FIFA 12 Demo impressions

[Coopz]

OK thanks ill give it a go

 

[PU6HY]

you have got mail...

Cheers. I sent a response.

 

[mfmaxpower]

Anyone messed with the shield (R2/RT) button much? Seems to have been restored to be more like how it was in the FIFA11 Demo than in the final game, i.e. a bit more flexible and powerful. If you think you're about to be tackled in midfield, let go of your left stick and hold RT, your player will turn his back and protect the ball pretty well. Hopefully they won't break it for the final version again like they sort of did last year.

I agree, shielding is great. (It's actually the thing I miss the most when playing the PES demo.) But I've yet to notice any of my players shielding while dribbling, which was suppose to be in this year. I'm not sure if this is separate from RT or what but has anyone had experiences with this?

I'm finding that I'm using LB and RT (separately) quite often to stop, put my foot on the ball and take my time assessing my options, rather than being in continuous motion like it's sometimes tempting to be.

Me too. It's one of the most noticeable ,and welcomed, changes from previous FIFA's. I also find that the slower my buildup play is, the better my teammate AI is. I'm not sure if this is correct but I have a theory that there's a tendency to out-run your own teammate attacking AI in FIFA, which is why so many complain of stagnant teammates in attack.

I'm not trying to claim that the AI is anything special but from what I've experienced this FIFA really rewards more patient play, on both offense and defense, and sometimes when going forward the key can be stopping and putting your foot on the ball. If anything it's almost as if they have intentionally nuked counter-attacking football, a typical EA over-reaction.

I'm finding the opposite on Legendary, I've lost count of the number of times the CPU has struck the post.

Interestingly I've had my best results on Legendary, and I think Rodelero too found Legendary to play easier than World Class. I think I conceded more goals playing on Professional in fact. I thought I had just improved that much but maybe not...

 

[DagsJT]

Nah, I've had enough now. Played more than enough games to know that my thoughts on this aren't going to get any better. The same complaints I've been saying all along, even with changing the buttons around. A different control scheme isn't going to fix the CPU spinning, near perfect pass completion, a MASSIVE preference to cross from the wings instead of shooting and having worse attacking AI than Sensible Soccer from 1995.

 

[Bitter Rivals]

I'm afraid I might be joining ya. I want to love the fact we don't have pressure anymore, but it's just as unrealistic in the other direction now. Contain is actually back off all the way to the goal line without engaging the attacker.

Three buttons for defending, I wish I was in that meeting.

I think the saying is 'a camel is a horse designed by committee'.

Theres one too many ideas gone into TD.

Wonder if Steve Jobs is well enough to sort out usability of this defending system.

Bloody he'll jaz, all the moaning you have done about pressuring, it should be finally sorted.

We should dominate most teams on clubs, we can close down as a team

Besides this, I like the defending, I personally think I am good at it, but will find out if I am naive when we go online

I like it

 

[kevano22]

me too. Game is totally different with new config on button. remember the demo will change a lot of from the final build and I hope they don't mess things up, which I suspect they might.

Jazz, don't bother with contain. Stick it on RB and never use it. You can jockey and move your player, don't sprint and force them to play the pass and they will fk up.

Barca are the only team I find it hard to defend against.

 

[johnny_on]

Bloody he'll jaz, all the moaning you have done about pressuring, it should be finally sorted.

We should dominate most teams on clubs, we can close down as a team

Besides this, I like the defending, I personally think I am good at it, but will find out if I am naive when we go online

I like it

It's the control scheme plus the AI. The second you get close enough to make tackle on the AI it passes. You then have to switch to another player. So then you try contain instead. This ensures you NEVER get close enough for a tackle. None of these solutions happen in real football.

If clubs is the only mode I can play how long until the morons ruin it? In 11 I have managed to play manual 1v1 for almost the full year 11 it has been out. I've not made it past 3 days of the demo against the AI without losing interest. Between my forwards making no runs and it being impossible to get the ball off the opposition before the 18 yard box because it knows exactly what you have pressed so it circles away from you.

