Realistic soccer simulation with improved physics, tactical defending, precision dribbling, and licensed teams
Realistic soccer simulation with improved physics, tactical defending, precision dribbling, and licensed teams
Pros
- Amazing Graphics
- Precise Controls
- Real-World Players
- True-To-Life Gameplay
Cons
- Tricky Defending
FIFA 12 is a soccer simulation game from EA that was released in 2012. The game was an impressive step up from the previous version, and it includes an updated list of teams and players.
FIFA is a series that has been developing faster and faster over the years, and now it rivals the experience of Pro Evolution Soccer. Many soccer video game fans would claim that FIFA 12 was the first game in the FIFA series to eclipse the PES game from the same year.
This version of FIFA uses the strong foundation of the game as a base, and there are three main areas of improvement. The first is the player impact engine, the second is the precision dribbling system, and the third is tactical defense. Each of these greatly impacts the experience of the game, but the player impact engine is by far the most effective.
This updated physics engine completely alters the dynamics of the game. Contact and tackling are handled much differently than they were in previous versions of FIFA, and the results are much more realistic. Some have said the engine will only result in more frequent injuries amongst the digital players since they can now knock each other down while fighting for the ball.
The entire process of defense has been streamlined, so you can't simply press a button and have a defender automatically steal the ball from an attacking player. These sorts of tactics might have worked in previous versions of FIFA, but such a tactic in this version could easily allow the attacking player to slip through unchecked. That means the entire defense system is based on timing, and while that does take some getting used to, it makes you a better player.
FIFA 12 includes one of the most intuitive dribbling systems in any FIFA game. It's not as difficult to sneak past defenders, and trick plays and shots feel simpler to perform.
To create a maximally realistic experience, FIFA uses licensed players, teams, and clubs as the basis for their leagues. An impressive addition to this feature is that the game is linked to player transfer windows in the winter and summer, and when changes are made in real life, they are mirrored in the game.
The FIFA series has famously had excellent graphics, and this version is no different. The animation quality has gone up, and the graphics are slightly smoother than in the previous version. If you opt for the full version, you'll gain access to a huge online element with lots of social interaction.
When playing the demo of FIFA 12, you'll be able to play as AC Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Olympic Marseille, and Borussia Dortmund. Some of the more advanced settings are left out of the demo, and you are only allowed to play one practice game.
Pros
- Amazing Graphics
- Precise Controls
- Real-World Players
- True-To-Life Gameplay
Cons
- Tricky Defending
Pros
- Dribbling is more fun and easier
- The multiplayer format is excellent
- The animation and graphics are outstanding
- Lots of different game modes to choose from
- Improved defensive movements
Cons
- Solo play can be a bit disappointing
- The game can be tough to master
Play Football Like a Pro
As the name suggests, FIFA 12 is the 12th instalment in the popular series of football games. Naturally, the format of these games is quite similar and the concept is pretty simple. However, FIFA 12 is being hailed as the best of the series so far. Is it really better than the previous 11? Check out this review to find out.
EA Sports has received an extensive worldwide following for their imaginative FIFA games. The first eleven games in the series were light years ahead of competitors such as Pro Evolution Soccer. However, the creators were still not satisfied with their success and decided to tinker with some of the features such as dribbling and animation.
For the most part these changes have been successful and make the game play feel much more realistic. However, more focus has been put on the multiplayer aspect this time around. It has to be said that the multiplayer function works remarkably well and friends will now be able to enjoy the action of their favourite sport together.
The only downside with this is that the solo player option is not lacking in comparison. Playing alone simply isn’t as much fun as it used to be and many of the great solo player options that FIFA fans love are simply missing or are more difficult to use. The changes make the game more difficult to get into and the tutorial is rather long and complicated. However, players really need to watch the tutorial, as without it understanding how to control the players can be almost impossible.
The defending systems have been enhanced so that there are more tactical options to choose from when you close in on an attacker. The action on the pitch is now livelier than ever before and there are lots of different ways to take out an opponent to steal the ball and score a goal, hopefully before the referee notices that foul play may be involved.
FIFA 12 feels quite different to the other games in the FIFA series, which definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. FIFA fans may feel a little bit let down at first and may even feel like they have been presented with a whole new game. However, once you get used to the changes you will soon realise that they have mostly been made for the better and offer an improved gaming experience.
As FIFA fans will know, the game comes from arcade origins and for that reason the other instalments were presented in a certain way that represented the arcade genre. With FIFA 12 a clear decision seems to have been made to cut ties a little and explore all the other possibilities out there. Of course, this means a smoother, more visually pleasing game, but the purests out there may still feel a bit let down.
This is one case where if it isn’t broken, you really shouldn’t fix it. While some of the extra features that FIFA 12 offers add an extra dimension to the game, the creators have also take away some of the previously popular elements. While FIFA 12 still has a lot going for it in terms of graphics and animation, this is no longer the best football game around. The good news is that players can now check out games such as FIFA 14, which promises to bring a lot more to the Beautiful Game.
Pros
- Dribbling is more fun and easier
- The multiplayer format is excellent
- The animation and graphics are outstanding
- Lots of different game modes to choose from
- Improved defensive movements
Cons
- Solo play can be a bit disappointing
- The game can be tough to master
Pros
- Career mode lets you build a team from the ground up
- Features real teams and professional players
- Amazing graphics add to the realistic game play
- Play with licensed teams from countries around the world
Cons
- Demo version lacks the features of the full game
- Cannot skip over all cut scenes
- Commentary is annoying at times
- Players may not respond to your directions
Downloading a copy of FIFA 12 lets you experience all the fun of professional soccer games right on your computer.
FIFA is one of the best selling titles ever released by Electronic Arts. Though not as popular in the United States as it is abroad, the game series is appealing to anyone who loves playing or watching soccer. When it's raining or snowing outside and you can't get on the field, you can load up this game and watch the action unfold on a virtual field as you play against computer generated players.
Electronic Arts, also known as EA, constantly finds new ways of improving FIFA titles each year. FIFA 12 comes with two features that you'll definitely love. The first is a feature that lets you change the way the ball will move across the field, which can increase or decrease the difficulty of the game. The other feature lets you change how smart your players are. When you have a hard time jumping back and forth between players, you can make them a little smarter and let them make decisions without you pressing any buttons.
It also comes with a career mode that turns you into a team owner. You'll receive a set amount of money at the beginning of the season that you can use to buy new players or trade players to other teams. Each change that you make will impact how your team performs over the course of the season. Once a game starts, you're responsible for deciding how your players will act and what they will do. Career mode even sends you out on scouting missions to locate new players for your team.
If you prefer playing a full game, you can pick from more than 40 national teams and around 50 different stadiums. EA worked out licensing deals with major teams and professional athletes. You'll now have the chance to play as your favorite soccer players and on your favorite teams. FIFA 12 comes with a custom character creator too that lets you design your players in terms of hair color, body style, and even which tattoos they have.
As with all athletic games, FIFA 12 does have some minor issues. You cannot skip over some cut scenes, and the commentary playing over your game is annoying at times. Some players also have a hard time making their players move on the field too. Soccer fans from around the world though know that FIFA 12 delivers all the action they desire.
Pros
- Career mode lets you build a team from the ground up
- Features real teams and professional players
- Amazing graphics add to the realistic game play
- Play with licensed teams from countries around the world
Cons
- Demo version lacks the features of the full game
- Cannot skip over all cut scenes
- Commentary is annoying at times
- Players may not respond to your directions
