UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal - DEAD - ARCHIVE; Author: Scot Bennett
; Published: 07/05/2004
Scot kicks a ball around in the mud as he beings to get excited about Euro
2004. What better way to pass the time than to play the game…
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.
"Unsurprisingly for what is quintessentially a FIFA title, UEFA Euro 2004 is an immaculate recreation of the beautiful game"
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...
"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.