FIFA 12 Demo impressions

Do as Pughy, Tom and I previously said: stop using the contain button as it makes the AI do weird things to keep possession. Change the buttons so you won't use contain that often and simply walk/run to try and intercept the ball "manually" with a good timed standing/sliding tackle. It makes the game SO much better this way.

In short: configure the buttons like you were used to in FIFA11, "remove" the contain button, and don't fly in to try and intercept the ball but wait for the right moment.

In short, go back to the old style defending. Called legacy i believe.
Tried that and it sure has changed compared to fifa 11. In 11 you could simple press tackle and get the ball 90% of the time. Not so in 12, played 1 game and lost 3-0 because i was defending fifa 11 style.
Now on legacy defending you can use jockey and try to get the ball with a well timed tackle, time in wrong and gone is your opponent on his way to score a goal. Frustrating now but once i get the hang of it i'm pretty sure defending will be very rewarding.
 
I did something similar (using the Alternate scheme). I switched X with A, A with RB and RB with X as I don't feel the need for using containing as well. I now have pressing with a second defender on X and standing tackle on A, just like it was before. Couldn't care less about containing now that it's on RB and won't interfere with my usual control layout I got used to :)

In short, go back to the old style defending. Called legacy i believe.
Tried that and it sure has changed compared to fifa 11. In 11 you could simple press tackle and get the ball 90% of the time. Not so in 12, played 1 game and lost 3-0 because i was defending fifa 11 style.
Now on legacy defending you can use jockey and try to get the ball with a well timed tackle, time in wrong and gone is your opponent on his way to score a goal. Frustrating now but once i get the hang of it i'm pretty sure defending will be very rewarding.

No, no, no we didn't say change from tactical to legacy defending. It's still on tactical defending but just change the contain button with the standing tackle button.
 
amazing fifa 12 demo. the game is much, much better than fifa 11!

finally WE HAVE HANDBALL in one football game! thubms up ea!

can't wait the full version.

There was handball in like pes4 or something....I cant remember...

Also handball in fifa 11 in options you could put on or off
 
Do as Pughy, Tom and I previously said: stop using the contain button as it makes the AI do weird things to keep possession. Change the buttons so you won't use contain that often and simply walk/run to try and intercept the ball "manually" with a good timed standing/sliding tackle. It makes the game SO much better this way.

In short: configure the buttons like you were used to in FIFA11, "remove" the contain button, and don't fly in to try and intercept the ball but wait for the right moment.
Thanks for the tip. I actually played like that yesterday but I decided to change today.
 
I'm baffled how almsot everyone can't see how the AI is so jarring.

You spend a lot of time with the ball, playing slow, patient football, using all the options the game gives you, and it feels like a decent game.

Then a move breaks down and the AI gets the ball, and you have to witness the pace of the game instantly turning arcade like, with the AI doing everything at 100mph. Watching the AI in posession of the ball is like watching the Benny Hill show. The way players constantly turn at any given angle in the blink of an eye, chopping on the ball and changing direction to the point where it turns in bizarre circles just to keep the ball, it's plain odd. I've never seen a FIFA game in the past do this, let alone anyone in real life. If you're gonna programme a football simulation then at least make the players look like they're athletes, not super heroes.

As for this apparently wonderful AI where the ball is laid off etc, I've yet to see a single attempt at goal from the AI from outside the box in 10 matches. I've seen the game pass it backwards, but it's all done really fast and with the aim of getting the ball immediately forwards asap.

I think the game is fine when you have the ball, but the moment the AI gains control it degenerates to complete and utter toilet.

I wonder how much of this is due to the short half length and whether the CPU attack will play at a less rushed pace with longer halves in the full release. That's what I'm hoping at least.

Also, I've found that the more I've come to grips with the new defending system, the slower the CPU attack feels - if you play hurried and overly aggressive, the CPU tends to do the same.

Playing against the CPU is a better experience than in 11 but there still are significant issues, most importantly with the AI and player movement physics.
 
I'm baffled how almsot everyone can't see how the AI is so jarring.

You spend a lot of time with the ball, playing slow, patient football, using all the options the game gives you, and it feels like a decent game.

