Play UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 the traditional way as your favourite club team from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the UEFA Champions League Final.

Re-create or customize the real-world groupings of the official UEFA Champions League tournament by taking control of a huge selection of clubs. Plus, the new UEFA Champions League Challenge tests even the most hardcore soccer fan by recreating classic moments in UEFA Champions League history using modern teams.

UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 on the Xbox 360 system features a game engine with a more fluid player movement system that makes it easier for players to perform more incisive, defence-splitting one-twos, first touches and through passes with a ball that’s alive with its own independent physics and even more responsive to every touch.

The game also supports up to eight-way multiplayer matches in the Lounge and boasts a plethora of in-game unlockable content. [Electronic Arts]

The day after England’s Manchester United thumped Italy’s shell shocked AS Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford (8-3 agg) in an historic night of football to rightfully book their place in the semi final stage of this year’s tournament, it seemed only fitting to run a Review Round-up of EA’s UEFA Champions League 2006-2007.

Granted, it may only truly appeal to the European contingent amongst you, but ‘the beautiful game’ IS the one true football and with Chelsea also safely into the last four, and Liverpool all-but assured a place following their 3-0 first leg victory in Holland… well, this particular Englishman is granting himself a little self-indulgent gloating.

Let’s see what the critics make of EA’s latest footballing series addition. Spend or Lend?

83% - TeamXbox - "A lovely game engine featuring independent player and ball physics. Card game campaign mode jazzes up offline play."

80% - Official Xbox Magazine UK - "There are countless days of single and multiplayer amusement to be had, ensuring that you’ll be kept suitably entertained until the next FIFA installment rolls off the EA conveyor belt...which will no doubt be in a few months’ time."

76% - GameSpot - "UEFA Champions League’s unique method of building teams by collecting player cards makes up for the fact that it’s EA’s fourth soccer game for the 360 in just over a year."

70% - EuroGamer - "It’s a package that knows exactly why people want to buy it and lives up to their expectations; that it uses a little imagination along the way is a bonus. You’ll either want it or have no use for it, so the number down there doesn’t matter a great deal."

70% - IGN - "With UEFA, you’ll get a really neat idea that’s rather foreign to soccer -- using trading cards to build a team from nothing to something. The Panini/Magic/fantasy football concept is deep and compelling and requires much strategizing and experimenting, all without kicking a single ball."

Verdict: Spend