Fall of 2012 Football Video Game Review/Comparison

FIFA 12

Pro Evolution Soccer 12

The summer is winding down, the days get shorter, the leaves turn, and this means that football season is upon us. For the virtual footballer the wait is almost over for the two football games available: Pro Evolution Soccer 12 (Rel. Date September 29 in North America) & FIFA 12 (Rel. Date September 27 in North America). Now instead of just watching games on the weekends we can take over clubs, mold them into perennial world-beaters, score ridiculous goals, and compete against players in every corner of the globe! The following will attempt to make your decision easier if you're undecided or give you a different perspective if you think you're mind is already made up.

First up is Pro Evolution Soccer 12 or PES 12. Made by Konami this game's demo states that this is not the finished product, that the finished product may be different, etc. After downloading and installing the demo you are made to watch (for a video game) an incredibly long introductory video.  That said, the graphics were ok in the video, but some of the players looked downright creepy. Seriously, Gerrard Pique's jaw looked like it was going to disconnect when he was "yelling". Other such facial animations looked equally as bad. They were not all bad, just average to bad in my opinion.

After the intro. you start out at the main menu and can choose to play an exhibition with a few teams. The teams were Man Utd, A.C. Milan, F.C. Porto, and Napoli. Not exactly the largest clubs in the world, but variety is the spice of life. The rankings they give for team speed, defense, etc. are nice, but no overall ranking present is a rather odd exclusion. Add to that the fact that Manchester United only had one A ranking, the rest B's, and A.C. Milan had all A's and also Chicharito was ranked as a 72 overall. I'm not a Man U supporter, but I had hair missing from scratching my head so much.

Once the clubs are chosen, there are several pre-match options. I liked the fact that I could enter one menu and totally adjust my entire squad, from personnel to strategy to formation and everything else. Unfortunately they give you a mouse button that you actually have to scroll over options which seemed odd and made switching players clunky. One thing that was nice was that you can move a player around on the pitch from within the same menu to allow custom variations of formations. I did not like the fact that, while you can choose pre-set tactics such as quick counter or long-ball, you cannot customize the tactics.

Once actually playing the game there were some issues, as well. The basic controls are easy enough, but the more advanced controls were a bit confusing to implement. The menu explanations were not very clear and mainly just too many as there were six pages of control lists. There was no goalie kick meter, so I had to guess how hard I was kicking the ball. The controls are sticky, and by that I mean once I send a player in a direction he is dead set on that direction and difficult to change around. The commands carry over similar to FIFA World Cup 2010 where if I go for a tackle and steal the ball quickly, the same command I just pressed will still be active and the player kicks the ball out of bounds.

While PES 12 has its issues, and there are many, it is not all bad. The game is best when it is going full speed. If you like to play a fast-paced up-beat style then this game might fit you more. The other thing to mention is that the aforementioned lengthy list of commands might suit someone who wants to take the time to learn them. Just as in a deep fighting game, taking the time to learn all of the many combos in this game could be really rewarding. PES 12 seems to focus on the individual far more than the collective. It's focus is on creating highlight reel moments on the pitch and little else. An entertaining game for a fast paced style of play, but sub-par in too many other areas of the beautiful game to matter to this footballing fan.

Stars: 2.5 / 5

Now for FIFA 12. The demo starts off with a tutorial which shows off the new defensive features. All of the new features are nice, but take a while to get used to (you can exit the tutorial at any time by pressing the start button). Overall, the new presentation is very appealing visually, while having this year's music already included was a nice touch. 

Martin Tyler and newcomer Alan Smith

The only available mode is exhibition unsurprisingly since it's only the demo, but you can choose between Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Marseille, and, again, A.C. Milan. From there, once you've chosen you're side, you take the pitch and will notice something surprising and stunning to some and unfortunate as far as I'm concerned. Andy Gray will no longer be involved with FIFA, being replaced by Alan Smith.  I'm aware that Andy Gray has his out-of-the-booth issues, but frankly, I'll miss his style of announcing. 

