PlayStation 3
Released by 2011 by EA Sports
Grade: A+
Looking for the ideal soccer game on PS3? This is it, at least according to a ton of other dorks who write about video games. FIFA 12 offers authenticity and depth while also being easy to play and more high-scoring than real soccer. It’s often listed among the best sports games ever, standing out from other FIFA games that are pretty similar.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the fifth of 12 installments on PS3. It debuts crucial AI advancements and collision physics that help make it so critically acclaimed.
See FIFA 11 vs. FIFA 12 vs. FIFA 13 vs. FIFA 14
Praises and gripes
As usual for FIFA, you’ve got intuitive control over many subtle movements and action that flows organically. You’ve got 22 guys out there playing their positions and reacting to situations intelligently. You can pass, shoot, and dribble in many different ways, and honing your touch and precision can result in some spectacular plays.
This version is known for its new defensive AI. Some purists complain about FIFA 11’s slide tackles, because they’re too easy and too big a part of the game. This year, you need to smartly close in on the ball and tackle from short range. CPU-controlled defenders now consider the ballhandler’s skill, more likely to charge a lousy player and to give a cushion to a better player. It’s subtle, but if you play for a long time with the same team, you may notice this sly piece of depth. The result is that you have action playing out a bit more like real soccer, and less like a video game with constant slide tackles.
The collision physics are also improved. Players bump into one another and fight for position more organically, and the ball will pop loose or be maintained in a way that seems fair and realistic. The “pinball” moments from FIFA 11 don’t plague this version.
The game rides a magical wave, somehow feeling realistic yet providing more goals than real soccer. You won’t suffer through 90 minutes of play without a goal. In fact, 10-minute halves feel reasonable, and you’ll get final scores like 2-1 and 3-2. Goals usually feel hard-earned, although the online dorks also say that a “finesse shot” (hold R1) from just outside the box too easily results in a goal.
Most of the time, though, goals come from tactical passing sequences, capitalizing on turnovers, good positioning and timing on a crossing opportunity, or a rebound off a scramble near the goal. I love using strategic moves and pass variations to get into a scoring position. Putting the finishing touches on your attack and finding the net is sweetly satisfying. It’s also easy to screw up, shooting too hard over the net, shooting too soft at the goalie, or delaying a shot too long before the defense closes in.
Defense can be a honorable struggle, as it often is in simulation sports games. You can still slide tackle, along with standing tackles, calling for help from teammates, or simply getting into position to knock the ball away.
Free kicks and penalty kicks are a necessary detraction from the free-flowing action, which is hard to avoid for a soccer game. You’ll want to use practice modes to learn just the right combination of commands to get these just right.
The rest of the offering is top notch. The graphics are great. There are a few camera options, and the default gives a wide view of the field without sacrificing the details. The sound is solid. All the teams and modes you can expect are there. Once EA got their soccer franchise to this point, you can’t go wrong with any version, but if you’re stumped on which version to pick up, or you haven’t yet played FIFA in this generation, FIFA 12 is a great choice.