FIFA 08 does a good job of improving a few of the absurd dynamics of previous versions. For example, it’s finally possible to pass into open space and let a speedy forward beat a defender to the ball. The user is more or less responsible for the accuracy of crosses, making successful balls from the corner more a matter of skill than before. Spot-on through balls finally take more than than the tap of a buttion.

Otherwise, it’s more of the same. The game rewards a long-balling, non-stop pressure, rush-to-the goal style. Creative play is a losing strategy. Free kicks swerve into the top corner from 35 yards out, but keepers show absurd agility in getting over on passes across the goalmouth. Most of the same old scoring cliches work as well as ever. And worst, the traditional cross-your-fingers shooting contols are still in place, often sending well-earned, open-goal tap ins flying over the crossbar or right back into the keeper’s chest.

I think I’m pretty much done with FIFA. When gameplay isn’t deep enough to dissaude everyone from manipulating the same weaknesses as they have for the last 5 years…