Once the match starts, you'll notice that the new features are as billed. Precision Dribbling is a very nice addition and really does allow you more time on the ball in order to execute your game-plan. The Player Impact Engine does a nice job of simulating big tackles and slightly bumping someone will just make them lose a step. It makes it much more realistic. The other new feature is Tactical Defending which I found to be a little hard to get used to at first. After some time toying with it, it becomes a welcome addition to your defensive repertoire, as you can tug at opponents with the ball or just reach in with a foot without going for the tackle. Players each have their own weight and feel effortless to move around the pitch, very few times did I have trouble switching directions. The only negative that I can come up with is the menus are a bit tedious and sometimes the rankings can be a bit off. I constantly have to switch around when altering my club before a match. The graphics are by and large solid and the improved shadows and lighting are a huge difference visually. Overall I feel that the game excels in several areas, a superior title in several ways, and a delightful way to experience virtual football.

Stars: 4 / 5

Two Sides Of The Same Coin

Panorama of the City of Manchester

Manchester United. Manchester City. They both bring varying degrees of positive and negative thoughts and/or emotions, depending on your perspective. The only thing the same is the name of the city before them. They are as different in approach and history as two clubs can be. One is one of the most storied clubs in English football history. The other, well, they've had ups and downs to say the least. Before the advent of the English Premier League, Manchester United won the domestic title in English football seven times. Once the EPL was established the number swelled to nineteen, adding twelve in the nineteen seasons of the EPL's existence. Manchester City, on the other hand has won top honours in English football only twice and never in the Premier League. The year's were 1936-37 and 1967-68. Following the '36-'37 season the Blues were relegated despite being the league's top goal-scorers, a story that typifies the up and down, topsy turvy nature of the club's history.

MC's Y. Toure (L) Battles MU's Anderson (R) 

for a ball during the 2011 FA Community Shield.

It was a warm and sunny afternoon in August. The grass green, Wembley Stadium filled to the brim. Manchester supporters of both versions, as well as general football fans, had a sense of anticipation. That atmosphere permeated throughout the nation's football temple, and thus throughout the football world. The rivalry that is the Manchester derby was back in full effect. City started out well and carried their early momentum throughout most of the match. United, though, never seemed to sweat it. On that day they possessed a calm and confident demeanor, an attitude that comes from being there, doing that, and this not just from veterans, but also from players who just joined up. United kept pushing forward, kept on pushing themselves, as they always do, until City's defense broke down. Towards the end of the match Nani broke free on a cross, sprinted past Joleon Lescott and then pushed the ball past Joe Hart for a 3-2 victory for United. The Blues looked very solid for most of that game, but briefly lost their focus and determination. Communication broke down between Lescott and new player, Gael Clichy, when they both went for the ball and United pounced at their chance and that's the match. Granted that it was only one match, an exhibition at that, but it is a microcosm of both teams.

Roberto Mancini at MC's first
UEFA Champions League Press Conference

Manchester City has made great strides in the past year. At the end of the 2010-11 season they qualified for the UEFA Champions League, an objective they've targeted for some time. They've added several top-notch players into an already impressive squad. Sergio Aguero has already made a huge impact this year and should continue to do so for years to come. Aguero also seems to make Edin Dzeko a better player, making them a lethal attacking duo and they still have Carlos Tevez to mix in where needed. They also added Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy from Arsenal, both very solid players. Nasri, being one who is world-class on his day. They've been buying for a few years now and finally seem to be fielding a complete squad. Top to bottom, front to back they look very solid, but do they have the character to get it done? That seems to be the question that only time can answer. They are better this year than they have ever been. They will win a trophy or two this year, but I highly doubt that they will hoist the EPL trophy come the spring of 2012. They have depth at all areas of the pitch, something imperative in modern EPL football, yet I do not believe they can leap-frog their closest rivals. It will still be players wearing red and gold badges who will hoist the trophy if either of the Manchester clubs are destined to celebrate an EPL title this season. The gulf between the two is closing fast, but I believe United still holds the slightest edge.

