (according to their Dad and coaches) it has definitely improved their overall understanding of the game and its tactics as they can see the whole game and how different options can be played out. All they need now is the ball handling skills to put their vision into action.

Fresh of the shovel., 09 Feb 2008
Let's not beat about the bush; If you've been following rugby all your life this review is for you. Firstly, this game is criminal. It has been released by EA without a care in the world. To be fair to EASports they release some excellent games but over the past two years they have decided to stop producing 'innovation' and go straight for the let's turn out the same crap and hope no one notices! Well, they have, but like loyal fans we all hope things will get better, Rugby 2009? Who will be brave enough to buy the first copy and write the review. I can assure this it wont be me.

If you love..., 22 Nov 2007
...Awkward interfaces, out of date graphics, lazy game design, inexplicable refereeing, completely random turn overs and rucks which bear no relation to what happens in real life then this game is for you. Sadly until the day Konami (or anybody else) create a Rugby "Pro Evo" we're stuck with EA's usual shallow and lazily designed franchise as the only real option for rugby fans.

I Love It!, 13 Nov 2007
Having not bought a rugby game for about 4 years (as the ones I have tried have been very poor) I was very impressed. The gameplay is fairly realistic, and at least penalties are given away by both sides (not just against you). Graphically it is excellent, and runs very smoothly (Windows XP, AMD X2 4600, GeForce 8800 GTS 640). I have had no lock ups or crashes as experienced by other reviewers. It lets you pick your international team from a huge pool of players (England at least) and has enough variety in the tournaments. The club rugby side of things is excellent if you are wanting to play the Guinness premiership, with most grounds accurately represented. My only criticisms are - it is too easy to score penalties, drop goals and conversions if you have a half decent kicker. It is fairly hard to defend against running rugby, and occasionally the AI lacks a little. Oh, and some of the 'superman' dives to score tries are OTT. Looking at the other reviews, this is definately worth buying if you don't own Rugby 06. It sounds like this game may suffer like the FIFA series, when slight refinement is not enough...

Disapointing, 03 Sep 2007
the game is just NFL 2007 with a roster update. thats it. oh yeah, the weapons system that doesnt work in the PC version. buy the 360 or PS3 versiosn if u can cos thats the new version of the game, if u have a PC just save a few quid and get 07

In a nutshell:
It's the game football fans wait all year for and to usher in the next generation EA Sports have given FIFA its biggest revamp in years, changing not just the way it looks but the way it plays in what aims to be the ultimate marriage of realism and fun.

The lowdown:
Every new FIFA game gets its expected improvements in graphics and presentation but this year the success of Pro Evolution Soccer seems to have driven EA to concentrate just as much on the gameplay. As such the game features better passing, crossing and free kicks as well as greatly improved goalkeepers. There's also a new "finesse" shot if you get the time and space to use it, while every kick is calculated in terms of space, composure and technique so that it's accuracy is determined by exactly what's happening on the pitch and not just some random factor. Add in completely new ball physics, more than 510 teams, 27 leagues, 4,000 licensed players and all new international crowd reactions and you've got EA's most concerted attempt yet to make the definitive football game.

Most exciting moment:
As well as all the individual improvements to ball and player control many of the game's best strikers have their own signatures moves and free kicks, such as Ronaldinho, Frank Lampard and Roberto Carlos. This includes the ability to, quite literally, bend it like Beckham.

Since you ask:
As befits its global reach FIFA 07 has perhaps the most multinational soundtrack ever in video games, with everything from Argentinean rock band Bersuit Vergarabat to Spain's The Pinker Tones and German group d.o.c.h.! (As well as Britbands such as Muse and The Young Punx.)

The bottom line:
FIFA gets serious in its attempt to out-football Pro Evolution Soccer
.HARRISON DENT

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

Its not a bad game. , 19 Jun 2008
I think some of these reviews were written too soon. I have played a few months and yes it is harder but the game play has improved immensely. You just need time to master it. I think FIFA need to work on these bugs before they release the game. There are a lot of odd things here from the commentary being totally wrong, or your defenders standing aside as the PC strikers run towards goal.. Aside from that the management section is as good as it gets.

Still a Fifa Fan, 22 Apr 2008
Ok so reading through these reviews there are a mixed bag.

