FIFA 08 THE OFFSIDE CUP FINAL!
By: Dave Martinez |
14 Comments
Congratulations to our finalists! After three grueling, long months, we have 2 players left standing, fighting for FIFA Supremacy!
Barcelona as coached by Roven.
Barcelona defeats Manchester United (2-1 away, and 3-1 at home), in what can only be vengeance for the real life defeat. They have torn through opponents after a sluggish start in the group stages, and are now the heavy favorite to win this tournament.
They outplayed Celtic in a two game sweep. Aston Villa was run out of the building with a blow out win. And they left group H members Real Madrid, Hamburg and Roma in the dust.
Not to mention they have been the favorite to win the tournament throughout. But they face a tough opponent here in the final.
Fiorentina as coached by GreyGooseGuzla
Fiorentina was an unlikely finalist in this tournament, but it is only fitting that an Italian team represent - since it was the italian teams that dominated throughout.
Fiorentinas path to glory began with a dominant performance in group stage over the likes of Lyon, Boca Juniors and the Red Bulls. They met Sao Paolo in the round of 16, and properly dispatched the Brazilian upstarts. Then, it was on to a Quarterfinal showdown with fellow italians Inter Milan. But Inter fans just couldnt wait to get the game going, ran sacking the field, and causing a ruckus, so Fiore got the pass to the semifinals, where they dismissed upstarts Tottenham in three games: a 2-0 win, a 2-1 loss, and a 1-1 tie.
Now, both teams are reaching for glory here in the Offside Cup Final. Through two distinctly different paths, they have made it here, in some cases, by the skin of their teeth. And in less than a week, we will crown our champion.
Best of luck Gentlemen. May the best coach win.
Tags: FIFA 08 Offside Cup Finalists Announced Tommorrow!
By: Dave Martinez | 1 Comment
The deadline is approaching, and after tonite, we will know who will be the finalists of The First Ever Offside Cup for FIFA 08.
The Totties and Fiorentina battle in one corner, while Manchester United, and Barcelona continue their fight, this time, in the virtual arena.
Tune in tomorrow to check out our finalists. Within the week, we will have an official Offside Cup Champion.
Mike Tyson Is Back! Fight Night Round 4!
By: Dave Martinez | 4 Comments
Boxings Face for nearly two decades Mike Tyson returns to the virtual arena
I havent been this excited since I took him out with Little Mac back in 1990!
Fight Night 4 has already made quite a splash, announcing the addition of Iron Mike Tyson to their stable of virtual fighters. Which suits me just fine - I hate having to create him with every new version of that game they put out. Now if they can just find it in them to add Rocky Balboa, Ivan Drago, Apollo Creed, Tommy The Machine Gunn and Mason Dixon, my boxing creation days would be over.
Fight Night is expected to be released sometime in 2009, and this is one boxing afficionado that can not wait! The minute I can get my hands on some screenshots and trailers, our readers will be the first to see it. And once the game is in my hands, I am letting the computer duke it out - Ali v. Tyson - to settle the score.
Ill keep you updated.
Category: REVIEWS, CONSOLES, WII, Playstation 3, +++ MY INFO +++ daveredbulls@hotmail.com, XBOX 360, NewsUEFA Euro 2008 “Battle of the Nations” Tournament EXCLUSIVE
By: Dave Martinez | 2 Comments
First of all, i can not wait for this game to come out.
Second - I can’t wait for an Offside UEFA tournament.
Lastly - this is awesome. Check out this exclusive video to the offside. The new UEFA includes a “Battle of the Nations” tournament, which you all should look into. Awesome stuff. Check out the video for more details, and I hope its an OFFSIDE reader who wins!
Category: REVIEWS, VIDEO GAMES, CONSOLES, WII, Playstation 3, UEFA CUP, +++ MY INFO +++ daveredbulls@hotmail.com, XBOX 360, NewsThe FIFA 08 World Cup - Seriously.
By: Dave Martinez | 3 Comments
Where have I been? Sony, EA Sports and FIFA collaborate and I catch no wind of it?!
It seems there was a FIFA 08 World Cup Qualifier going on for the past 7 months . . . and no one called me!
32 players from around the world are fighting for the chance at FIFA 08 supremecy in what is being dubbed “THE FIFA INTERACTIVE WORLD CUP 2008 FINAL.”
Catchy.
And what is at stake you ask? “The finalists will compete to become the FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year at the Sony Center in Berlin on May 24, and they will win an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008 and a cash prize of USD $20,000. ”
Thats what.
I call a repeat win for the guy from the Netherlands. I am sure lighting up and playing is the easiest training ever.
