UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal - DEAD - ARCHIVE; Author: Scot Bennett ; Published: 07/05/2004

It happens every other year. There's an uncomfortable, almost painful lull throughout the summer as the final kick of the season is launched into the air. Empty beer cans are thrown into the bin, crisp packets stuffed behind the sofa and girlfriends everywhere rejoice in the one glorious belief that's kept them going through the last nine months - football won't be back until September.

The bad news for the neglected other-half is football is very much a prominent aspect of this year's summer. UEFA Euro 2004 is FIFA Football 2004 for; you guessed it, Euro 2004. It's our way of capturing the essence of the tournament a month before it actually begins, as well as our way of replaying the tournament and bringing home the silverware when, no wait… if England are made fools of yet again.

Unsurprisingly for what is quintessentially a FIFA title, UEFA Euro 2004 is an immaculate recreation of the beautiful game. In terms of presentation, there's nary a more authentic experience to be had. Players look like their real life counterparts, the commentary is utterly convincing, if a little repetitive in places, while the visuals are about as realistic as football games get. The use of sound is unparalleled - hook up the game to a surround sound system and prepare for the most immersive football experience you'll find on any gaming platform.

Which is precisely what UEFA Euro 2004 is aiming for. It's unfortunate for EA that they receive so much criticism when no-one recreates the magical atmosphere of the beautiful game better. You can argue that Pro Evolution Soccer has the better football engine - it's debatable, but it's entirely valid - but in terms of sheer presentation, it can't even begin to touch on EA Sports' cherished love. Over the years, EA have constantly evolved and improved their esteemed football simulation from a mediocre take on the game to one of the finest sports games you can purchase today.

UEFA Euro 2004 continues that trend. While it's arguable that not much has been improved over FIFA Football 2004, what has been added is once again a substantial step forward for EA. Along with the control system that made FIFA Football 2004 so easy to pick up and play, a whole host of new skill moves and an improved selection of passes are added to help turn up the flare of the summer matches. On the pitch, the play is similar to that of the previous FIFA with a few welcoming tweaks, but apart from that, the biggest selling point surely is the facility that allows you control your favourite national team and lead them out of the tunnel and through the tournament.

Every player has been modelled intricately for full-on realism, allowing you to identify with your team and therefore develop some sort of passion for pushing them through the qualifying, group and knockout stages before lifting the cup triumphantly above your head. You will end up shouting at the television at individual players, purely because you can pick them out thanks to their photo-realistic faces and physique. Paul Scholes looks like Paul Scholes, and not some baby-faced ginger Teletubby. Oh wait...

Continuing on from FIFA Football 2004's managerial mode, UEFA Euro 2004 requires you to keep a constant eye on your team on and off the pitch in order to maintain their fitness and morale. You'll also be battling against suspensions and injuries - many of them a result of your shameful exploits on the pitch - just as you would in the tournament proper. Friendly games break up the qualifiers in order for you to test out new players and keep morale high, as well as prevent key first team players from injuring themselves or inadvertently getting themselves suspended from an important championship game.

Add a friend to the mix and suddenly the experience can erupt with increasingly sensitive and competitive results. I've taken to playing the game at lunch with our resident football fanatic on the same team and it becomes so much more compelling to win knowing that it would mean something to you both. Playing UEFA Euro 2004 co-operatively must tap into something primal in the human consciousness, since playing on the same team as someone and achieving victorious results is just so much more satisfying than going at it alone, despite its presence in any game of a similar premise in the past decade.

If you do find yourself overcome with football fever this summer - and the mere prospect of England finally lifting a trophy in a major tournament should help - then UEFA Euro 2004 is a fine choice for a football game in the home. It may just be FIFA Football 2004 with attractive clothing, a tidy haircut and a tweaked personality but there's no better choice for a tournament-themed game this season.

Scot Bennett

+ The best choice for a Euro 2004 themed game.
+ One of the best uses of presentation in any videogame.
+ An enjoyable, incredibly playable football engine.

- Unfortunately, nothing drastically has changed since FIFA Football 2004.
- Some occasionally brief slowdown in places.
- Commentary is a little repetitive at times.