By FRANCO PANIZO
Whether you're a fan of the FIFA series or if you prefer the Pro Evolution Soccer games, Tuesday marks the end of a long wait.
For the first time ever, both FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer video games are set to drop the latest installments of their respective video games for the Playstation 3 and Xbox360 on the same day. Tuesday's release of EA Sports' FIFA 12 and Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 also marks the first time that both games are simultaneously released first in North America, while other parts of the world will have to wait days or even weeks before they can play.
FIFA12 offers several new features this year. The game will include Tactical Defending, Precision Dribbling and Player Impact Engine, all of which have made for a much more realistic feeling when playing. MLS's expansion Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps will also be included in this year's edition.
PES 2012 has done some finetuning to its gameplay as well, with improvements in artificial intelligence, game speed, and animations. One new feature in the game is the Teammate Control system, which allows a secondary player to be controlled by the gamer so as to make runs and shake off defenders before calling for the ball in a good spot on the field
So which game is the must-have this year?
It depends on what you want out of a game.
In terms of graphics and online play, FIFA12 is the superior of the two. FIFA is also better in terms of licensing as it has the exclusive rights to MLS as well as several second division leagues, something that has always appealed to American soccer fans. FIFA12 has also added more international teams, including Ivory Coast, Egypt, Peru and Colombia.
That said, FIFA12's gameplay while improved still can feel scripted at times, and the new Impact Engine can occasionally cause some awkward-looking collisions. Goal variety is once again not a strong point of the game, while there is a lack of fouls called in this year's edition.
Where FIFA12 struggles this year, PES 2012 shines. The artifiical intelligence and offline gameplay in PES is head and shoulders above FIFA's, with off-the-ball players making good runs, defending smarter and reacting better to what's going on around them. The variety in goals also adds to the games' more oganic feeling as does the game having exclusive rights to the Champions League, Europa League and Copa Libertadores competitions.
PES 2012 still lacks licensing though, which is a major fault that many gamers can't overlook despite the fact that option files with most team's real names and jerseys hit the internet a few weeks after the game's release. PES 2012 is nowhere near as smooth as FIFA12 and although it offers double the international teams that FIFA does, it has a noticeably smaller range of club teams to choose from, one that does not include the German Bundesliga.
FIFA12 is all but certain to once again sell more copies this year, but PES 2012 has picked things up in terms of gameplay to the point where gamers can't go wrong with either choice, making this soccer gaming season a win-win situation for all.
So basically PES is better?
I’m getting FIFA but i was really disappointed with its’ career mode last year and thats one area where PES shines.
Hell no! FIFA all day everyday.
Career mode? Wtf, that’s what you for forward to in FIFA lol. Mybe you should get pes lol.
They feel different. Play both demos and see which you like better. The controls for PES are less intuitive, but ball movement is faster (which I like).
That said, I prefer FIFA, having first been exposed to PES.
PES is whack Fifa all day. PES need to get licensing then they will dominate Fifa. I cannot wait to get Fifa 2012 and transfer Neymar to Arsenal.
Gotta go for FIFA. I can’t get over the lack of license in PES. The FIFA 12 demo was fantastic, more challenging and more realistic in a lot of ways. Excited to waste countless hours of my life haha
The gameplay is a bit more realistic in PES, but I always end up buying FIFA somehow.
PES has more realistic gameplay, but FIFA is better in every other way (granted except for the most important way, gameplay). PES looks and feels like an Xbox (as in, the original Xbox) game from 2004 other than that…
I swear, how many times can they try and pass off “precision dribbling” as something new? I hate when they try and pass off lame gimmicks as great new features. How about more recorded names, or better modeled players, or tifo displays, or more team-specific chants, or little things that would make way more of an impact than “tactical defending?”
If anyone wants a game on FIFA12 (PS3), add me up topher_himself. Won’t be able to play til Thursday but I’ll probably be on all weekend.
Bought both last year, prefer FIFA.
Having the licensing all but locks it up as far as I’m concerned
If you want a challenge try PES. If you want to have fun try FIFA.
FIFA hands-down. PES is league 2 while FIFA is the Premiership. Oh, I guess PES can’t be league two even because only FIFA actually has league two teams on it.