Here are your participants. 3 Americans. 2 South Africans. And a Croatian in a pear tree . . .
Marko Krivokapic
Germany
Mustafa Agyuez
Germany
Chris Bullard
England
Danny Taylor
England
Max Fayers
England
Bjorn Diedricks
South Africa
Abubakr Ebrahim Akhalwaya
South Africa
Buey Siong Tay
Australia
Michael Pommer
Australia
Didi Agbai
South Carolina
Michael Ribeiro
New Jersey
Michael Labelle
Texas
Alfonso Ramos
Spain
Ivan Soberon
Spain
Gwan Hyeong Kim
Korea
Sachith Reddy
India
Chan Charm Wah
Hong Kong
Andries Smit - defending champion
Netherlands
Roland Csaszar
Hungary
Christian Lonhart
Denmark
Pedro Caiado
Portugal
Alex Barets
France
Karol Rogaczewski
Poland
Dominik Posch
Austria
Ivan Pastyrcak
Slovakia
Davor Brescakovic
Croatia
Roberto Garrapa
Italy
Ruben Morales Zerecero
Mexico
Tunc Polat
Switzerland
Stephen Coorey
Australia
Andre Casagrande Buffo
Brazil
Carl Condliffe
New Zealand
New Releases This Week
By: Dave Martinez | 1 Comment
Hey all,
Of course, I am making this sports related. But to anyone who would like to know - GRAND THEFT AUTO IV is AMAZING. This thing plays like a movie! RUN and get it. I mean it. RUN to the store, BEG the managers, and GET THIS GAME!
Ok. Now onto new sports releases:
RACING:
Mario Kart Wii - Out NOW!
I am hoping to get a review in for this game. Lets face it, everyone growing up loved Mario Cart, and with racings popularity and the name recognition of this particular line, it is sure to be a big hit for Nintendo.
BASEBALL:
Baseball Mogul 2009 - out TODAY
I am not much of a PC gamer, but baseball mogul sounds super cool. “Manage a baseball franchise shrewdly as you strive for league supremacy.” Nice. Make me a footy mogul and i am in!
Backyard Baseball - May 6th
A continuation to the cheeky series taking “little kid” versions of our favorite baseball stars and tossing them in a Sandlot for some fun. Out for PS2.
HEALTH:
Lets Yoga and Lets Pilates for Nintendo DS
Pretty self explanatory. I would love to actually see how these games work.
EXCLUSIVE: MADDEN ‘08 Trailer, Pics and Brett Favre!
By: Dave Martinez | 5 Comments
The 20th Anniversary of the Madden series is here - and legendary Quarterback Brett Favre is gracing the cover.
A first in Madden history, Brett Favre will go down as the only retired player (aside from Madden himself) to be so prominently pictured.
This should wet your appetite through the summer for sure. Check out the screen shots below:
Could tournaments be far behind?
FIFA Street 3 - Review
By: Dave Martinez | 4 Comments
The Street is Back . . .
If you are looking for a serious competition of skill - strategy, placement, finishing - look elsewhere.
But if its a good time with some friends that you seek, you have come to the right place.
EA BIG gives us FIFA STREET 3, the newest installment of the Street series, which has taken a two year hiatus. EA takes a leap of faith as they try to gage the interest in Arcade style sports games (once considered the keystone to the sports gaming industry) in the modern marketplace.
The Good
+ Excellent graphics with detailed facial features in particular
+ Multiplayer gaming
+ Simple layout and gameplay allow even non-soccer fans to enjoy the action.
+ New backgrounds and playing fields give a great new dimension of action
The Bad
+ Single player mode is rather limited.
+ Defense is non-existent.
+ No Argentina (a major no no with this Bostero!).
GAMEPLAY - 8/10
If you are playing single player mode, the entertainment will be figuring out the trick stick (right toggle) for the game. Once your able to climb walls and bounce balls off of em, and crack players necks - thats where the fun begins.
For the experienced player, though, the learning process will be short and sweet. The fact is, once you have played FIFA 08 and figured out those tricks (which takes months), this will be mere childs play.
Defense leaves alot to be desired. Your options are simple and limited - either you tackle your opponent with a slide, run into them to dispossess, or take a step in much like the early FIFA games, which leaves you exposed as all sin if you miss (which is plentiful). Though the game is set up to be an all out offensive assault, it would be nice to have the ability as a defender to step in and ruin a beautiful Ronaldino crossover. I mean, half the fun in games like NFL Street is the defensive contact - and that is what this game is missing.
All of that being said - its an arcade game. And if one is looking for tournament style football, you probably came to the wrong place. Arcade games are all about challenging opponents one on one, and schooling them with some neat tricks - and FIFA Street accomplishes this.