There are now three buttons for speed/movement. Run, skilled and precision.

FIVE for defending- jockey, standing tackle, slide tackle, contain and the utterly useless team contain.

Add to this the AI not tracking runs and you have a mess of a control scheme and game.

It couldn't be more of a mess.

Tonight I played for 3 hours to try and 'get it' but even though I only lost one game, defending was a chore and scoring was either from distance or crosses. The AI played the same every game(like a noob assisted player last year in 11) on the counter attack.

I'm praying retail is better and somehow 1v1 works.

 

[johnny_on]

me too. Game is totally different with new config on button. remember the demo will change a lot of from the final build and I hope they don't mess things up, which I suspect they might.

Jazz, don't bother with contain. Stick it on RB and never use it. You can jockey and move your player, don't sprint and force them to play the pass and they will fk up.

Barca are the only team I find it hard to defend against.

That's what I'm doing and that's why I'm now not losing but the game isn't any better.

Waiting for the other team to give the ball away is not how football is especially having to have to wait for them to get to the edge of the box. That's basketball not football.

With this AI it's online or nothing for me again, but I'm not convinced that'll be any different. If it's like gamerbase 1v1 it is worse than against the AI.

 

[Suuuuupertalk]

I've enjoyed the demo a little more on a wider camera angle, higher up, makes everything seem a little slower but I still find the AI constantly tries to score off crosses. I did see it finally try a shot from outside the box though, a tame effort straight at the keeper. Shame it took over 20 demo matches to see one but there you go.

I also feel a little sorry for Sagna, victim of the most ludicrous 'impact engine' (buzz word for some extra animations coded in). A little shove from Dortmund player and he levitates before being slammed back down onto his face. Hmm.

YouTube - 160911 0168

 

[lemondoctor]

Waiting for the other team to give the ball away is not how football is especially having to have to wait for them to get to the edge of the box. That's basketball not football.

Agree with the edge of the box aspect, but football at the highest level IS about waiting for the opposition to give you the ball back. Tackles are few compared to turnovers. FIFA just doesn't have enough turnovers for me though.

 

[CalcioCalabrese]

Mate, don't forget there's going to be independent Sliders for both human and CPU so if you think the passing percentage is too high for the AI, you can adjust it

Well I'll be cranking passing speed and player runs up because the gameplay on the demo is quite stale in comparison to the FIFA 11 demo which I've been playing as a comparison.

 

[CalcioCalabrese]

Agree with the edge of the box aspect, but football at the highest level IS about waiting for the opposition to give you the ball back. Tackles are few compared to turnovers. FIFA just doesn't have enough turnovers for me though.

FIFA 11 had too many turnovers with the slow passing error. Not enough misdirected. People will have to be more patient in winning the ball back. Thank god. Holding down two buttons to make your whole team chase the ball carrier and pinch the ball straight back should be a thing of the past

 

[trebel]

Impact Engine has alot of potential.. just some bugs EA have to fix

YouTube - FIFA 12 Demo - Impact Engine Stuff

 

[Bitter Rivals]

That's what I'm doing and that's why I'm now not losing but the game isn't any better.

Waiting for the other team to give the ball away is not how football is especially having to have to wait for them to get to the edge of the box. That's basketball not football.

With this AI it's online or nothing for me again, but I'm not convinced that'll be any different. If it's like gamerbase 1v1 it is worse than against the AI.

Don't know why you are struggling so much, I can take the ball off them in e middle of the park

 

[Bitter Rivals]

You were the last person I would of thought who would moan about having to think more about playing this game, adding the extra buttons in for defending and dribbling gives you more options, which can only be a good thing IMO

Different defending options for different situations, even has the block shot option to stop us giving away penalties when people shoot

This is much better than 11 I think, more simulation

It's the control scheme plus the AI. The second you get close enough to make tackle on the AI it passes. You then have to switch to another player. So then you try contain instead. This ensures you NEVER get close enough for a tackle. None of these solutions happen in real football.

