UEFA Euro 2004 (Xbox)

The key to success is to pass the ball around.

The FIFA games of old used to make it quite easy for you to have a single player run the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, employing various tricks en route. Drag-backs, step-overs, and suchlike are still a feature of the game in UEFA Euro 2004, but, thankfully, they're not nearly as effective as they used be and require some semblance of skill to execute successfully. Ironically, you can actually keep possession of the ball very easily when playing against the CPU simply by standing still with it. If you have the ball and stop moving, the opposing players invariably do the same. They won't stand there like statues forever or anything, but the time it takes them to actually make a move for the ball is generally plenty long enough for you to make a pass to another player, and, if you really want to, you can have the pass recipient do the exact same thing.

Even though sliding tackles are a little problematic, playing defense in UEFA Euro 2004 is actually pretty easy because the regular tackle button is very effective. The game's goalkeepers are generally up to the task of saving all but the most well-placed shots, and although they rarely move off their lines to claim balls automatically, they perform the task adequately when you ask them to. The only real complaint we'd level at UEFA Euro 2004 when playing defense is that the player selection invariably favors players who are closer to the ball rather than those with a real chance of making a tackle or an interception. For example, if an opposing striker is running toward your goal, you'll often gain control of midfield players who are chasing him rather than the defenders who, despite being a little further from the ball at the time, are perfectly positioned to charge the incoming player.

If you've played FIFA games before, you won't be surprised to learn that all of the players in the game are instantly recognizable and well animated, that the stadiums look great, and that the presentation throughout is of a high standard. The visuals in the PlayStation 2 version are noticeably inferior to those on the PC and Xbox. The game has some pretty major drops in the frame rate, both during matches and when navigating menu screens. In fact, despite the fact that the Dual Shock 2 controller is the best equipped device to cope with the game's complex controls, the PS2 version of UEFA Euro 2004 is the hardest of the three to recommend--mainly because it faces competition from Konami's Winning Eleven series and doesn't support the online play that was present in FIFA 2004. The Xbox version of UEFA Euro 2004 doesn't support online play either, but neither did the Xbox version of FIFA 2004. The PS2 version is also very slow to save games, requiring at least a full minute to perform any memory card operation.

Fans of previous EA Sports titles also won't be shocked to hear that the audio in UEFA Euro 2004 is some of the best available in a soccer game. The commentary, which comes courtesy of the BBC's John Motson and Ally McCoist team, can get a little repetitive on occasion. However, it is well voiced and, for the most part, very accurate. It's unfortunate that the commentators have no concept of how much time has passed during a match or a tournament, though, because this can result in anomalies such as last-minute goals being described as what "could be the first of many." Additionally, sometimes Motson and McCoist tout that teams who win their first qualifying matches might be "sure to progress to the finals."

The PC version of UEFA Euro 2004 is the only one with online support.

Provided you have a suitable controller and Internet connection, the PC version of UEFA Euro 2004 is the easiest to recommend. Not only are the PC visuals the pick of the bunch but also the PC game is the only one of the three to offer online play. Like all sports games, UEFA Euro 2004 is best enjoyed with other players, and so, if nothing else, the EA Sports online service offers plenty of people from all over the world to play against. Your profile, which is the same for all EA Sports titles with online support, tracks all of your current statistics and makes it pretty easy to match up with players of comparable ability. Once online, the game works well, and this adds a significant amount of replay value to the PC version of the game.

All things considered, UEFA Euro 2004 stands as one of EA Sports' better soccer game to date. The issues we experienced with the PS2 version are particularly unfortunate given that its game faces more competition than its PC and Xbox counterparts. But regardless of your current soccer game of choice, UEFA Euro 2004 is worth a look.

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