+1
haha who the fuh plays PES? I don’t know anyone who prefers PES over FIFA, let alone anyone who actually plays PES.
nothing like the classic derby of manchester red vs manchester blue.
PES all the way. Way better gameplay. Fifa is crap.
Having played these games in one form or another for 15 yrs I can tell you that while PES used to be the gameplay choice and FIFA was graphics and licensing, FIFA is no longer inferior in gameplay and is the better all around choice. FIFA11 was a game changer in terms of gameplay and they seemed to really tuned it up for 12. I like what I see from the new defense controls in the demo. This is the game to get unless you’re a PES lifer and are used to it.
Not even close…the graphics and aesthetics of PES have fallen to far behind. The players can make passes and shots that unrealistic. If you have fun playing ping pong on a pitch then fine, but it FIFA is the better game.
I have never, nor will I ever, have the inclination to buy PES. FIFA has been the best sports game PERIOD for the past 2 years, and it looks like it will be a third. FIFA all day err-day!
PES all night long. Not even close.
Effing hipsters and your PES.
I got turned onto soccer playing PES first on the old xbox, and then on PES on the 360 as well. Then I ran into someone who introduced me to FIFA 09, and I couldn’t stop playing it. I’ve been with FIFA ever since although I continue to check out the demo for PES year-after-year hoping they will really challenge FIFA but I’ve always been disappointed. I’ve played the FIFA 12 demo, and I don’t think the tactical defending is such a great addition, but maybe it will grow on me. I’d rather that they took care of other annoyances such as the AI moving computer controlled players back into defense when there is still a clear scoring opportunity.
Just wanna say tactical defending completely changes the game. No more defenders smashing through midfield breaking up plays by simply holding A. Tactical defending requires patience and a balance of pressure vs. keeping shape. That and tacking require much more skill and timing.
effing eurosnob poseurs
Fifa if they finally give MLS its props.
Only the clueless make comments like these. Lots of people prefer Pro Evo.
Franco, is there an SBI online league for the 360 in the works?
Ah the occam’s razor description. Sums it up perfectly in my opinion
And if anyone here plays FIFA online, please pick a team other than Barca, Manc U, or Real Madrid. You just might have some fun.
More of an impact than “tactical defending?” You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. Tactical defending changes EVERYTHING; the whole dynamic and pace of the game. It adds a completely new dimension, where the game is now about skilled and precise attacking and defending (like the real thing) not just about scoring goals. PES is yet again one step behind with their still simplistic approach to the art of defending in football.
Wow, surprised this debate is still going on. Wonder how many PES supporters played FIFA 11. It was probably the first edition that surpassed PES in terms of gameplay. We’ll see with these two but I wouldn’t bet against EA.
I also love career mode and am looking forward to seeing how the tweaks turned out. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Not many better feelings than being up 3-0 on Real Madrid with the Galaxy and watching your opponent “lose” his connection.
+1
sounds like something a PES lover would say…..
I can see why EA pays you the big bucks, Rod.
For that to be the case, you would have to acknowledge their existence.
That was a funny back and forth, you win.
Tha winnah: Joamiq!
+1000 – I couldn’t agree more with this comment. What Fifa 12 should do is automatically count the win with a disconnection when your team is winning. Just saying…
joke man. just a joke
pes is better..funny how people are so tricked into believing eas gimmicks to get cahs..whats mor e important gameplay–pes or licensed teams–fifa
think about it
teams
Seriously. Hate that crap. I usually only play with the USMNT, LA Galaxy, and Fulham (if the opponent is pretty good).
I’m pretty sure they do that. That was changed (improved) from FIFA10 to FIFA11.
Is this an advertisement?
PES all the way.
I had one of the older PES editions (back when it was Winning Eleven). Trying to edit the rosters w/o a patch was tedious and mindnumbing. The game was fun but lack of license torpedos the game to some degree.
-1 comeback
If you want a challenge, get a girlfriend. If you want fun, play video games.
I work 40+ hours a week, come home and don’t want a challenge. I want to have a lil fun. Video games are that outlet.
I’ve been playing Winning Eleven since it’s early days in PS1.
I feel dumb saying this, but everybody here should probably play both games before really making any damning statements… Again, just my opinion. Moreover, everybody has different tastes, so PES might suit certain people, while FIFA might suit others.
