12 Things which make FIFA ’12 the Best Football Game to Date....
EA Sports latest offering into the world of video games follows the company’s fine twenty-year tradition of making top class sports games.
FIFA ’12 is EA’s 17th yearly update of the franchise and as expected, it has shot it’s way to the top of the league in the fans mind. Here’s why.......
FIFA ’12 is EA’s 17th yearly update of the franchise and as expected, it has shot it’s way to the top of the league in the fans mind. Here’s why.......
#1. It’s FIFA! We’ve been waiting twelve months for the latest version. Fans have been waiting with baited breath for the game to come out and with a 33% increase in sales on FIFA ’11, it seems that fans were pre-ordering in their hundreds of thousands as well as going out to purchase the game on it’s release date. Part of the buzz is around the game is the number of casual fans it can easily suck into it’s addictive gameplay.
#2. Tactical Defending. Described as a work in progress for the last two years, a change the way in which players defend is one of the intriguing factors about FIFA ’12. No longer can players press a button and smother their opponents with defenders being launched left, right and centre on the screen. Tactical defending is exactly what you might expect, it brings a more measured approach to winning the ball back. Players can still track dangerous opponents by doubling-up on them, but now players can also track attacking players more accurately when doing so.
#3. Ultimate Team. One of FIFA ‘11’s strongest points, the Ultimate Team feature is included from the get-go this year with the inclusion of offline player. FIFA’s `UT gives you the chance to put together a team in the form of football stickers. Points will give you the opportunity to buy more packs which increase your chances of securing better players, kits and stadiums to use either online or offline against local opponents.
#4. The Impact Engine. Another of FIFA’s new inclusion, the impact engine seeks to improve the game’s realism by using increased collision detection to detect more realistic physics of all elements of the game. Both player injuries and ball movements are affected by the impact engine which is a step towards adding to FIFA’s life-like feel.
#5. Revised Career Mode.Tweeks have been made to the FIFA career mode which has fallen behind Ultimate Team and Be-a-Pro gameplay in the last few seasons. Career mode now gives you the option of becoming a player manager or simply a manager to take your chosen team to success. With the player manager option switched on, you incorporate you Be-a-Pro character and can choose the play games from his/her perspective of as the whole team.
#6. Pro-Player Intelligence. The AI’s abilities have been increased in FIFA’s latest iteration as computer opponents now have increased intelligence. The AI will now look to exploit weaknesses in your team as well as play with different approaches depending on the match situation. Mistakes players make on higher skill levels are more likely to be punished as the computer adapts to your style of play.
#7. Commentary/Audio Changes. FIFA ’12 brings back the option to edit the game’s soundtrack as well as the chance to add chants and introduction music to accompany the performances of your favourite team. Changes have also been made to the game’s commentary team with Alan Smith stepping in alongside Martin Tyler, and an option to have Clive Tildsley and Andy Townsend calling the game.
#8. Precision Dribbling. Improving on last season’s 360 dribbling, precision dribbling now means that there are more ways to beat your opponent. Players can now make small movements and adjustments to beat defenders and create space for passes or shots. The precision dribbling abilities of a player are dependent on his skill level meaning that every movement on the pitch is crucial.
#9. Increased Authenticity. Once again EA Sports blows it’s competition out of the water with unrivalled authenticity. FIFA ’12 offers over 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 players.
#10. EA Sports Football Club. Providing a social networked feel to FIFA, EA sports football club means that every action taken in the game leaves a footprint. Everything you do in the game is tracked and displayed in the menu of all those on your friends lists. This is a chance to see who rivals you a the best player in your social group. EA Football Club also means that each result, goal and improvement in your pro helps your team secure points in the online virtual football league. After choosing your favourite team, you can support them in weekly leagues no matter if you play as them or not. At the end of seven days, points secured by players are tallied up and teams move up and down the division based on their results.
#11. Online refinements. As a key feature of any modern game, FIFA has enhanced it’s online gaming to streamline the experience for players. Online buddies can face off in virtual leagues, one-off ranked exhibition games or the aforementioned Ultimate Team matches. Virtual lobbies have been increased in size making finding your perfect match much easier. Online Be-a-Pro mode means that you can team up with a group of friends, create your own club and challenge those online whether your all on at the same time, or just a few at a time.