Rooney & Co. training

The edge that I believe United holds comes down to one thing. That thing is culture. The actions and effort that are put forth everyday in training, the demeanor of the staff, how each player works and carries himself, all of this goes into their culture and, ultimately, their success. United's whole mentality is to work hard, to fight for every ball, to battle for the entire match, no matter how long it takes or what needs to be done. City's culture is surrounded by wealth, it's a lot about money, a lot about new signings, although they have gelled some now that most of them have been together for a couple years now. City has been trying to build through buying, so there are constantly a slew of new players. City buys and buys and if a player doesn't fit they get sold, whereas United targets specific players that fit their mold, players who usually stay on and grow in their system. City's new additions get surrounded with money, new players, and talent. United surrounds their new players with a blanket of success, experience, and trophies. Two teams, two very different philosophies regarding the building of a championship team, with one city divided, and a world watching to see the outcome. Grab some snacks and a beer, it's going to be a long, exciting season.

The Wenger (Dis)Advantage

Arsene Wenger looks on intently during a match.

Arsene Wenger is a proud man. Very proud. So proud that he bet the house, the car, and the dog on doing what made him a success in the past. He went to his bread and butter whole-heartedly, went all in on his philosophy. That philosophy being to buy young talent and develop them in his system. The problem seemed that he wasn't particularly fond of buying any players over the age of twenty-five, at least not ones with much impact. So the plan developed: the young players progressed, Arsene did what Arsene does best, grow raw talented youth into stars, but just one problem: the young stars have no experience around them when they mature. No veterans to help carry the physical, mental, and emotional burden of a Premier League season, not to mention all of the other tournaments English top-flight football clubs are involved in. The club is filled with average older players and youth with promise, but no established heavy-hitters on the bench, on the pitch, or in the squad, aside from those young stars. It was not a well-balanced team as far as the age to talent ratio was concerned.
Arsene Wenger is also a stubborn man. Very stubborn. Stubbornness, however, is only considered derogatory if it doesn't work. If the stubbornness is met with failure the perception of the individual is that of an obstinate person who cannot succeed because of an unfailing belief in that which either will not or can not work. Conversely, if the stubbornness results in success then the person is viewed as a genius, someone hailed as 'persistent', someone with a 'bulldog mentality'. The world loves a tale of a person enduring all, never doubting themselves or their course of action, and achieving victory because of their unwavering belief in themselves. Currently the prevailing 'wisdom' from popular news and football sites is that Mr. Arsene Wenger is the former of the two mentioned sides of the word; a stubborn, cranky, aging manager who has lost control of a great club and is and has been slowly ruining it. Some fans, real or otherwise, call for his departure. Never mind the fact that he became the first manager outside of the U.K. when he was chosen to lead Arsenal as manager in 1996, a year later at the conclusion of the 1997-98 season he had won the double (EPL Title and FA Cup), the double again in 2001-02, and of course the Invincibles of 2003-04; in all he has won 3 EPL titles, 4 FA Cups, EPL Manager of the Year in 1998, 2002, and 2004, and in 2006 was inducted into the English Football Hall Of Fame. All of the titles and trophies on a shoe-string budget in comparison with other clubs and especially by today's standards. Not to mention the numerous number of players he has helped form into international stars and superstars. When Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri left this summer, what did they say about 'Le Professor'? They used words such as "respect" and "gratitude", not "he's lost it" or "Arsene was great, but he has no idea what he's doing now". Rather they seemed instantly serious in otherwise jovial interviews when their former manager was mentioned. Both of the players had nothing but extreme gratitude for the man and his sage guidance and tutelage. They both left for reasons other than Mr. Arsene Wenger. Cesc wanted to be reunited with his boyhood home; it, of course, also being home to arguably the best football club in the world in Barcelona. Samir Nasri wanted a change of venue and 180,000 a week salary. Arsene could not provide either of those. Perhaps it is Arsene's own success that has been his downfall. In the past his method and manner was enough for success, as he is more than anyone else, the face of the club. Now that that methodology doesn't seem to cut it at present, people call for his job. Ironically, if it wasn't for this man, Arsenal may not be held in the light that it is now. The heights that the club have reached in the fading, yet relatively current, present are of this man's design. It's difficult to extricate Arsene from Arsenal because they both lifted each other routinely higher until this current predicament and trophy-less stretch.