Then a move breaks down and the AI gets the ball, and you have to witness the pace of the game instantly turning arcade like, with the AI doing everything at 100mph. Watching the AI in posession of the ball is like watching the Benny Hill show. The way players constantly turn at any given angle in the blink of an eye, chopping on the ball and changing direction to the point where it turns in bizarre circles just to keep the ball, it's plain odd. I've never seen a FIFA game in the past do this, let alone anyone in real life. If you're gonna programme a football simulation then at least make the players look like they're athletes, not super heroes.

As for this apparently wonderful AI where the ball is laid off etc, I've yet to see a single attempt at goal from the AI from outside the box in 10 matches. I've seen the game pass it backwards, but it's all done really fast and with the aim of getting the ball immediately forwards asap.

I think the game is fine when you have the ball, but the moment the AI gains control it degenerates to complete and utter toilet.

100% agree except for one thing - the cpu team has been like this through all the recent previous FIFA games. Real shame because EA have a good game engine but can't program a decent cpu opponent to save their lives. I find it unbearable to play against the cpu for exactly the reasons you mention, one law of physics for your team, one for the cpu team, so no matter how much work they've done to improve career mode, it'll be ruined by having to play against cpu...unless the sliders have a dramatic effect on how the cpu plays and actually introduce some passing error and reduced speed to the cpu's play.

Solution, as someone else said - FIFA for human v human and online, PES for single player.
 
What controller settings do you guys play on? I tried semi assisted for pass throughpass and shooting. Coming from pes, somehow the passing power on semi is just totally dimmed down?

Is the only way to have free passing power on normal passes and throughpasses going manual?
 
we could possibly get vinadloo back

treetop?
andy?
shooto?
kev?
me?
you?
stu?
kakuta (hahaha joke)
becanes?
Matty?

must be some keen club players about
 
No, no, no we didn't say change from tactical to legacy defending. It's still on tactical defending but just change the contain button with the standing tackle button.

Ok my mistake. Still for those ppl who do not like the tactical : old style defending is much improved (harder to pull off)
 
100% agree except for one thing - the cpu team has been like this through all the recent previous FIFA games. Real shame because EA have a good game engine but can't program a decent cpu opponent to save their lives. I find it unbearable to play against the cpu for exactly the reasons you mention, one law of physics for your team, one for the cpu team, so no matter how much work they've done to improve career mode, it'll be ruined by having to play against cpu...unless the sliders have a dramatic effect on how the cpu plays and actually introduce some passing error and reduced speed to the cpu's play.

Solution, as someone else said - FIFA for human v human and online, PES for single player.

We'll be able to change the CPU's passing accuracy but not its buildup speed. Like you said, what a shame that such a great engine is let down by the AI.


What controller settings do you guys play on? I tried semi assisted for pass throughpass and shooting. Coming from pes, somehow the passing power on semi is just totally dimmed down?

Is the only way to have free passing power on normal passes and throughpasses going manual?

Passing might be the worst aspect of the demo IMO but we've heard that it's been improved for the full release, with more zip on the ball. Plus we'll have a slider in the full release to speed up passing if we wish. But yeah, passing power is really poor in the demo.
 
OK i have a classic example of my issue with the new defending system.

This is the scenario where i'm the first point of contact and i use contain.



1-4 secs: I switch to Richards and hold contain button to hold Nasri up (the irony) but cant get close enough for a stab tackle.

5 secs: Yaya let a midfielder run un-challenged so easy pass inside.

6 secs: Lescott comes across (rightly so) Nasri is out of it so i switch to Lescott. Who wasn't close enough to meet the midfielder. So he easily passes to ANOTHER midfielder who Yaya has let run.

7 secs: Now they are 3v2

8 secs easy pass for a 1v1 chance.

At no point could i have stopped ANY of those things happening.

Its not the 1v1 defending that doesn't work its the AI.

FIFA 12 DEMO: Manchester City 0 – 2 Arsenal | EA SPORTS

Yaya would never play football again if he did that in front of Mancini :-)

All help appreciated. But other than not being Richards in the first place what can you do?
The was no time in any of that for "Tactical Defending" All of it happening in 8 seconds.

About 400 button presses happened in that time :-)
This is not intuitive.

All the errors were made by the AI apart from a panicked tackle by Lescott but by then the ball had gone and it wouldn't have made a difference.

EDIT: Embed not working agian, click link at top of it.
 
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Then we need some mids and strikers. :-). Either way we should try and get 7+ regularly.

Any FIFA manual players who wanna give clubs a go this year on the 360?