#12 FIFA’s release coincided with that of it’s greatest rival Pro Evolution Soccer 12. It seems that the great civil war between the two games has ended for another year before even beginning thanks to FIFA’s additions. The majority of changes made to the gameplay in PES 12 have already been included or bettered in FIFA ’12 and with a week’s advantage on the market, it seems that very few people will be switching their allegiences this year.
Overall: FIFA ’12 is once again more revolution than evolution. Precision dribbling, tactical defending and the impact engine push the game’s envelope once more and mean that for another twelve months EA Sports has found the top corner.
#2. Tactical Defending. Described as a work in progress for the last two years, a change the way in which players defend is one of the intriguing factors about FIFA ’12. No longer can players press a button and smother their opponents with defenders being launched left, right and centre on the screen. Tactical defending is exactly what you might expect, it brings a more measured approach to winning the ball back. Players can still track dangerous opponents by doubling-up on them, but now players can also track attacking players more accurately when doing so.
#3. Ultimate Team. One of FIFA ‘11’s strongest points, the Ultimate Team feature is included from the get-go this year with the inclusion of offline player. FIFA’s `UT gives you the chance to put together a team in the form of football stickers. Points will give you the opportunity to buy more packs which increase your chances of securing better players, kits and stadiums to use either online or offline against local opponents.
#4. The Impact Engine. Another of FIFA’s new inclusion, the impact engine seeks to improve the game’s realism by using increased collision detection to detect more realistic physics of all elements of the game. Both player injuries and ball movements are affected by the impact engine which is a step towards adding to FIFA’s life-like feel.
#5. Revised Career Mode.Tweeks have been made to the FIFA career mode which has fallen behind Ultimate Team and Be-a-Pro gameplay in the last few seasons. Career mode now gives you the option of becoming a player manager or simply a manager to take your chosen team to success. With the player manager option switched on, you incorporate you Be-a-Pro character and can choose the play games from his/her perspective of as the whole team.
#6. Pro-Player Intelligence. The AI’s abilities have been increased in FIFA’s latest iteration as computer opponents now have increased intelligence. The AI will now look to exploit weaknesses in your team as well as play with different approaches depending on the match situation. Mistakes players make on higher skill levels are more likely to be punished as the computer adapts to your style of play.
#7. Commentary/Audio Changes. FIFA ’12 brings back the option to edit the game’s soundtrack as well as the chance to add chants and introduction music to accompany the performances of your favourite team. Changes have also been made to the game’s commentary team with Alan Smith stepping in alongside Martin Tyler, and an option to have Clive Tildsley and Andy Townsend calling the game.
#8. Precision Dribbling. Improving on last season’s 360 dribbling, precision dribbling now means that there are more ways to beat your opponent. Players can now make small movements and adjustments to beat defenders and create space for passes or shots. The precision dribbling abilities of a player are dependent on his skill level meaning that every movement on the pitch is crucial.
#9. Increased Authenticity. Once again EA Sports blows it’s competition out of the water with unrivalled authenticity. FIFA ’12 offers over 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 players.
#10. EA Sports Football Club. Providing a social networked feel to FIFA, EA sports football club means that every action taken in the game leaves a footprint. Everything you do in the game is tracked and displayed in the menu of all those on your friends lists. This is a chance to see who rivals you a the best player in your social group. EA Football Club also means that each result, goal and improvement in your pro helps your team secure points in the online virtual football league. After choosing your favourite team, you can support them in weekly leagues no matter if you play as them or not. At the end of seven days, points secured by players are tallied up and teams move up and down the division based on their results.
#11. Online refinements. As a key feature of any modern game, FIFA has enhanced it’s online gaming to streamline the experience for players. Online buddies can face off in virtual leagues, one-off ranked exhibition games or the aforementioned Ultimate Team matches. Virtual lobbies have been increased in size making finding your perfect match much easier. Online Be-a-Pro mode means that you can team up with a group of friends, create your own club and challenge those online whether your all on at the same time, or just a few at a time.
#12 FIFA’s release coincided with that of it’s greatest rival Pro Evolution Soccer 12. It seems that the great civil war between the two games has ended for another year before even beginning thanks to FIFA’s additions. The majority of changes made to the gameplay in PES 12 have already been included or bettered in FIFA ’12 and with a week’s advantage on the market, it seems that very few people will be switching their allegiences this year.
Overall: FIFA ’12 is once again more revolution than evolution. Precision dribbling, tactical defending and the impact engine push the game’s envelope once more and mean that for another twelve months EA Sports has found the top corner.