A gaming revolution? Photo credit: EA Sports
“FIFA has changed.” With the annual release of the latest FIFA iteration comes a furore of excitement and anticipation, and in the build-up to this version’s unveiling Electronic Arts (EA) proudly proclaimed that it would be like no other before. Such hype has helped drive early sales of the game, with FIFA 12 enjoying the third largest UK video game launch ever.
FIFA 12 brings a trio of new features designed to enhance the realism of the game and elevate the gaming experience. In addition to the usual tweaks and mode improvements, the three big changes relative to previous FIFA incarnations are “precision dribbling”, the “player impact engine”, and “tactical defending”, with the latter two being the most significant. The player impact engine is an attempt to bring a sense of real-world physics to the game, although glitches in the early demos have brought some unwanted attention, while the new approach to defending affords players far greater control over a previously fairly passive aspect of the game. In earlier FIFA games holding a single button would send a defender straight at a threatening striker until possession was won, but FIFA 12’s system means that winning the ball requires timing, judgement, and a little more care than seasoned FIFA players may be used to.
But are these “revolutionary” changes for the better? Or have EA meddled with gaming gold?
Not perfect, but an absolute joy. Keith Stuart wrote for The Guardian that FIFA 12, while not being perfect or suited to all tastes, “absolutely reeks of effort, of care, of love for the sport”. He lauded the “exhaustive range of options and extras” beyond the matches themselves, although found the management aspects of Career Mode “ever-so-slightly lightweight.” The “real beauty” of the game, however, lies in the two-player mode, and Stuart declared that “with friends, with practice, with a will to re-think your approach to defence, FIFA is an absolute joy to play.”
Sacrificed accessibility for authenticity. “Realism. That’s the byword”, suggested Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph. He claimed that the transition from the previous version of the game to this one “isn’t completely painless”, and that the new features take some getting used to, but that “at its best, FIFA 12 is magnificent”. Nathan Irvine of gamesradar.com agreed, writing that “this is the first FIFA in memory where it isn’t instantly a pick up ‘n’ play classic”, because of the work needed to acclimatise to the new setup, but was still won over by the “amazing” multiplayer.
Brilliant. Along with the vast majority of reviewers, Liam Martin of digitalspy.co.uk was impressed. He said that FIFA 12 provided “a more satisfying football experience than ever before”, and particularly enjoyed the new quirk of an extended transfer deadline day feature, although he couldn’t help but miss Andy Gray’s commentary. A multitude of professional footballers have also jumped on the FIFA bandwagon, with cover star Wayne Rooney deeming the game “brilliant”, and Anton Ferdinand appreciating the heightened realism of the new game.
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