If clubs is the only mode I can play how long until the morons ruin it? In 11 I have managed to play manual 1v1 for almost the full year 11 it has been out. I've not made it past 3 days of the demo against the AI without losing interest. Between my forwards making no runs and it being impossible to get the ball off the opposition before the 18 yard box because it knows exactly what you have pressed so it circles away from you.

There are now three buttons for speed/movement. Run, skilled and precision.

FIVE for defending- jockey, standing tackle, slide tackle, contain and the utterly useless team contain.

Add to this the AI not tracking runs and you have a mess of a control scheme and game.

It couldn't be more of a mess.

Tonight I played for 3 hours to try and 'get it' but even though I only lost one game, defending was a chore and scoring was either from distance or crosses. The AI played the same every game(like a noob assisted player last year in 11) on the counter attack.

I'm praying retail is better and somehow 1v1 works.

 

[johnny_on]

You were the last person I would of thought who would moan about having to think more about playing this game, adding the extra buttons in for defending and dribbling gives you more options, which can only be a good thing IMO

Different defending options for different situations, even has the block shot option to stop us giving away penalties when people shoot

This is much better than 11 I think, more simulation

There's a HUGE difference in thinking about how to play the game and a broken control scheme. As I said to Kev I'm not struggling intact I rarely get beat now, but it doesn't make it enjoyable having to patch up shoddy defensive AI. I'm rarely concentrating on the ball and more covering players who are unmarked. That's not realistic or enjoyable.

When Barca, Utd and Stoke pressure in real life it forces teams to hurry and go back to the goal keeper etc and more importantly it takes alot of energy to do. They still do it though. All I wanted was the extra time on the ball and stamina to be reduced. Also if the pressurer did double for the formation to be lob sided so with quick passing you could exploit the space.

Sitting waiting for the opposition to slowly get to the 18 yrd box is something I've never seen in a real match. Which is why I think there is less thinking to do. When I give the ball away I can sit and wait at the 18 yrd line knowing I wasn't going to get the ball back before then anyway.

It's so broken I guarantee if not done in a patch then in 13 all of the defending stuff will be changed.

 

[uksix]

Was messing around in the arena. What does RB + X do (Playing on 360)? Is it a Manual shot or cross etc.?

I'v also seen that when the cpu passes the ball across the net, the pas is really powerfull, is it a low cross (x 3 times) there doing?

Anyone?

 

[hitmanuk]

Full manual 1v1 is an absolute joy..1st game today

 

[nerf]

The second you get close enough to make tackle on the AI it passes. You then have to switch to another player. So then you try contain instead. This ensures you NEVER get close enough for a tackle. None of these solutions happen in real football.

What do you want them to do, wait for you to tackle them? Of course teams are going to shift the ball around. You have to create the opportunity and wait for the right moment.

FIVE for defending- jockey, standing tackle, slide tackle, contain and the utterly useless team contain.

That's one single button more then the four last year... and you can alleviate that by using the manual jockey (L2) and ignoring Contain, which is what I tend to do.

To defend, I'm using L2 to face up the ball handler and/or trying to prevent his forward options, hopefully restrict him into making a difficult or bad pass, channel him into traffic, or get close enough for a tackle. Then I use one of the two tackle buttons. That's three buttons in total.

Sometimes it's better to focus on the ball, other times it's better to think ahead and use the right stick to flick control to another defender, making sure that he presses the next option to deny that potential pass or intercept.

Sitting waiting for the opposition to slowly get to the 18 yrd box is something I've never seen in a real match. Which is why I think there is less thinking to do. When I give the ball away I can sit and wait at the 18 yrd line knowing I wasn't going to get the ball back before then anyway.

