“FIFA 11 is the complete package.” That’s the key quote from my review of EA Canada’s annual football release last year, and, until now, it was. It showcased some of the greatest footballing action around, ensuring it as a staple for gamers until the inevitable numerically increased release at a similar time, just twelve months later. Utilising a still relatively fresh analogy, FIFA 12 is Manchester United, whilst FIFA 11 is the unfortunate team of Arsenal shortly after their devastating defeat at Old Trafford. Prior to visiting the north, Arsene Wenger’s team were in relatively good shape, however, as the match report will no doubt confirm, there was a humiliating gulf in class.

It’s not until you get your hands on FIFA 12 that you realise just how simplistic and ultimately bland a game FIFA 11 was. Each and every additional feature for this year’s edition not only provides a fancy new statement for the box, but greatly affects and alters gameplay to a degree where, this year’s release is truly a revolution in the footballing genre, and not just the evolution we have seen in recent years.

There are of course things that alter with even less frequency than Everton’s purchases. Whilst the visual presentation has, as normal, been updated, the overall graphical fidelity seems to have hit its peak for this generation. It seems as though we may have hit our theoretical ceiling in regards to the graphical impressiveness in-game, quite probably due to additional processing power being used on the more important things, like gameplay.

“Precision Dribbling helps attackers have a greater impact on offensive play, and is a worthwhile feature, but the Ballon d’Or of additions goes to the Impact Engine.”

Gameplay, the heart and soul of a football release. Without good, solid, enjoyable gameplay, everything else is worthless. So whilst the “trinity” of new additions may act as great headers for trailers, they are what really help set this year’s outing so far in front of all that lay before it. Tactical Defending, Precision Dribbling and the Impact Engine are the trio of new box-tickers that present the foundation on which another level of greatest has been built upon.

Firstly, perhaps the more earth-shattering change of the year, Tactical Defending. Why? Primarily because it exposed just how broken the defending system was that we’ve all been utilising for years without a second thought. It places equal importance on positioning, containing attackers, intercepting passes and tackling. By all means though, don’t expect the transition to be easy, especially if you’re a seasoned player. Switching from a system where you press and hold the ‘safe’ tackle button and hope that you’ll stop the onrushing attacker in time, occasionally flirting with the idea of bringing in assistance from a computer-controlled defender, to having to jockey for longer than you’re used to and then precisely tackle at the right moment was difficult. It was even frustrating at time, but after half a dozen games or so it started to settle in and it became clear why this was a superior way to defend. Granting you the control that was previously unattainable, being able to put in that last-ditch challenge to thwart a certain goal, pulling back a player that would have otherwise escaped you; these are all now achievable.

To be fair though, this isn’t just because of the new defending system. It goes hand-in-hand with both the Impact Engine and Precision Dribbling. The coordination and combination of all three is where their success lies. Precision Dribbling helps attackers have a greater impact on offensive play, and is a worthwhile feature, but the Ballon d’Or of additions goes to the Impact Engine. The Lionel Messi of additions if you like; this is what makes FIFA 12 different from its predecessors, this is what really helps bring the beautiful game to life. After several years development, the Impact Engine brings dynamic collision to the game in a way never before seen. David Rutter, the producer of the franchise, was correct when he said that it was “the biggest technological change to the series since the transition to the current generation of consoles.” With momentum preservation, advanced procedural animations on all players, and improved injuries – including non-contact injuries such as muscle pulls, the synthetic nature of gameplay is what makes FIFA 12 feel like a brand new game.

“With momentum preservation, advanced procedural animations on all players, and improved injuries – including non-contact injuries such as muscle pulls, the synthetic nature of gameplay is what makes FIFA 12 feel like a brand new game.”

Menu presentation helps to solidify that as well. Going with a slicker, more responsive horizontal menu, it’s a noticeable alteration from the vertical system that has become somewhat sluggish over the past few years. The decision to have your Virtual Pro, or selected Arena character, performing tricks and shots in the background is a welcome one, making them more than just plain, monotonous lists of options. The organisation of modes is also increasingly sensible, important given the vast array of them this time around.

