Once you satisfy the prematch requirements, you've got to tackle the in-game scenarios. Sometimes you start a match from the beginning, but you might also start in the middle of a game to find yourself down 2-0 with your goal being to manage at least a tie; players might be injured; or there may have already been some cards handed out. Some of these objectives are quite difficult, and since you get sacked if you fail to win all three championships, they can be frustrating. It's also odd that the game doesn't take match results into account very much. You never seem to get complimented for winning big, and if you overcome a deficit to win, the CPU will actually end up chastising you for falling behind, even though it was the CPU that put you in the hole. Even with these nagging issues, though, the treble mode is fun, though it probably won't do much to excite casual soccer fans.
UEFA's gameplay is great and, unsurprisingly, quite a bit like FIFA 07's, with a handful of minor differences. The game is fast-paced (perhaps a bit too fast) and there are plenty of goals, unlike the 360 version, which plays slower and has fewer scoring opportunities. The 360 version of the game was also plagued by errant passes and an unresponsive player-switching mechanic. Neither of these issues are present here, and the game controls as well as ever. The controls are tight and easy to learn while still offering plenty of options. Because of the game's brisk pace you'll need to be adept at pushing the ball upfield quickly. This is easily done by sending players on runs with a tap of the left shoulder button and using the triangle button to perform a through pass. One thing the 360 has over this version is better artificial intelligence. It's not bad here, but the players' actions seem more predictable and they're prone to the occasional boneheaded play, particularly on defense. There's now a quick restart option that purports to give you the jump on the opposition by letting you throw the ball in quickly or take a quick kick, but other than maybe giving you a slight advantage on throw-ins, it's worthless, because the other team automatically warps into proper position before the restart.
If you've seen FIFA 07, you've seen UEFA Champions League, except now players wear gloves in cold weather and you can see their breath. From the players to the pitch, it's an all-around great-looking game. There are a few zombie-faced players that look like they came from Dead Rising, but for the most part, they look quite good. There are some great-looking animations, particularly the ones where players try to get to a ball that's just out of reach or is heading out of bounds. There are a large number of stadiums, each of which has a unique look and is filled with rowdy fans (or in the PSP's case, animated blurry things that are supposed to be fans). The PS2 version supports widescreen, which is great since it lets you see a large portion of the field. Unfortunately, this taxes the frame rate, and the game can get a bit choppy depending on the stadium you're in. The audio is also about what you'd expect from a FIFA game. The raucous crowds will sing their hearts out, and the music is an eclectic mix of artists from around the world. The commentary is adequate but can be a bit dull. There is a fair amount of Champions League-specific commentary, which is nice, particularly in the classic challenge mode.
UEFA Champions League is a good game, but its appeal is going to be limited to a small amount of people--namely, those with a strong interest in the Champions League. It doesn't play any better than FIFA and it isn't as deep, so unless you've got a strong desire to lead your team to the soccer equivalent of the Triple Crown, there's not much reason to pick up UEFA Champions League 2006-2007.
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