I will admit when i first put the game on i thought jeez its hard to score compared to 07 and also was a little disappointed that the menus and features are not really updated.
But for me the look of the menus is like booking a hotel room, you don't spend much time there so as long as its simple then i'm happy.

After about a months of play i found Fifa 08 more fun than any of the previous versions, why?

Ok so its harder to score but isn't that what real football fans want, unlike 07 where you can leather a ball from 45 yards with Lampard and always score!!

Maybe not alot had changed but i prefer that than when you buy a game and they add 10 new controls and change the aspect, for me all they could do to Footy games now is add new features and increase the graphics, Game play seems to be at its best.

All in All its a great Football game for Football fans!

Disapointed in EA Games.., 25 Mar 2008
Well, I am a loyal fan of EA games and the fifa series and this game is a awful!! This game is litterly just 'FIFA 07' in every way, they have not even changed the layout.

I own a PS3 and I have a copy of FIFA 08 for that and its an amazing game, but to launch this game is a waste of space, the put all there time and effort into the next gen game and left this with 1 member of staff to do some pitafull 'upgrades' to make the game a year older! I can not begin with the flaws this thing has.

The skin and the menu styles are the same just a different colour, all they have done with the players is change some of the boots colours and updated the squads, I counted only two new real player models, the rest are the same as FIFA 07. The commentry is exactly the same, I think there are a few new phrases that were probably pre-recorded, so its all the same phrases from the previous game which is annoying. The gameplay is exactly the same, no new skills or styles of play, the manager mode is an exact replica with a couple of pitaful upgrades, even the manager icons are the same.

The gameplay is infact even worse and flawed than the previous game, FIFA 07 is actually better, in this game its so boring and hard to score, the difference in difficulty levels is pathetic, on semi pro you can win 5-0 but on professional its like legandry on FIFA 07, its flawed because its so easy to defend, the CPU is the most annoying thing in the world, they just run to the sidelines every time, one game the opposite team had 50 throw ins, no joke. None of your team goes up the field, even if you have the box overload function on, which means your attacking with about 3 people against 8 defenders, its really boring, frustrating and you get fed up, I have been playing FIFA since 1999 and this gameplay is the worse I have ever encountered.

I don't even know why they could bother programing this game, they are taking advantage of people who have not upgraded to next gen consoles, the PS2 version is the same as this PC one, I would of thought a PC could run the next gen version of the game but this must of been easier and cheaper to release.

There are very, very few, and rubbish upgrades from FIFA 07 in this game which are Formation editor (flawed) Training sessions in Manager mode (horribly flawed) and a new stadium White Hart Lane which is half made, oh, and lets not forget the keeper charge when your losing in the final minuets of the game, its the most pathetic little animation of the keeper running up the field, then he just appears in the box, that is litterly it, for a full year of updates, disapointing and shame on EA for releasing this.

The next gen version on PS3 and XBOX360 is a very good game, I own it and its brilliant, but this.... is a pathetic waste of money and is an insult to any football and Fifa fan, I feel this has done more damage than good to EA.

Overall, please, please, please DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! You will regret it!!!

Give it a try, 18 Mar 2008
Ok, so I have read through the reviews here and it's clear you all just want an easy game. Yes, it's hard to master, but it can be done you just have to put the effort in. As for getting players back when defending, well that is nothing new. Don't teams do that. The only valid comment is the commentry which is a little annoying, but you can always turn that off.

Just Fair, 17 Mar 2008
I have been a PES aficionado for many many years now. Fed up by their rubbish online servers, I turned to the dark side and bought FIFA. It is not that bad but nothing compared to PES6 as far as simulation is concerned (although PES2008 sucks!!! See my other review).
The thing that kills it for me is, again, online. In particular, whereas PES was unbearable for lagging, FIFA is nervewrecking because of online quitters! If you quit a match before the end u don't lose points! That means, zillions of quitters who will exit the match before the end if they are losing. In PES, if you lost connection, you would lose points and the other person would gain them. In FIFA, there is no penalty for quitting and if you get quit on, you do not gain any points even if u were winning!!! I have complained a lot with FIFA but they so far have not found a way over this. For me this is a BIG BIG issue. Sure, there is less lagging, but there is much higher chance of actually finishing a match only if u r losing! I am sure that my real ranking is at least 100 points higher than it is. Very very bad!
Also, FIFA seems more like a kid game with very unrealistic movements (i.e. u can actually manage to shoot at goal even running away from it...)
However, I find the whole team movements more realistic than PES (6 of course)


