Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match?

[mac_rmm]

If I am up by only a goal in the final ten minutes of a match in career or exhibition mode, I have resigned myself to a draw at best because I know the CPU is going to score. The mad rush pressure they put on is understandable but also completely unrealistic. I will have my players with the ball and in full sprint and will always get caught by the CPU. Doesn't matter how fast the player is - I have used Bale in full sprint and still get caught from behind. Forget about going around a defender or dribbling away - tackles for the computer in the last ten minutes are 100% successful. My passes automatically get picked off by CPU defenders (with seemingly magical burst of speed to step into lanes) Forget about stopping a corner - no matter what I do, it is basically an automatic goal for the CPU in the last ten minutes. Even if I get in the way of the actual corner kick, a clearing attempt will be blocked and it miraculously falls right to the foot of an open CPU every time and they blast it in.

Am I the only one experiencing this? I always hated Madden when I felt the CPU was blatantly cheating and now I am getting this same feeling with Fifa 13. I did not feel this way with Fifa 12. The only mode I enjoy playing is FUT because the games actually feel fair. Any suggestions? Playing at World Class with sliders from Jamie. I can go back to Professional and win every game 5-0 with 70% ball possession, but that's not fun either.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

If there is one single thing that bothers me about 13..it is this.

Where do they get this new found energy from? They completely collapse at anyone who has the ball. Their players move at warp speed. If I'm up by one goal, i just resign myself to knowing that it'll end up in a draw or loss for me.

I lost a game 4-3 after being up by 2 goals this way. They just absolutely punked my goalie.

When the CPU wants to win, they win.

[Gnemi]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

Here's my $.02 for you to consider:

I typically play Attacking / Ultra Attacking for the majority of the match until I have a 2 goal lead. However, in the final 10 minutes of the match, if I think I'd like to earn the point for a draw *or* I have a 1 goal lead, I will play on Ultra Defensive for the remainder.

Also, I have adjusted my sliders to take away one point of Accel and Sprint from the CPU, because let's be honest, the CPU cheats with speed and always has...it was no different in FIFA 12.

I still have players with the Speedster trait getting run down from behind by slow defenders.

[HKPound]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

I forgot what the name of this is.. But it's present in all sports game basically. I think in the original NBA Jams there was an option to turn it off. I think it's to the point though where it's just programmed deeply into sports games now though.

[Brahvocado]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

I actually enjoy this aspect of the game

My advice is this: the cpu is almost comically vulnerable to counter attacks during this time. What I do is switch the fastest player on my team to center striker, then when I get the ball I make very quick one-touch passes a few times which draws even more cpu players towards me. Then I just hoof it over the cpu defenders in hopes that my striker can chase it down.

It doesn't always work but when it does it works very well. If it doesn't work it also forces the cpu to reset, giving you time to adjust defensively

[aarontab]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

Here's my $.02 for you to consider:

I typically play Attacking / Ultra Attacking for the majority of the match until I have a 2 goal lead. However, in the final 10 minutes of the match, if I think I'd like to earn the point for a draw *or* I have a 1 goal lead, I will play on Ultra Defensive for the remainder.

Also, I have adjusted my sliders to take away one point of Accel and Sprint from the CPU, because let's be honest, the CPU cheats with speed and always has...it was no different in FIFA 12.

I still have players with the Speedster trait getting run down from behind by slow defenders.

Good advice but it doesn't matter honestly. I sometimes feel the more defensive i try to play the more likely i am to be scored on. I've run a 5-4-1 with ultra defensive and they carve you up still. It's always the same story, your center back (for some unknown reason) decides to run towards the man with the ball (who's already being defended by me) and leaves a wide open path for either 1) stop, turn, shoot or 2) easy pass/shoot. It makes you feel like you're watching CPU v CPU matches because you have so little influence over the outcome.

[mac_rmm]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

I understand why the losing CPU would be more aggressive if trailing but why at a set time each match (80:00) and why in such an unfair way? The comment about speedster trait being caught from behind illustrates my frustrations perfectly. I know it's a video game, but this just doesn't happen in real life. Gareth Bale isn't going to be caught from behind by a middling CB or LB or RB if he has two steps on him, but in the last ten minutes he is and automatically loses the ball. This doesn't happen on FUT for some reason, at least in not such a blatantly unfair way.

