FIFA 13 - fixing FIFA 12's tackle, stealing headers and making attributes count
If FIFA 13 were able to formulate its own derogatory chants on the fly, then our first play of it would unquestionably have produced a rousing rendition of "You're just 11 Emile Heskeys" from the away end. This year's big step-change is a reworked dribbling model which includes more erratic first touches, and it definitely requires some adjustment time. Taking control of Lyon against Arsenal, you'd easily mistake this year's Coupe de France victors for your local pub team - less Olympique, more 'omondieu!'. A 0-3 defeat, with every player club-footing the ball like Aston Villa's legendarily club-footed big man, is not the dream start to our hands-on with EA's latest footy effort.
But unlike Emile's England career, we do eventually manage to turn things around - firstly, by ignoring the right stick. If you wish to use it to flick the ball in a particular direction the option remains, but initially you're best off letting the AI take a first touch for you. Once you do, it's clear that individual attributes play a far bigger part in proceedings.
Our second match as Barcelona sees Lionel Messi - the new face of FIFA - gain control of the ball with the same superglue-like skill he does in real life, but overlapping full-backs Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal occasionally mistrap the ball, giving the opposition a split-second opportunity to slide in that didn't exist last year. It's not that they've suddenly turned into Sunday leaguers: they're just that little bit more fallible, like in real life. And as you move down the leagues, you'll see the game's 'less blessed' players making similar mistakes.
Keeping it real
It's a tricky balance to get right, but the less automated feel is unquestionably welcome. As are the amendments made to last season's controversial new defending mechanic, where pressing X made your player step into a tackle - and more often than not ended with him on his backside as an opposition striker raced through to score. The mechanic is retained for FIFA 13, but it feels less harsh - the AI assists you as you hit the button, helping to judge the angle of your tackle rather than relying solely on where you're pointing the left stick. Initially it seems a bit cheaty - artificial, even - but within a handful of matches it feels far more reliable, and makes for noticeably fewer crazy errors by your centre backs.
One interesting change - at least theoretically - is the ability to push and pull opposition players while the ball is in the air in order to gain an advantage over your opponent. (Apparently refs will turn a blind eye to this, news which will surely make FIFA 13 Joey Barton's favourite ever football game.) We say theoretically, because in the code we played it, er, simply didn't seem to work (or at least have any effect, if it was switched on). So while it's a welcome addition on paper - the strength attribute has always felt under-utilised in FIFA - we'll need to revisit this mechanic later to confirm that it does what it should.
Kicking off
Free kicks have also been tweaked, at least from a defensive standpoint. Drag a player near the wall, hold him there for a couple of seconds, and he'll join it automatically - improving your chances of a desperate block. The one current downside is that quick-thinking human opponents don't have to wait for your wall to be set before they take the kick, so online this feature will almost prove redundant. Still, against the AI, it's another handy defensive option.
Aside from those adjustments, there's not a great deal to scream about in terms of back of the box gimmicks - but that has to be considered a good thing given that FIFA 12's match engine isn't one that required wholesale changes. As usual it'll contain a zillion and one licenses from across the globe, and a sneak peek around the menus reveals that White Hart Lane has been added to the stadium list: so Spurs fans upset at missing out on the Champions League at least have something to look forward to next season.
The footballing revolution may have to wait until next-gen, but on this evidence FIFA 13 nonetheless has enough ability to claim yet another title win.
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