OK, could be better, 05 Jul 2008
Technical Review

Graphics - 6/10
Sound - 7/10
Value 9/10 if you havent got rugby 06, but 2/10 if you have
Gameplay 7/10
Interface 8/10

Average 7/10 or 6/10

Pro:

-Easy to use simulation
-Real Players and teams, with original stadiums and kits (correct to 2008)
-Play real competitions and the 2007 world cup

Con:

-Too similar to Rugby 06
-Players move around the pitch unrealisticly

My Opinion

This game had potential, but as most of the people EA will be selling to will be fans of the Rugby series and have the previous one (06), they should have made a lot more changes to it. The only big difference is the 'World Cup' Mode, which is exactly what it says on the tin.

The graphics are just, well, not-good-enough. the players can only move in eight directions, and turn instantly to face the direction you want them to face. Having played FIFA 08, I expected the motion to be as fluent and realistic as in that, but its not. EA need to work on that before the 2010 version comes out.

My advice on this game: If you really want a rugby game with mediocre graphics, poorly stitched sound and boring commentry and you dont have Rugby 06, get it.

Great fun for kids and it improves their tactics, 10 Mar 2008
We've never had a rugby game before. This was given to my eldest for his birthday by someone whose son (11) had played it non stop since Christmas. My boys (13, 11, 9) have played it non stop since. It does occasionally freeze on our set up and (according to my 13 year old) its not brilliant on all the laws - you can late tackle with impunity (but not early tackle), it has a tendancy to penalise you for an un-straight throw-in at the line out even when the opposition wins the ball and it can't do some other laws well either. However, they have had enormous fun with it, and (according to their Dad and coaches) it has definitely improved their overall understanding of the game and its tactics as they can see the whole game and how different options can be played out. All they need now is the ball handling skills to put their vision into action.

Fresh of the shovel., 09 Feb 2008
Let's not beat about the bush; If you've been following rugby all your life this review is for you. Firstly, this game is criminal. It has been released by EA without a care in the world. To be fair to EASports they release some excellent games but over the past two years they have decided to stop producing 'innovation' and go straight for the let's turn out the same crap and hope no one notices! Well, they have, but like loyal fans we all hope things will get better, Rugby 2009? Who will be brave enough to buy the first copy and write the review. I can assure this it wont be me.

If you love..., 22 Nov 2007
...Awkward interfaces, out of date graphics, lazy game design, inexplicable refereeing, completely random turn overs and rucks which bear no relation to what happens in real life then this game is for you. Sadly until the day Konami (or anybody else) create a Rugby "Pro Evo" we're stuck with EA's usual shallow and lazily designed franchise as the only real option for rugby fans.

I Love It!, 13 Nov 2007
Having not bought a rugby game for about 4 years (as the ones I have tried have been very poor) I was very impressed. The gameplay is fairly realistic, and at least penalties are given away by both sides (not just against you). Graphically it is excellent, and runs very smoothly (Windows XP, AMD X2 4600, GeForce 8800 GTS 640). I have had no lock ups or crashes as experienced by other reviewers. It lets you pick your international team from a huge pool of players (England at least) and has enough variety in the tournaments. The club rugby side of things is excellent if you are wanting to play the Guinness premiership, with most grounds accurately represented. My only criticisms are - it is too easy to score penalties, drop goals and conversions if you have a half decent kicker. It is fairly hard to defend against running rugby, and occasionally the AI lacks a little. Oh, and some of the 'superman' dives to score tries are OTT. Looking at the other reviews, this is definately worth buying if you don't own Rugby 06. It sounds like this game may suffer like the FIFA series, when slight refinement is not enough...