Career Mode has seen another impressive update, the key one being your connection as a manager to both the press and the players within your squad. Players will now complain about lack of game time, unsatisfactory salaries, hit bad patches in form, and recommend being rested or played depending on how they’re feeling. All of this is compounded upon by the media, who will talk about your players, their performances, possible signings and such, all having an impact on each particular event. It helps create a far more engrossing Career Mode, and with the addition of dynamic injuries: choosing to rush a player back from injury, keep the on the field having picked up a knock, and even making the correct substitutions can have a far greater impact than previously. Transfers require more involvement which is fantastic to see, however, the addition of an extended Transfer Deadline Day is where the real excitement lays. Securing the signature of Brazilian wonder-kid Neymar for an albeit pricey sixty-million pounds price-tag in the closing hours is exhilarating.

With scouting, a youth system, loans, new transfer negotiations, a new calendar system, improved news stories, greater involvement from the press and players, and even transfer rumours, it’s clear that this is the best Career Mode to date. Factor in the ability to play as either a Player/Manager or ignore the manager aspect entirely and focus on just being a Player with your Virtual Pro, on top of the usual tournament and exhibition modes, and the inclusion of Ultimate Team as part of the game rather than via downloadable content, and there’s plenty to absorb your time.

Along with the plethora of offline modes, online has seen a ‘revolution’ as well, with the hub being EA Sports Football Club. This new online service is essentially a social network for FIFA that tracks your matches, accomplishments and so forth, earning you experience as you go and ranking you amongst your friends. It’s extremely addictive to try to overhaul your friends on the leaderboards, and adds an additional competitive element to the hardly easy-going title. Your experience also goes towards your ‘supported’ club, which using a combined worldwide average of all ‘supporters’ of said club, then affects how you club does in the league, with promotions and relegations every week. It adds little to the overall enjoyment of the game as it primarily runs in the background, but it’s a nice addition nonetheless.

The introduction of Head to Head seasons has convinced even me, someone who doesn’t enjoy dipping into ranked online matches, to really get involved. Ranked matches now earn you league points in accordance with football rules, i.e. three for a win, one for a draw, which contribute to an overall league score. The aim is to progress up through ten divisions by culminating enough points in each season. Comprised of just ten games, each season has a promotion target in order to rise up, as well as a relegation target to surpass if you want to avoid the drop. The best aspect of the mode however, is that it matches you against others who are also in your division, and thus, theoretically, against players of a similar ability. There are also cup tournaments every couple of weeks for a more sudden-death match-type. Online Friendlies, which are all matches against your friends, also uses a similar system, with the winner of each season earning an in-game trophy and, of course, bragging rights.

“Minor annoyances aside, FIFA 12 is the complete football package, again.”

There are of course still some issues with online connectivity, although they are less frequent than previous years. Lag still rears its ugly head for the occasional second during matches, and the unfair bias towards ridiculous-fast midget’s online often ruins the enjoyment. AI also has a few hiccups which can be incredibly infuriating when playing against another team, especially in Pro Clubs – a mode for Virtual Pros to play with others as part of a custom created club. The AI is also a problem in the offline mode as well. Whether it’s a result of the new defending system or attackers ability to turn on a six-pence, but the difficulty jump between settings is far less forgiving. Players that perhaps were comfortable on World Class are now being demoted to Professional, with even Semi-Pro being a step to high for some. It doesn’t help at the new and ‘improved’ AI’s inability to concede possession. They’ll even run back sixty yards if it means keeping hold of that most precious of balls. Good in theory, but it doesn’t make for a fun experience.

Minor annoyances aside, FIFA 12 is the complete football package, again. It has unparalleled gameplay, some quite fantastic online modes, a very competent and enjoyable Career Mode and a presentation second-to-none. It’s difficult to see where EA can take the series now, but of course we’ve said that before, and FIFA 12 is the result. I’d always stood by the notion that, in it’s day, Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was the pinnacle of footballing greatest, now I’m not so sure.