You know defending starts from the front. The more you can prevent those forward passes, the further you keep them from your goal, the fewer chances they will create over the course of a match.

Perhaps when Custom Tactics are unlocked in the full version, you can raise your Pressure setting to instruct your defensive line to play high up the pitch, compressing the available space and use that as a way of winning the ball back earlier.

I know we all hate those little marketing terms EA come up with, but you can see why they settled on the word 'Tactical' Defending for this one. You have to be patient, think one chess-move ahead, retain shape as much as possible, and bide your time while you channel the opposition into a situation where you can make a tackle or interception. IMO this is more realistic and preferable to the relentless tackle-fest of previous years.

 

[hitmanuk]

There's a HUGE difference in thinking about how to play the game and a broken control scheme.

How's it broken? I have no issues tackling and getting to grips with it.

 

[Scorpio]

You know defending starts from the front. The more you can prevent those forward passes, the further you keep them from your goal, the fewer chances they will create over the course of a match.

You have to be patient, think one chess-move ahead, retain shape as much as possible, and bide your time while you channel the opposition into a situation where you can make a tackle or interception. IMO this is more realistic and preferable to the relentless tackle-fest of previous years.

+1


It's a steep learning curve but once you understand it and master it, the reward is very satisfactory. Because the better you get at it, the further down the pitch you can intercept the ball which leads to quicker counters and easier chances in front of goal, just like in real life really.

I've scored a few goals this morning by winning the ball back in the half of my opponent. Such a thrill because you know YOU won the ball back and not by the mindless pressure button from the past. Thumbs up EA.

 

[Suuuuupertalk]

Full manual 1v1 is an absolute joy..1st game today

The more I've played the demo the more I think EA developed this game primarily with multiplayer in mind. I can imagine, playing against some like minded mates, games can be varied and more realistic. I think local multiplayer will be a great game this year.

However I can't take this demo any more, no purchase from me this year. I'm winning most games in the demo now but games against the AI are paced all wrong. Slow build up from me followed by lightning fast build up from the AI, it's too jarring. And goals and attacks ALL somehow feel like counter attacks. There are some decent improvements but the AI is only very marginally improved, and for me it isn't enough.

I'm sure a 1v1 might be awesome with people who know how to play the game in the right way, sadly not even EA's own game AI seems to know how to do this though. I can defend well enough now that I cut off player runs down the middle, and so it goes wide every time as an alternative rather than trying to be patient and pull my defenders apart. So every time, the Ai tries to score from crossing in wide positions. Really annoying, unrealistic AI and for that reason I see no value in offline this year. Shame.

Oh, and EA, enough with these buzz words. Impact Engine is bullshit for 'extra animations'. It adds nothing to the gameplay. How they justify this as being a new feature worthy of being on the back of the box is astounding.

 

[winston]

You learn to play FIFA, not football. Unfortunately, FIFA's cpu doesn't play like real football.

In real life, many, many teams lose possession from trying longish passes from the back or deep midfield and they don't find their target. This is one of the main ways teams should lose possession. In FIFA, it seems all cpu teams play a perfect short passing game and their long passes are perfect too. It generally doesn't break down for the cpu team until around the 18 yard box when they get outnumbered.

And all cpu defenders are still magicians on the ball. Every high ball from deep ends up going either straight to them, or over their heads and they bring it down with an immaculate first touch and instant 180 turn as if they were all Maradona.

This would be fine it it were restricted to the top teams, but Barcelona and Aldershot alike will play the same way. I don't see how anyone can get long term satisfaction from effectively playing the same match over and over.

 

[johnny_on]

These arguments apply to this game but not real life.

Players are MARKED in real life and TRACKED. Not in FIFA 12.

When contain was announced. Here's what I thought it would be.

Your defender would follow the attacker to hold him up.

