FIFA 12 aims to satisfy its promise of a revolution with a three-pronged assault of new features consisting of The Impact Engine, the new tactical defending system and precision dribbling. When looked at individually, all three of these new features have various issues that become slightly problematic. However, together, they combine to produce a game of virtual football that feels more authentic than any has before.
The Impact Engine is the biggest overhaul that FIFA 12 has received on the pitch, and while it has some kinks, it really lays the groundwork for an engine that could be the foundation for many FIFAs to come. The engine models player collisions on a moment-by-moment basis, and doesn’t rely on canned animations that, in previous versions of the game, stunted flow and looked clunky and repetitive.
This causes actions and reactions that are much smoother, and players bump and fall just as they would in the real game. Not only does it look better when somebody gets tackled, it also feels better, as players are able to skip past challenges more readily and are a bit sturdier when in possession of the ball. Occasionally there’s a glitch, but nothing that I encountered was close to game-breaking. Seeing two players trying to get up and tripping over each other multiple times does break the immersion somewhat, but EA have got lucky in that it also provides moments of Benny Hill-style comedy.
Eye on the ball
Tactical Defending also completely changes the way FIFA is played. The old defending from FIFA 11 (of which you can read our review here) simply required you to hold a couple of buttons and watch the AI do the work. EA haven’t just altered this concept, they’ve flipped it entirely. The defending is now completely manual, and having to jockey attackers until the time is right to commit to the tackle is a difficult adjustment to make. When this is paired with the new precision dribbling, you’d better get used to seeing the wrong side of an attacker as he turns you inside out over and over again.
A defending system that’s so difficult to use it becomes frustrating does not sound like the most fun thing in the world, but it really is worth it once you’ve got your head around it. Not only does it make the game more realistic, it also gives you a far more rewarding sense of accomplishment when you keep the opposition’s goal threat at bay. Keeping a clean sheet now means something – and although you may not keep many, the ones you do will feel earned.
This new defending system may be rewarding for the majority of the time, but it’s still let down by the occasional goals that feel unstoppable – not because of the skill of your opponent, but simply because they are cheap. Conceding from corners – or from any cross for that matter – at times feels unpreventable, as attackers run free and you’re unable to jump with them. Keepers also feel lacking in brains at times, and will often stay rooted on the goal line for aerial balls they really should be claiming.
As a result of the new tactical defending system, most FIFA veterans will find themselves having to step down at least one difficulty level when they first start playing. I decided to stick with World Class, and the AI is a magician both on and off the ball. At times it almost seems like the computer-controlled opposition can read your button inputs before they’re pressed, as they know exactly how to avoid your oncoming challenges.
The precision dribbling gives attackers even tighter turning circles, and is the one aspect of FIFA 12 that diminishes the otherwise authentic football feel. While it’s fun skipping and turning past a series of defenders, it isn’t as fun when you’re on the defending end. In real life, outside of Lionel Messi, how often do you see players cutting into the box, weaving through three payers and then scoring a goal? Once you’re fully educated in the new defending this may be less of a problem, but it’s a real pain while you’re learning the ropes.
Heads up
While the AI feels frustrating at times, FIFA 12 comes to life when you take your game online. Recent years of FIFA have always provided an addictive online experience, but the new revamps this year are the equivalent of Blizzard shipping World of Warcraft with a crackpipe included.
Head to Head matches online have always had an experience points system, but in previous years it felt empty and didn’t serve the purpose that it was meant to. The new Head to Head seasons change that. They monitor your progress online as though you were in a league – you need a certain number of points to get promoted to the next division, but too few and you will end up relegated. Seasons last ten games, and the incentive of promotion or relegation really adds tension and excitement to every game: for the first time on FIFA online, the stakes are higher than just a bit of pride.
The same season format is also applied to friendly matches, meaning you and your comrades can keep track of who’s winning throughout a ten-match season. Once again, this adds a level of excitement to the game that random one-off matches just wouldn’t be able to provide.
For those who prefer to shy away from the online side of things, there is the usual career mode to play through. As with FIFA 11, you can approach this as a player, a manager or a player-manager. The manager side of things has been given some touching up, and while the additional features are welcome they don’t quite work.
In EA’s attempt to achieve the realism of professional football, they’ve attempted to replicate one of the most exciting days for fans on the footballing calendar: transfer deadline day. In FIFA 12 this gives you a 12-hour countdown throughout the day, and as players and money exchange hands each hour ticks by. It would cause some exciting last-minute drama, but is ruined by the fact players are far too easy to acquire. Playing as Celtic, I managed to buy Sami Kheidra without any fuss at all – I can’t imagine him swapping sunny Madrid for dingy Glasgow that carefree in real life.
EA have also attempted to increase the immersion of career mode by having players directly contact you with their grievances and issues. The system is a good idea, but again just doesn’t work. The rest of the menu system is still too slow and clunky, and the messages are not varied enough. Once you’ve heard the fourth player say exactly the same thing in a season it breaks immersion more than improving it.
FIFA 12 is quite a revolution, then – it’s just not an entirely successful one. There are certain barriers to entry that you’d hope will be fixed with the next installment. Nevertheless, despite the problems, FIFA 12 makes some important steps towards football realism, and for the most part the risks have paid off: this is still a beautiful game.