Disapointing, 03 Sep 2007
the game is just NFL 2007 with a roster update. thats it. oh yeah, the weapons system that doesnt work in the PC version. buy the 360 or PS3 versiosn if u can cos thats the new version of the game, if u have a PC just save a few quid and get 07

Bugs bugs bugs, 26 Jul 2007
I had high expectations for this game after reading some very good reviews for it. Sadly there are a decent amount of bugs which EA don't seem to be keen on releasing patches for. The main one is jerky, unsmooth graphics during gameplay AND in cut scenes. There are work arounds posted all over the net. Some work to an extent, others don't work at all. Even on a high spec PC which far exceeds the minimum requirements, these problems still occur.

Not a completely positive experience, 10 Apr 2007
There are still a number of frustrations attached to this game. Firstly it has cost me more than it should. Using a controller (and PC adapter) which hails from the days when the household boasted a Playstation2 and a PC I found it impossible to get any response from the right stick. As the controller action was less than perfect in any case I surmised the PS2 controller was faulty and purchased another only to find the same problem. By this time I was mad and determined to see what the damn thing did so I then purchased a Logitec analogue pad with success this time.

If I had checked the forums before my rash spending spree I would have seen evidence the problems already being experienced with controllers. It would appear from my own experience that, despite there being a PS2 version of the game the PS2 controller cannot be used effectively in the PC version.

Of the game itself, improved though it is, there is still a fundamental lack of balance when the playing against the AI which Konami have successfully addressed in PES. (I appreciate the on-line and LAN experience is highly regarded but not everyone has the opportunity or need to play against human opponents) Basically the AI plays like the Dutch `total football' of the 70s but on speed. If adopting a 4-4-2 formation you will be in trouble as it will not be uncommon for 2 or 3 of your team being met by 8 defenders. When the AI breaks the imbalance becomes obvious. You would imagine that you might have 7 or 8 defenders yourself in this scenario but no, your lads appear to have continued up field while 4 or 5 AI players descend on your depleted ranks with even the most gifted of players in your side being incapable of matching pace with the attackers over a relatively short distance.

Despite the various formations there is little evidence of a midfield actually operating for much of the time with a serious gap between the human controlled teams `strikers' and the rest of the team which is not always resolved.

The game has a number of playing modes with management mode offering more than its share of frustrations. While we should not expect anything approaching `Football Manager' status the management element of this game is downright sloppy at times. You begin the season with a set of objectives which, in some cases, can only be described as nonsensical. The nonsensical element might include tying a less than impressive player in your squad to a new 3 year contract. Then in-year Board demands do not always align with the seasons objectives (some might claim this reflects life but not to the extent the format of these contradictions take).

The commentary has become more intuitive but I could only manage half a season before the repetition finally wore me down.

There is no denying that FIFA is by far the `prettiest' of the fare on offer but even here there are quirks in the coding. I use the long side-view for playing and the AI players positioned in the middle channel travelling from box to box are out of proportion with the rest of the proceedings. At times they look almost `Shrek-like'. A minor point you might think but I can't keep my eyes of them now.

On the plus side, the crowd reaction more or less follows the on-field action which does add to the experience. Also, when you get the right stick to work the trick actions it allows are quite satisfying.

All in all it is a definite improvement from the early days but you can't help wishing just a little less was expended on the eye candy and more dedicated to the game play and content itself.


Quality, 09 Jan 2007
I have always been a fan of the FIFA series, believing that every sequel is getting better and better, and this is no exception.
Even though I've been a fan of FIFA, Pro Evolution has been gaining on me. This is because it does have slightly better gameplay and some better graphics, however this does not affect my opionon on FIFA07.

The latest FIFA addition has lots of new and improved features:

Gameplay:
The gameplay is very good. New ball physics add more realism and a more satisfying challenge when playing.
The crowd reactions are very effective. When you're on a break through and looking as though you are about to score a cracking goal, the home crows will start cheering franctically, before stopping at the relevant times.
The goal scoring is what i was most impressed with. It is much harder to score the same goal over and over as in FIFA06. The new 1500+ animations and motions make the game feel a lot more pleasing when watching the keeper performing different dives/saves.
As this is the first FIFA I've owned on PC, the controls have been tricky to get used to. But after 5-6 games or so I was fine! Plus, the manual is not very detailed/clear.

Graphics:
The graphics are pretty decent. The majority of the players look very real, although there are a few acceptions (eg. Ryan Giggs).
The net effects are very good when scoring. This may seem like a very small thing, but on Pro Evo they are not good and this does seem to take something away from that game. However, FIFA has provided quality graphics all round, let alone net effects.