Should he run in the direction of the defender containing, the defender would tackle. Therefore forcing the attacker go sideways, pass or use skill to beat the defender.

In reality the defender containing will back off all the way to the goalline if the attacker runs straight at him.

This means you have to let go of contain, move your player towards the attacker at which point 99/100 he turns in the opposite direction. Rince and repeat until the 18 yrd box.

The only thing keeping me going with this is it wasn't as clunky in the gamerbase build I played. I'm assuming that is a later build than the demo.

While you all defending the new system don't be surprised to see it different in the retail copy.

 

[Monkey See Monkey Do]

The A.I are truly cutbacks-whores.

 

[wabak]

Thanks to who ever said change your control scheme, as I'm now enjoying the demo more! I now use B (teammate pressure) to get close, then switch and time my tackle with A. It's working wonders.

I just witnessed this, another impact engine beauty. I was Sanchez.

http://www.ea.com/uk/football/videos/ugc/93499403

I actually fell over another time before they got the ball and cleared, the video in the game showed that but when I uploaded it it disappeared, strange.

I didn't get a penalty btw, I've noticed that 'precision dribbling' is USELESS in the box, I try use it to get a little space and cross/shoot and every single time they hit a perfect tackle and take the ball.

I also just felt a bit cheated against the AI on penalties, The keeper dived the exact way every time and I luckily scored a few of my pens as I didn't hit them far enough, but he guessed right every time. Even when I went down the middle.

On the other hand, the AI players hitting penalties went the opposite way to me every time, and scored everyone. I hope this was a coincidence.

 

[Scorpio]

Thanks to who ever said change your control scheme, as I'm now enjoying the demo more! I now use B (teammate pressure) to get close, then switch and time my tackle with A. It's working wonders.

No problem, glad I could help.

 

[nerf]

Okay... Tactical Defending. Here's an occasion when I win the ball back near the halfway line, and how always anticipating the next move is crucial.

YouTube - FIFA12 Demo - Tactical Defending

First, I get close enough to attempt a tackle on Seedorf. Unfortunately, as you'd expect, he has quick feet (high Reactions and Dribbling), and Sanchez is not the best tackler (low Stand Tackle), so it's unsuccessful:

The ball is moved wide to Abate. Immediately I'm concerned about the potential forward ball to Pato, so I do what I can to get Villa and/or Iniesta into that passing lane:

Also note how Iniesta glances at Pato. You can often see defenders turning their heads to look around them to see who needs to be marked, I really like that.

We've successfully blocked that attack down the flank, forcing Abate to turn away:

When the ball goes infield to Ambrosini, similarly I get Iniesta and Xavi ready to deny another potential pass to Pato. Ambrosini recognises this so his first touch is back towards his own goal as well:

Soon the ball is returned wide to Abate, who cuts inside. As soon as he does this, the obvious pass to Van Bommel is clear to see. I'm already selecting Xavi and hoping to pounce:

Abate has only 2 stars for Weak Foot, and his left-footed pass is intercepted:

Slightly spoiled by me then hitting the clearance button by mistake . One hard-earned counter-attack wasted, whoops.

This is an example of how I'm approaching defending. None of the above was button intensive at all, and I find it engaging rather than a chore.

 

[Placebo]

Excellent break down there Nerf, you can take Townsend's job in the tactics van any day of the week!

 

[wabak]

Anyone got any tips on passing? I have got to grips with the defending, and I'm actually enjoying it now with the button changes, but passing is annoying me the most.

It just seems all so slow no matter how hard you hit the power, I have passing power assistance off (which should help?) and passing set to semi, but I have not once been able to pull off a killer through ball because it always gets intercepted, the defenders react a lot quicker than my attackers and the ball never seems to be over hit to get run onto, always behind them.

It's really doing my head in.

Funnily enough as well, the worst passer on Barca when I use them seems to be Xavi... messes up passes to a player 7-8 feet in front of him on a regular basis.

It's outstanding.