I am going the LB I once was and I will tear it up. Please oblige on LM and form a formidable left side please :)
 
IMPORTANT STATEMENT!




Alan Smith for co-commentator lol...Hes very good he talks for ages like real in real life. Boy can certainly send you to sleep with his talking. But its very realistic so seems good.
 
OK i have a classic example of my issue with the new defending system.

This is the scenario where i'm the first point of contact and i use contain.



1-4 secs: I switch to Richards and hold contain button to hold Nasri up (the irony) but cant get close enough for a stab tackle.

5 secs: Yaya let a midfielder run un-challenged so easy pass inside.

6 secs: Lescott comes across (rightly so) Nasri is out of it so i switch to Lescott. Who wasn't close enough to meet the midfielder. So he easily passes to ANOTHER midfielder who Yaya has let run.

7 secs: Now they are 3v2

8 secs easy pass for a 1v1 chance.

At no point could i have stopped ANY of those things happening.

Its not the 1v1 defending that doesn't work its the AI.

FIFA 12 DEMO: Manchester City 0 – 2 Arsenal | EA SPORTS

Yaya would never play football again if he did that in front of Mancini :-)

All help appreciated. But other than not being Richards in the first place what can you do?
The was no time in any of that for "Tactical Defending" All of it happening in 8 seconds.

About 400 button presses happened in that time :-)
This is not intuitive.

All the errors were made by the AI apart from a panicked tackle by Lescott but by then the ball had gone and it wouldn't have made a difference.

EDIT: Embed not working agian, click link at top of it.

You couldn't have summed up my thoughts any better. This is happening game after game after game. They just keep passing and nobody gets close to them.

Good thing is this won't happen on clubs (unless Stu is having a wank and he is CM)
 
Fifa12 demo impressions

After a teasing wait for the demo to download to my ps3, I finally got my hands on time with the demo.

The first thing I liked was the new menu system. The Horizontal style is a welcome change.

Ok, so 1st impressions;
Visuals- the new camera angle is stunning, I cranked up the zoom a bit to suit my own taste. It's clear the game has had a make over rather than plastic surgery. It looks nice. Can't wait to see night time games etc. I love the slick presentation. From the score bars to the swish's. Very smart. Gives the game that touch of class.
Team Management- as is commonly known EA are planning to re do this hopefully for fifa13. It really needs it. Awful and clumsy system. Real shame that the appropriate player selection tool that is new didn't make it in to the demo. But as long as it's in final code this will at least help Team Management.
Pressure- big plus. No more AI charging you down like starved crazy zombies. Can actually take a bit of time to 'play' football. I really think this depends on how you choose to play the game as to how you find the speed and spacial areas of the game.
Skill Pass- mmm! While I think the animations are really cool looking, the fact that EVERY player can perform these passes is quite simply ridiculous. Only the top top SKILFUL players should have this trait. Players like Nani, Gervinho and Ronaldo. I mean you don't even see Messi perform them kind of passes in real life. Hope it's fixed for final release as I do believe it's BROKEN in this state. Imagine it online(shudder)
Passing-seems to be no different to fifa11. This is where I'd like to 'tinker'with the sliders but they didn't make it into the demo.
Shooting- get in! More weight to them. I'll be honest in my few games so far I've not cracked many off but what I've seen they feel superb. Scored a beaut with RVP from outside of the box. Keeper could only help it nestle in the net. My first fifa12 goal too. BUT, and I hope this was just down to my skill :), I hit a sweet spot finesse shot and it sailed in. I thought they were turned down. Needs more experimentation.
AI- now I have not had enough game time to really accurately comment but I have noticed that my full backs are making overlapping runs WITHOUT me instructing them too. That alone is a big plus from fifa11. As for team styles and defensive lines etc I will need to play much much more.
Ok saving the best til last, tackling-
Thank god. While I'm completely rubbish at it at the moment, finally having a system that requires skill and timing is brilliant. Giving away a penalty because I mistimed a standing tackle was in a funny way very satisfying. As for the complexities of contain, push pull blah blah blah, I need to check out various threads and posts and give it some practice. And that in itself, the fact that it's going to take practice to become good at it, is such a welcome relief. Biggest plus of the demo for me so far.*
As I said these impressions are from just a handful of games. Can't wait to delve a lot deeper. After a few years now of over expectation *from this game, for once I've come not to expect too much. And my god that makes a difference to how you receive the game.
Happy FIFA'ing everybody!*
 
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