No way, Fifa is the one with ping pong gameplay for every single team and arcade game style. Who cares about graphics? PES has better gameplay hands down, the only important thing that matters. Licensing doesn’t matter as you can just download an option file for all the ream team names and players.
Pay attention. They did fix this in 12, if you played then demo or early release I dont know how you missed this.
Oh Isaac, you’re such a silly boy. How dare you bring common sense and reason to this board?
Can we get a league or whatnot on the xbox360 for Fifa? I’m malex930. It would come with the no Barca/Real caveat.
I had a gaming marathon with 2 English third division teams. The players suck…but it was much more fun than powerhouses.
Sweeping generalizations or gtfo.
I only got to play the demo for about 5 to 10 minutes but I didn’t care for the tactical defending either, I like the concept but there still needs to be a way for the AI defender to actually press the ball, they just continued giving them a 5 yeard cushion all the way to the front of the net. I’m sure there will be tricks to it once we get some minutes logged though
I quit playing online for this very reason.
If you pre-ordered FIFA from Amazon they gave you a link to get a free mini Fathead. The cool part is their webpage has a thing that shows you where their most recent orders are headed… fun to see a bunch of Sounders and Galaxy fatheads headed to the East and Southeast. neat to see where the fans actually live. You can click on my name above this post to get a direct link.
It cracks me up what a big deal PES makes of having the rights to the Champions League and Europa League names. Both games have European tournaments set up just like the real ones, only PES gets to call it the Champions League while FIFA has to call it the ECC (European Champions Cup?). But the pro-PES players make a huge deal out of that and yet are playing with a team called Manchester Red or North London. I know which liscense I’d rather have.
What do you mean by that? FIFA has had the MLS in the game forever, even carefully making sure they got the playoffs right each edition (home and way for first round, single conference final and MLS cup).
Panizo’s assessment of these two games is pretty much the opposite of the major gaming publications. Check out GI and IGN. For the critics, FIFA is the outright winner this year. I have yet to make a side-by-side comparison, but I don’t know if I’m dropping the extra $60 to do that when I know I’ll enjoy FIFA and it’s what all my friends will buy. (Granted, I could get the PES demo)
Ah the Occam’s lady razor.
Maybe PES is the German Bundisliga? Oh, no wait, they don’t have that league either.
+1
PES features a total of SIX, yes, SIX leagues. Five of which have the actual name of the league in the game. Three have the actual team names, three have a couple of the team names.
Meanwhile FIFA has like 30 leagues including the top four in England and MLS. That means a heck of a lot bigger player database.
Supposedly it’s much better than last year. Let’s hope so.
When I say “impact,” I mean selling points. These features don’t make me want to go out and get it today. I just can’t imagine that most of the suggestions they got from customers was “we want more lifelike defending.”
+1 calling out -1 comback… d’oh, that equals 0.
Can you create your own team and stock it with your own created players in FIFA this year? It didn’t work in FIFA 11, which stunk. Maybe I’m a dork but I like to create my own team and players.
Anyone know?
well i rather buy j. coles new album which is 1000x better than waynes cd… random
Fifa has come alongggggggggggggggg way since fifa 94 on sega genesis.
+1 calling out -1 comeback = 0 + comment times 2 still equals 0??
Still waiting for the Tecmo Bowl version of a soccer game. Don’t get me wrong, all of the “realistic” stuff is tremedous and worthwhile and necessary and morally pristine, but every now and then I’d really like to see Neymar in Bo Jackson mode, be able to run Messi up and around the field three times before scoring (or, alternatively, try to stop him from doing that) and have Beckham score on some bombs from the midfield.
I’m a career mode fan too, and the new features within it sound pretty cool. They brought back youth scouting (sorely missed last year), and added more realistic transfers (whatever that means). Biggest thing I’m looking forward to, though, is they’re including a deadline day.
Do you guys know if additional commentary packs will be available for download? I was really psyched about the Arabic commentary on FIFA 12 but I now realize that it is only available for Middle Eastern countries.
US ratings and updates have always been substandard. EA has not kept up with the times. Embarrassing considering the game is made in an MLS town.
Finally, MLS teams get some decent ratings…Stadiums are still missing tho
I don’t see BC Place…