I’ve been a soccer player since I was a little kid so you don’t know how excited I get whenever a soccer game gets released. Ubisoft said in its press release that Real Soccer 2008 is the first major soccer simulation to come to the DS. Does it live to the hype? Well, read on.

Real Soccer 2008 features real moves from the game. You can easily make spectacular dribbles to evade the defense. Moves like step-overs, back heel passes, bicycle kicks and fake shots can be made with the simple combinations of the D-pad and other buttons. It’s not that hard to get the hang of the controls and the game play flows smoothly, making this game enjoyable.

It also features a real interaction between you and the in-game referee. When you feel that the ref is giving you the raw deal, pour your frustrations at him by shouting at the DS’ mic. This might make you look stupid when in a crowded place. Well, tapping at the mic instead will do.

Real arenas and stadiums are used in Real Soccer 2008. They are scaled down to realistic details, giving you the idea of how it feels like to actually play there.

There’s just one thing that’s not real about Real Soccer 2008. Due to its lack of licensing, the game doesn’t feature any real team or players’ likeness. Small as it may seem, its details like that that can turn fans away from this game and play FIFA instead.

Once you’ve overcome not seeing familiar names and teams, Real Soccer 2008 is a playable simulation of the world’s most watched team sport.