Is this something EA would patch? That may be a dumb question but I didn't start playing Fifa 12 until spring and don't know if EA patches this game or not.

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

are you guys changing your tactics too ? dont forget to change to a short pass tactic / turtle'ish formation. your players will come back to the ball. this means you can play more support passes. i dont have a problem when the cpu does this. i have been playing my virtual pro on aldershot town (npower2) and i am currently 10-8-0. i havent given up a goal in the final 80 minutes of any match.

i know what you guys are talking about, they just bum rush the ball at every opportunity. but they are predictable when they do this. so just 1-2 pass and play possession. if you have to punt the ball down field, do it to eat the clock. remember long passes are risky passes, so dont play long passes unless you are hitting a 100% wide open player.

if you cant defend, i dunno what to tell you. just keep practicing.

[DemiGodzillla]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

Switch your tactics and your formation. Don't use default formations, use custom formations. Move your back 4 back so they play deeper and adjust the work rates of everyone so you're getting help in defense where you need it from your midfielders and wingers. Also, if you're getting beat by wingers try moving your fullbacks out a little wider and dropping your CM's deeper.

Also (I know this is a little more obvious) but keep the ball in your attacking third and try and keep it as near the corner flag as you can.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

This aspect of the game has been in the last few seasons of FIFA. I don't know how many last minute equalizers I have conceded. Countless! But if it was easy, you wouldn't play it would you? It just takes practice. Shield the ball and slow down the tempo. On PS3 it is left stick (release) + R2 to shield the ball. I wish I had saved the replay now. Last night I was playing in tournament mode, premier League season. I was Liverpool and leading 1-0 in the 88 minute against Reading. I was making quick, short passes and continually using the shield button. I managed to get Raheem Sterling to the corner flag to waste time. The Reading players were swarming but I managed to hold them off. Then out of nowhere their centerback, Kaspars Gorrks out of frustration lunged at Sterling taking him out. Straight red card! That pretty much ended their chances. The resulting free kick I didn't even kick it into the box. I just laid it off to Joe Allen who ran it back into the corner.

All I can tell you is it takes practice and plenty of patience when getting into the last 10 minutes of a game. Ease off on the sprint button to lower the tempo. There's no need to go like a bat out of hell if you are leading 1-0. Just slowly make your way down the sidelines and more often than not the AI will knock it out into touch for a throw in or a corner. Thus, killing more time.

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

so i gave up my first late goal to the cpu. it was against fut totw. it was actually a beautiful play. pedro finds welback for a diving header. i really dont feel cheated though getting a draw out of the game. it was defended perfectly, welback just made a great play.

http://www.ea.com/soccer/videos/ugc/139621383

cpu did a good job at controlling the mid all game long. i think if i played the ball a little longer down the wings i could have blown them out. the counter was available most of the game.

[orion523]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

I am not an apologist or fanboy or anything of the sort, but I'm sorry I just don't see it this year. In my last CM game, I took a 3-2 lead into the half thanks to two favorably penalty calls. The second half was much more defensive, but with ten minutes left, the CPU began to press. I countered with ultra defensive mindset and possession tactics, the game ended 4-2 for me with a late 85th minute hand ball penalty being the 4th goal.

[zanner]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

44-45th minute, CPU will score or be really close to scoring
84th-90th minute, they're scoring.

In those time periods, my players can't hold the ball - Everyone of their players are ****ing lionel messi. And everyone knows where the ball is going and can put a shot on goal from 30 out, have my players stand there while my goalie deflects it right to the cpu's foot.

This is going to happen 5 out of 8 games guaranteed for me (playing on Legendary)

[Gonira]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

it's just lazy tactics programming. their going-all-out-attack-to-equalize should be more dynamic/gradual/not so obvious, and they shouldn't have the pressure so damn high. the absurd pressure is what makes it feel so unreal/difficult to keep possession.

it's still annoying, but it was worse last year imo.

[xx19kilosoldier]

Re: Is anyone else getting sick of the CPU performance in the last ten min of a match

I am absolutely almost done playing career mode because of this nonsense.

Playing early round cup games where n2 teams go on a run in the last two mins and score goals like they are a top flight Champions League caliber team.

I can play and dominate these teams for the first 75' with reserve players but have to sub in starters to try and survive the ridiculous arcade game that the last 10' really is.

Bottom table teams play like bottom table teams until the last 10'. Its TERRIBLE programming EA is known for this crap in all their games.