Other Modes:
Manager: The Manager mode is back, and more or less similar to the previous ones. However, there is real money. This also adds to realism which makes the game more authentic and proper.
Craete a team: You can now create a team on FIFA! I was happy about this as I do play for a football club. You make the kits, make the standards and choose the players. You can even design you're own entire team full of your mates!

All in all, this is a great football experience. And althought I only own it because I got it quite cheap of a friend, had I known this game was a good as it is, I would have got it of here anyway!

This game does compete with PES6, take it from a football gamers point of view. Worth buying, whether you own PES or not.

Getting There - But Pro Evo Still Best Bet, 13 Oct 2006
After playing the previous fifa games i thought, why should i buy this years, whats so different?, becuase, lets be honest, there all pretty much the same every year. To be fair to be EA sports, they have paid more attention to detail this year on more aspects, esspecially on the match engine which was becoming very dated. The shooting and ball psysics has all improved dramatically, giving the player more options.Im not going to blabber on but i believe Fifa is on the up, although Pro Evolotion Soccer is still the best bet.

What an improvement!, 07 Oct 2006
I've bought previous versions of FIFA, but I've always felt Pro Evo had better gameplay. But...this version of FIFA is REALLY good. It actually feels like football (of course, it looks EXACTLY like football - FIFA has always been beautiful!). The goals I've scored have been quite different from each other, there no longer seems to be a guaranteed way to score like in previous versions. You have time on the ball and can consider where to pass. The only quibble is that (on semi-pro level)it's a bit too easy to get down the wings and sometimes the goalies act as if they're brain dead, whilst at other times they seem unbeatable. The number of competition options is AMAZING, but I'm not too keen on the Manager mode - that still comes nowhere near Pro evo's Master League. Oh, and the manual, as often with FIFA, is utter rubbish! It tells you the basic controls and that's about it - the manager mode needs a manual three times the size, so when playing that mode there are lots of "what on earth do I do/how the hell do I do that?" moments. I still reckon I'll be playing Pro Evo 6 more by November, but I think it's going to be close!

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, 18 Oct 2008
Having read most of the reviews i was not too sure about buying this game, my last one was the 06 version. I have not come across any issues with this game, it looks superb and plays very well. I have had no installation problems or loading times being lenghty. To me the interface is easy to use if anything the only problem there is it looks abit cartoon created. If you have played Tiger before then you should know what to expect. We all know with EA Sports most games are just updates with a slight graphical improvement (fifa), that is the only downside, the commentry hasn't changed nor has the movement of the on screen player. Saying that though I am very happy with the game, give it a try you may be surprised. New commentry and it may well of got 4 stars.


end of an era?, 02 Sep 2008
I've been meaning to review this for a while... But events have overtaken me... Did you know that EA aren't planning a pc version of Tiger W PGA Tour 2009? Wii, nintendo, xbox, playstation, you name it - but no pc version...

Which kinda fits what I was going to say anyway: sure, the game's still got quite a few of the faults from the last version(s), but maybe we need to take a reality check here. When I first got into pc golf games in the mid 90's, there were a bunch of games competing for our attention. I got started on the old PGA486 tour, which then turned into the TW/PGA franchise. Back in the day, there were a bunch of other golf games around (eg the LS Links series), but they all seem to have vanished now. I'd guess that golf sims rank pretty low in sales terms compared to current faves like GTA4, so I don't think we can really expect a new game every time. Equally there's only so much you can do with a golf sim. Personally I cdn't care less if the trees in the background look a bit 2d or blocky as long as the game play's good.

Sure, a lot of the old faults persist - in some of the graphics, but more in the hopeless "AI" of the computer golfers - but there are some significant improvements from TW2008. Your clubs play much more accurately to their distance, & the flight of the ball is reflected much more realistically from slopes/gradients etc. There's also a huge improvement in the courses available - with 1 exception. As noted by another reviewer, the Westchester course is a total joke - you cd play it with yr eyes shut & finish 10 under! Masses of the shortest par 5's you cd ever dream of...

