Can there really be too much of a good thing? Surely not if it's pizza or Tarantino flicks, but it's one of the questions that springs to mind when popping in UEFA Champions League 2006-007 on Xbox 360, which happens to be the fourth (fourth!) soccer game by EA in less than two (two!) years. Having so many soccer games in such a short amount of time may seem like a gift to fans of the sport, but it cuts down on the amount of significant changes or enhancements from game to game, apart from the usual tweaks to rosters and play modes. UEFA Champions at first seems like a slight deviation from FIFA 07, featuring the same underlying graphics engine and basic control scheme, but it ends up being more than FIFA with a different license, and it's all because of one seemingly trivial addition.

Ultimate Dream Team

Owners of Madden NFL 2001 on PS2 will recall EA's first attempt at blending card collecting with sports gaming. With UEFA, the card system has returned with a completely new play mechanic that is so interesting, so addictive that it should be added to the rest of the publisher's professional sports lineup from here on out. Instead of collecting individual soccer stars for minor performance boosts during matches, the developers have crafted an entire mode around the collectible cards that opens up new strategic options and encourages frequent play. The premise is simple: after naming your "ultimate" team and opening a starter pack of 27 cards, you use the cards to field an 11-man team and compete in actual matches to win credits and purchase new packs.

Decisions, Decisions

Each player card has ratings in such categories as shooting, fitness, morale, passing, and so forth, with nationality, position, and preferred formation all influencing your team's chemistry rating, giving you something to think about when choosing which players to start. Training, fitness, manager, coach, and other cards add further customization options to your team. For example, you can increase a player's in-game stats by using training cards on specific areas of need. Each player card is also assigned a contract spanning a finite number of games. Extensions can be applied to your favorite player by collecting manager cards, while doctors can heal injuries to the shoulder, head, neck, and other ailing parts. Unfortunately for Fabio Capello owners, there's no in-game cure for being a pain in the ass. The goal in ultimate team mode is to advance through five increasingly difficult levels or tiers to earn a "golden ticket" and reach the UEFA Champions League tournament.

Deal or No Deal

What makes this mode so fun is the unpredictability and rarity of the cards you receive and the finite number of each type you can have at any given time. Moving up in level will unlock both silver and gold packs, offering better players, gameplay cards (such as a lenient ref for 40 minutes), and other surprises. You can trade cards with friend over Xbox Live and even sell them online for credits (up to 5000 credits per card), creating a dynamic marketplace that adds excitement to the game. There are stadium cards, ball cards, boots cards, kits, and more, which become unlocked for the rest of the play modes. The only real drawback to the ultimate team mode is that advancing doesn't require a specific number of wins or milestones to complete; simply play enough games and you are automatically promoted whether you win or lose. Of course, you won't earn as many credits when you lose, and without credits your team will eventually hit a brick wall in development.

It's in the Cards

UEFA loses traction with the actual gameplay, which is filled with more issues than a magazine stand. The computer AI needs work, as your teammates often appear to be daydreaming when you have the ball and have to be micromanaged defensively. Passing and switching players is sloppy, and the shooting angles and shot variety is limited, especially when compared to Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007. The plastic-like sheen of the player models isn't terribly exciting, either, and none of the camera options offer a custom zoom. While the ultimate team mode is a great fun, the rest of the modes aren't as exciting. There is no traditional season or franchise mode due to the narrow focus of the license, nor are there mini-games or similar diversions, but there is Xbox Live support for a choice of ranked or unranked matches. Can one mode make or break a game? In UEFA's case it does, making it a worthy addition for those looking for a new twist on an all-too predictable sports franchise. Now who's willing to sell their gold Ronaldinho card?

Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video produced by: Paul Bonnano