Now that spring is ending and summer is just around the corner, it's time for EA to start bombarding the masses with a new sports game in every genre.  MVP 2004 is already on store shelves, and the next Madden game is only a few months away.  In between those titles you get one that centers on the European version of football, a game that we Americans call soccer.

UEFA Euro 2004 is pure European soccer.  No, I can't think of any soccer that isn't "European," but some soccer games try to be a little more American, hoping to fare better with that particular audience.  This game doesn't do that.  It looks, plays, and sounds like a game that was built for soccer fans.

Euro 2004's gameplay is really good.  The controls are super-smooth, and the default button layout has each function designated to the appropriate button.  Sure, you could have changed it if the buttons weren't appropriate, but it's nice not having to.

The passing, shooting, and stealing are very intuitive.  It wouldn't be right to say that it's easy to perform those functions -- nothing in this game is easy -- but it isn't difficult or in the least bit frustrating to get into.  As with all sports games there is a learning curve if you've never played a soccer game before.

EA could easily change their name to AI (artificial intelligence), because their sports games always have the most accurate and realistic opponents.  Euro 2004 is no exception, including a responsive defense that quickly forces players to up their offense.  Opponent players prevent goals and steal the ball without being cheap.  It's never fun losing, but it's a lot easier to deal with when you lose to a computer opponent that is, for the moment at least, the superior player.

Like all EA sports games, Euro 2004 has a variety of action- and TV viewing-based camera angles that can be tweaked to your liking.  The standard view is quite a ways from the players, which feels slightly awkward at first.  If you use it for a while and change the view to something closer to the action, you'll begin to miss the part of the field that is no longer visible.  It's kind of like watching certain movies in wide-screen: you don't necessarily realize how much extra you're getting until you take it away.  Agree or disagree, the game lets you change the camera at any time via the pause menu screen.

Xbox Live is not supported (EA previously made online play exclusive to PlayStation 2 -- only this month have they announced plans to make all future sports games compatible with Xbox Live).  However, it does include a four-player mode, and if you want that big-and-beautiful sports game experience, Euro 2004 also runs in a higher resolution with High-Definition TVs (420p). 

As far as looks go, Euro 2004 hits hard with lots of realistic detail.  Without a doubt it's the best-looking soccer game EA has made, and since their previous title looked better than anything else out there, Euro 2004 has become the new champ.  Facial expressions aren't as lively as you'd expect from an EA sports game, but the intricate and recognizable aspects (eyes, mouth, and nose) look good enough to deter players from thinking about it.  Background detail is typical for EA: great lighting and shadows, and a number of eye-catching textures.  The only background detail that doesn't add up is the audience, which appears to be a cluster of several tiny, two-dimensional sticks with various coloring.  (The colors are intended to differentiate the shapes and make them look like people, I suppose.)  It's not the prettiest effect, but I doubt anyone will be too disappointed; the camera is usually angled in a way that prevents the audience from being seen.

At the end of the day, there's only one simulation soccer game that I want to play, and it's UEFA Euro 2004.  The controls are the star of the game.  Regardless of the move you're going to make, the controls come through with unrivaled responsiveness.  They feel really good, too.  Players move across the field with ease.  It's also easy to keep track of where the ball is, thanks to the game's clear icon indicators.

Gameplay: 8.4
Excellent AI and great control mechanics make UEFA Euro 2004 the game every soccer fan hoped it would be.  It's exciting and very entertaining for long play periods.  The multiplayer feature (1-4 players on one console) would have been better with Xbox Live, but you'll get that next year.  For now you'll have fun playing the game with your local friends, and have a blast playing through the game's many single-player offerings.

Graphics: 8.5
One word could be used to describe Euro 2004's graphics: sleek.  Nearly everything you'll see is top-notch.  The textured surfaces help make flatter elements (like grass) seem so much more dimensional.

Sound: 8.5
Sound effects match the realism of the game's graphics, and the soundtrack, which is comprised of only European artists, kicks major butt.  You likely won't recognize many of the tracks, but they'll get into your head just as easily as the stuff you hear on American radio.

Difficulty: Medium
Excellent AI that controls the players in a realistic manner.  No cheap wins here -- if you lose, it's 'cause you're inferior.

Concept: 7.5
Not exactly an innovative game, UEFA Euro 2004 improves on every aspect of EA's previous soccer titles.

Multiplayer: 7.9
1-4 players can compete in this offline-only soccer sim.

Overall: 8.4
UEFA Euro 2004 is the only official soccer game of the UEFA Euro 2004.  That means nothing to me, a gamer who loves games but doesn't follow many sports.  And as cool as licenses can be, it shouldn't mean anything to you either.  What matters most is how well the game plays.  As the review clarifies, this game plays very, very well.  If you love the UEFA and absolutely must have the game that bears its license, you can rest easy knowing that the game with the license is also the best one out there.  In other words, if you don't care about the license, this is still the soccer game to get.