But where TW 2008 featured far too many easy country club type courses, here you come up against the likes of Boston, Firestone, Harbour Point - lots of narrow, meandering fairways: get a strong wind going + a quick green & you're in a real battle. Plus there are old favourites like Sawgrass, St Andrews & Pebble Beach - no silly fantasy/crazy golf courses this time - I've just missed the cut yet again, blown into oblivion in a gale at Kiawah Island...

So where do we go from here? I was looking forward to trading in Tw08 for the new version, but it looks like I/we will we playing it a while yet - unless we're all good little consumers & rush out to buy wii/xbox etc?! Doesn't seem like there's much room for the occasional gamer (weekend golfer?!) these days.

What do we want from our games? - I used to be massively into games in the heyday of Quake/Command & Conquer etc, now I've got other stuff in my life, but I still want to sit down a couple of times a week & hack my way around a course or 2, + plus the occasional beer'n'banter matchplay session when I've got some mates here. It seems now like you've either got to be into games 24/7 or not at all. And sorry, 0 interest in online play.

Apparently this isn't enough for EA anymore. There's a load of discussion happening on various EA noticeboards abt the lack of a pc release for TW 2009, ranging from direct abuse to begging for attention, neither of which appeal to me... Ideas, anyone?

I'm giving this a half-star or so more than it deserves, partly out of nostalgia & enjoy-it-while-you-can spirit - but personally, for all its faults, TW2008 does what I want it to: it provides a few hrs solid satisfying gaming a week for me, & if that isn't enough to keep this version of the game going, its a real shame.




A poor effort but it is still fun to play, 13 May 2008
Having read all the reviews on amazon I have to say that they are right. This is a poor effort which in my opininon is actually inferior in many repsects to Tiger Woods 07.
That being said it is still fun and it looks good though you need a high spec PC to get the full benefit.
I am sorry to say it but I would avoid this game on the PC and either go for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 or 2006. I was just about persuaded to give it 2 stars but only just as it is still fun to play.

Another flop, 24 Mar 2008
If you have dual Video cards you have to disable them in your bios, as this NEW version of TW PGA 08 does not support them.

Again full of bugs and unrelistic game mechanics.

Again if you dont belive me just log onto EA Sports website and read the forums for this piece of junk.

The more things change, the more stay the same..., 25 Dec 2007
I have gone straight for 06 to 08 and seen no difference... almost. as far as I'm aware, the only good differences are minor and most differnces aren't good.

I agree that there is MASSIVE over use of hexagons -- club select, wind speed, lie, backgrounds etc.

The positives, regardless of the opinions of other reviewers, include the new distance counter, and the text near the top telling you wether you get a bogey, birdie etc. However, the eagle animation is very distracting and needs to be rectified.

Its not a bad game. , 19 Jun 2008
I think some of these reviews were written too soon. I have played a few months and yes it is harder but the game play has improved immensely. You just need time to master it. I think FIFA need to work on these bugs before they release the game. There are a lot of odd things here from the commentary being totally wrong, or your defenders standing aside as the PC strikers run towards goal.. Aside from that the management section is as good as it gets.

Still a Fifa Fan, 22 Apr 2008
Ok so reading through these reviews there are a mixed bag.

I will admit when i first put the game on i thought jeez its hard to score compared to 07 and also was a little disappointed that the menus and features are not really updated.
But for me the look of the menus is like booking a hotel room, you don't spend much time there so as long as its simple then i'm happy.

After about a months of play i found Fifa 08 more fun than any of the previous versions, why?

Ok so its harder to score but isn't that what real football fans want, unlike 07 where you can leather a ball from 45 yards with Lampard and always score!!

Maybe not alot had changed but i prefer that than when you buy a game and they add 10 new controls and change the aspect, for me all they could do to Footy games now is add new features and increase the graphics, Game play seems to be at its best.

All in All its a great Football game for Football fans!

Disapointed in EA Games.., 25 Mar 2008
Well, I am a loyal fan of EA games and the fifa series and this game is a awful!! This game is litterly just 'FIFA 07' in every way, they have not even changed the layout.

I own a PS3 and I have a copy of FIFA 08 for that and its an amazing game, but to launch this game is a waste of space, the put all there time and effort into the next gen game and left this with 1 member of staff to do some pitafull 'upgrades' to make the game a year older! I can not begin with the flaws this thing has.