SOUND - 9/10
EA always does a great job with the sound to its sports games, so a 9 is really no surprise. It has excellent atmosphere that takes your through the game without any unnecessary distractions. And EA Trax does it again with the selected music - really catchy, really entertaining stuff.
GRAPHICS - 9/10 (on an HDTV)
Take a look at these pics. Its like someone plastered a cartoon version of our favorite players and let us have a go with em . . . great job on the detailing by EA.
And the enviromentals (especially on a hot HDTV) are boggling. The detail is tremendous, to the very last chain link fence.
LONGEVITY - 7/10
Let me simplify this for you - if you are playing single mode, you will run rampant through the challenges, and the game will be over. If you are with friends and just want to have a fun time that everyone will enjoy, there is no better alternative. I wish I could give two seperate scores - one as a single, the other as a multi - but 7 would be a nice in between point.
NOVELTY - 7/10
Some options went to the wayside (trick points and so forth), and the tricks themselves aren’t as over the top as they used to be (even if Ronaldinho can play his body off of someones shoulder). But the novelty in this game comes in the form of its utilization of the new age system graphic capabilities and the ease in its gameplay.
YOU WILL ENJOY THIS GAME IF . . .
. . . You throw a party, invite a bunch of friends, and just play. The beauty of this game is the multiplayer functionality and the simplicity of its play. Even the most soccer ignorant people in the world will be able to pick this game up, and enjoy it. What can be better than the ability to make your friend look dumb in the sport they love?
I actually put this to the test. A good friend of mine hates FIFA 08. He hates sports in general. He came by, and I put on FIFA Street, to an immediate groan. Then, he played. 2 hours later, he was asking to come back to do it again. Its the ultimate remedy for bringing soccer and non-soccer fans together.
YOU WILL HATE THIS GAME IF . . .
. . . You walk into it thinking its FIFA 08. This is Arcade style, much like past offerings from BIG such as NFL and NBA Street. Don’t go into this game trying to match soccer wits with your friends, or thinking you will be able to prove your soccer knowledge on the pitch. You will be lost by the first courtyard wall deflection. You have to enjoy it for what it is - an in your face, over the top, goal fest.
FINAL ANALYSIS
8 / 10
+ Taking into consideration the nature of arcade sports games, FIFA Street is best used when playing against a friend or 50. Aren’t all arcade games?
+ The graphics and tricks alone are well worth the money spent to pick this up. And the sound track rocks.
+ You will probably finish off the game in record time in single player mode - but again, in context, that isnt what Arcade games are all about anyway. It wouldn’t hurt, though, to have more challenging tasks to complete.
+ This game is best enjoyed on an HDTV - without question. The Game Breaker was like a vortex of colors and detail.
+ Playground mode is a great throwback, where you pick your players/opponents on the spot.
+ Dont go into this game thinking your defense will win you games - it wont.
+ Grab a few beers, call your pals over, and enjoy.
The Offside Cup - Semi Finalists!
By: Dave Martinez | 1 Comment
So here we are! 2 weeks away from the final!
Congrats to everyone who has advanced this far. Your doing a great job.
Here are your results:
RESULTS
Celtic 1 –2 Barcelona
Barcelona 2 – 1 Celtic
Man U 4 – 1 AC Milan
AC Milan 0 – 2 Man U
Roma 2-2 Tottenham
Tottenham 2-2 Roma
Tottenham 1 - 0 Roma
Inter forfeits this round to Fiorentina. Apparantly, fans rioted on the field again, taking chasing Figo and Cambiasso around the arena. When will they ever learn. . . .
SO HERE ARE YOUR MATCH UPS!
Tottenham v. Fiorentina
Manchester United v. Barcelona
You know, I could swear that Barca / Man U match up is familiar . . .
Check your emails later on tonight. You can get an early start on the league, but will have 2 weeks to complete the round.
April 26th - May 10th.
Best of luck
FIFA 08 - THE OFFSIDE CUP - Quarter final deadline tonite!
By: Dave Martinez | 2 Comments
Hey everyone,
The Quarterfinals are ending tonight at midnight.
Congrats to Tottenham for bucking the odds and advancing (even when the Vegas bookies gave him 15:1 odds). Here is how they did it - against a heavily favored Roma
2-2 first leg (2-0 at halftime) Berbatov nets 2.
2-2 second leg (2-1 at halftime) Keane follows Berbatovs performance with 2 goals of his own.
1 - 0 Totties on a Berbatov blast in the 78th minute - and the semifinals are now theres.
Wrap up your games, and I will immediately begin the semifinal round.
Good luck everyone!
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