FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

[Steve_OS]

Guardian has posted their FIFA 12 hands-on preview.

But the real physics seems to mean real risk. A tackle may upend the opposing player, or the tackler himself may come out badly, splaying awkwardly to upend an incoming team mate. You get these brilliant goalmouth scrambles as frantic players pile in, the ball ricocheting realistically between multiple sets of limbs.

And this physicality is not just confined to on-the-ball moments: you'll often see background crunches where players have simply run into each other, sending someone spiralling to the ground in the near distance. Everywhere, there are players scrambling, jostling and tripping. The pitch is crammed with action.

The impact engine, then, is authentic, often thoroughly amusing, but also a potential game changer. Fifa fans who have learned to predict the baked in behaviours of the ball and players will be quite literally wrong-footed again and again. Sliding tackles now often poke the ball against the oncoming attacker, rebounding it deliciously into his path; perfectly weighted through balls can clip the ankles of stranded defenders, knocking them agonisingly off course.

[TheTodd84]

Great Preview. Can't wait for this game.

The best part of this preview? "Anything that gets us away from pre-cooked animation cycles... ...is a triumph, really"

[LucianoJJ]

I've read so many positive previews for FIFA 12. If it lives up to the hype and delivers an improved game, all is forgiven for not doing a better job patching FIFA 11. I am optimistic.

[gigadkc]

I'm a big time football fan for over 20 years now but I've never really liked playing FIFA or PES because I thought they were too unrealistic. Maybe my opinion changes this year, I really hope so.

[Qb]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

Some career mode tidbits:

"We've put a big focus on be a manager in the sense that if it can happen in the real world, it can happen in the game," says Rutter. "Last year, the 'Play as Manager' mode was very blinkered, it was just about you. This year, curve balls will be thrown. Your players might become unhappy because they don't think they're being paid enough, because the team's not successful enough, or they're not getting enough run outs on the pitch.
"If they become unhappy, their form dips; if they come and talk to you about it and you don't do enough, they'll talk to the press. And when they talk to the press, other managers within the game might try and sign them. Basically. things unfold that are outside of your control – things come to you. It's a very different experience."

[Whitesox]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

Some career mode tidbits:

They've put a big focus on manager mode? Seems to me, as they've told me, that they put a big focus on physics and gameplay. I need to play this for myself, because I don't trust what he's saying. It does sound nice, though.

[ps3veron]

Can anyone here say SGOTY?! Well potentially..

[Bruins]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

They've put a big focus on manager mode? Seems to me, as they've told me, that they put a big focus on physics and gameplay. I need to play this for myself, because I don't trust what he's saying. It does sound nice, though.

Rutter – who is on a something of a global press tour with the game – told me that different aspects are noticed much more in different territories. "Precision dribbling was a very big deal to the North Americans," he says. "Tactical defending was important too because it took a lot of the pressure off them. In the UK, we're talking more about the player impact engine – I'm off to France and Italy and Spain later this week and I'm sure they've all got their own take on what's important."

[guaps]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

Can anyone here say SGOTY?! Well potentially..

Judging from the many positive previews already written, I think FIFA 12 will be very hard to top. But there has been a tendency among US gaming sites to look more towards NBA2k, MLB The Show and Madden as soccer just isn't popular enough in the US -- at least not yet.

[Whitesox]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

Rutter – who is on a something of a global press tour with the game – told me that different aspects are noticed much more in different territories. "Precision dribbling was a very big deal to the North Americans," he says. "Tactical defending was important too because it took a lot of the pressure off them. In the UK, we're talking more about the player impact engine – I'm off to France and Italy and Spain later this week and I'm sure they've all got their own take on what's important."

It's a very interesting PR plan to be sure. I'm definitely interested in checking out the product, it's a shame it's still a few months off.

[Mad 69]

Re: FIFA 12 Hands-On Preview (Guardian)

I never buy into the hype, we are talking about EA here. I would be happy with an improved MM/CM where the manager doesn't get sacked after going 20-0-0 to start the season. Unrealistic firings for no reason whatsoever has been ruining my MM for years, I hope EA can fix the crap.