The skin and the menu styles are the same just a different colour, all they have done with the players is change some of the boots colours and updated the squads, I counted only two new real player models, the rest are the same as FIFA 07. The commentry is exactly the same, I think there are a few new phrases that were probably pre-recorded, so its all the same phrases from the previous game which is annoying. The gameplay is exactly the same, no new skills or styles of play, the manager mode is an exact replica with a couple of pitaful upgrades, even the manager icons are the same.

The gameplay is infact even worse and flawed than the previous game, FIFA 07 is actually better, in this game its so boring and hard to score, the difference in difficulty levels is pathetic, on semi pro you can win 5-0 but on professional its like legandry on FIFA 07, its flawed because its so easy to defend, the CPU is the most annoying thing in the world, they just run to the sidelines every time, one game the opposite team had 50 throw ins, no joke. None of your team goes up the field, even if you have the box overload function on, which means your attacking with about 3 people against 8 defenders, its really boring, frustrating and you get fed up, I have been playing FIFA since 1999 and this gameplay is the worse I have ever encountered.

I don't even know why they could bother programing this game, they are taking advantage of people who have not upgraded to next gen consoles, the PS2 version is the same as this PC one, I would of thought a PC could run the next gen version of the game but this must of been easier and cheaper to release.

There are very, very few, and rubbish upgrades from FIFA 07 in this game which are Formation editor (flawed) Training sessions in Manager mode (horribly flawed) and a new stadium White Hart Lane which is half made, oh, and lets not forget the keeper charge when your losing in the final minuets of the game, its the most pathetic little animation of the keeper running up the field, then he just appears in the box, that is litterly it, for a full year of updates, disapointing and shame on EA for releasing this.

The next gen version on PS3 and XBOX360 is a very good game, I own it and its brilliant, but this.... is a pathetic waste of money and is an insult to any football and Fifa fan, I feel this has done more damage than good to EA.

Overall, please, please, please DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! You will regret it!!!

Give it a try, 18 Mar 2008
Ok, so I have read through the reviews here and it's clear you all just want an easy game. Yes, it's hard to master, but it can be done you just have to put the effort in. As for getting players back when defending, well that is nothing new. Don't teams do that. The only valid comment is the commentry which is a little annoying, but you can always turn that off.

Just Fair, 17 Mar 2008
I have been a PES aficionado for many many years now. Fed up by their rubbish online servers, I turned to the dark side and bought FIFA. It is not that bad but nothing compared to PES6 as far as simulation is concerned (although PES2008 sucks!!! See my other review).
The thing that kills it for me is, again, online. In particular, whereas PES was unbearable for lagging, FIFA is nervewrecking because of online quitters! If you quit a match before the end u don't lose points! That means, zillions of quitters who will exit the match before the end if they are losing. In PES, if you lost connection, you would lose points and the other person would gain them. In FIFA, there is no penalty for quitting and if you get quit on, you do not gain any points even if u were winning!!! I have complained a lot with FIFA but they so far have not found a way over this. For me this is a BIG BIG issue. Sure, there is less lagging, but there is much higher chance of actually finishing a match only if u r losing! I am sure that my real ranking is at least 100 points higher than it is. Very very bad!
Also, FIFA seems more like a kid game with very unrealistic movements (i.e. u can actually manage to shoot at goal even running away from it...)
However, I find the whole team movements more realistic than PES (6 of course)


OK, could be better, 05 Jul 2008
Technical Review

Graphics - 6/10
Sound - 7/10
Value 9/10 if you havent got rugby 06, but 2/10 if you have
Gameplay 7/10
Interface 8/10

Average 7/10 or 6/10

Pro:

-Easy to use simulation
-Real Players and teams, with original stadiums and kits (correct to 2008)
-Play real competitions and the 2007 world cup

Con:

-Too similar to Rugby 06
-Players move around the pitch unrealisticly

My Opinion

This game had potential, but as most of the people EA will be selling to will be fans of the Rugby series and have the previous one (06), they should have made a lot more changes to it. The only big difference is the 'World Cup' Mode, which is exactly what it says on the tin.

The graphics are just, well, not-good-enough. the players can only move in eight directions, and turn instantly to face the direction you want them to face. Having played FIFA 08, I expected the motion to be as fluent and realistic as in that, but its not. EA need to work on that before the 2010 version comes out.

My advice on this game: If you really want a rugby game with mediocre graphics, poorly stitched sound and boring commentry and you dont have Rugby 06, get it.

Great fun for kids and it improves their tactics, 10 Mar 2008
We've never had a rugby game before. This was given to my eldest for his birthday by someone whose son (11) had played it non stop since Christmas. My boys (13, 11, 9) have played it non stop since. It does occasionally freeze on our set up and (according to my 13 year old) its not brilliant on all the laws - you can late tackle with impunity (but not early tackle), it has a tendancy to penalise you for an un-straight throw-in at the line out even when the opposition wins the ball and it can't do some other laws well either. However, they have had enormous fun with it, and (according to their Dad and coaches) it has definitely improved their overall understanding of the game and its tactics as they can see the whole game and how different options can be played out. All they need now is the ball handling skills to put their vision into action.

Fresh of the shovel., 09 Feb 2008
Let's not beat about the bush; If you've been following rugby all your life this review is for you. Firstly, this game is criminal. It has been released by EA without a care in the world. To be fair to EASports they release some excellent games but over the past two years they have decided to stop producing 'innovation' and go straight for the let's turn out the same crap and hope no one notices! Well, they have, but like loyal fans we all hope things will get better, Rugby 2009? Who will be brave enough to buy the first copy and write the review. I can assure this it wont be me.

If you love..., 22 Nov 2007
...Awkward interfaces, out of date graphics, lazy game design, inexplicable refereeing, completely random turn overs and rucks which bear no relation to what happens in real life then this game is for you. Sadly until the day Konami (or anybody else) create a Rugby "Pro Evo" we're stuck with EA's usual shallow and lazily designed franchise as the only real option for rugby fans.

I Love It!, 13 Nov 2007
Having not bought a rugby game for about 4 years (as the ones I have tried have been very poor) I was very impressed. The gameplay is fairly realistic, and at least penalties are given away by both sides (not just against you). Graphically it is excellent, and runs very smoothly (Windows XP, AMD X2 4600, GeForce 8800 GTS 640). I have had no lock ups or crashes as experienced by other reviewers. It lets you pick your international team from a huge pool of players (England at least) and has enough variety in the tournaments. The club rugby side of things is excellent if you are wanting to play the Guinness premiership, with most grounds accurately represented. My only criticisms are - it is too easy to score penalties, drop goals and conversions if you have a half decent kicker. It is fairly hard to defend against running rugby, and occasionally the AI lacks a little. Oh, and some of the 'superman' dives to score tries are OTT. Looking at the other reviews, this is definately worth buying if you don't own Rugby 06. It sounds like this game may suffer like the FIFA series, when slight refinement is not enough...

Disapointing, 03 Sep 2007
the game is just NFL 2007 with a roster update. thats it. oh yeah, the weapons system that doesnt work in the PC version. buy the 360 or PS3 versiosn if u can cos thats the new version of the game, if u have a PC just save a few quid and get 07

Bugs bugs bugs, 26 Jul 2007
I had high expectations for this game after reading some very good reviews for it. Sadly there are a decent amount of bugs which EA don't seem to be keen on releasing patches for. The main one is jerky, unsmooth graphics during gameplay AND in cut scenes. There are work arounds posted all over the net. Some work to an extent, others don't work at all. Even on a high spec PC which far exceeds the minimum requirements, these problems still occur.

Not a completely positive experience, 10 Apr 2007
There are still a number of frustrations attached to this game. Firstly it has cost me more than it should. Using a controller (and PC adapter) which hails from the days when the household boasted a Playstation2 and a PC I found it impossible to get any response from the right stick. As the controller action was less than perfect in any case I surmised the PS2 controller was faulty and purchased another only to find the same problem. By this time I was mad and determined to see what the damn thing did so I then purchased a Logitec analogue pad with success this time.

If I had checked the forums before my rash spending spree I would have seen evidence the problems already being experienced with controllers. It would appear from my own experience that, despite there being a PS2 version of the game the PS2 controller cannot be used effectively in the PC version.

Of the game itself, improved though it is, there is still a fundamental lack of balance when the playing against the AI which Konami have successfully addressed in PES. (I appreciate the on-line and LAN experience is