All of that said and Arsene still possesses a very keen football and business mind. In my honest opinion, he was attempting to reach for the pinnacle of Mt. Everest, to reach lofty heights with the sun shining, crowds cheering, all singing for Arsenal. Yet no one decided to inform him that the weather was changing. And fast. This being, of course, a frequent occurrence at the top of any mountain, let alone Everest. Especially when you're an Arsenal team scaling the mountain from you're base camp just below the summit. The summit being where you've been looking, a cherished destination, and one that you wish to attain once more. Yet in his zeal for glory and victory Mr. Wenger didn't believe the weather reports. In 2008 a gale force wind was winding up, gathering momentum from the east. This monster of a storm was in the form of Middle Eastern and Russian black gold. The world has changed, is changing, immensely and so is it's most beautiful game. This new phenomena being no different and one that has quite literally changed the game. But is there room for dreamers and builders outside of incredible opulence? Can a club with slightly above average means create something magnificent? All the while being totally self-sufficient financially? That is what I believe Arsene was reaching for: a very prosperous and fully sustainable club that could operate successfully both on AND off the pitch. The world may never know now, or at least it will have to wait. That is, if the world really cares. These days its just the trophies, the success, and the status that matter, this is what the media and impatient youth would tell you. I believe that Arsenal's success is football's success. If Arsenal can succeed without the exorbitant wages and transfer budgets of other top teams it bodes well for the future of the EPL. Other teams can see what can happen if they have a well run ship. The result would be obvious: better competition, closer matches, tighter title races, better revenues as a league; everybody wins, both owners AND fans.
A severe disadvantage Arsene has compared to others at the top is that the board of directors at Arsenal are not oil billionaires. They are not petrol tycoons hell-bent on winning trophies and garnering praise, glory, and trophies for themselves and their club. The principle owner at Arsenal is Stan Kroenke, owner of everything sports related in Colorado, as well as the St. Louis Rams in the NFL, all in the U.S. He doesn't seem to have the input or avid interest that the aforementioned oil owners possess and has a majority stake in seven, yes SEVEN, sports teams, counting North London's Arsenal. He bought a majority share of Arsenal because he was reportedly told Arsenal would be a "self-sustaining title contender" (The Guardian). He is said to be a long-term 'investor'. That communicates to me that he wants success, trophies, and most importantly to him, a healthy profit whenever it suits him to sell. His style of management seems to be to let teams operate the way that they have been operating and let them succeed and if not, sell. That may work in America or most other sports leagues, but not in the modern EPL, not when it is almost finished with a huge seismic shift in power. You can't go on auto-pilot when you're plane is going through severe turbulence, cabin shaking, passengers and crew not sure if you'll make a safe landing or what exactly the future holds. Or maybe you can if it's not the plane you're actually on, just one of seven that you own.
Arsenal, under Wenger, have predominantly been title contenders, their great attribute is to always be consistent. Not always dominating, never atrocious, just consistently good. When other top teams falter a little for a season or two they grab the title. Since the beginning of the EPL in 1992 Man U has dominated the league. They have twelve titles; yes, TWELVE of nineteen seasons, the only other teams with more than one are Chelsea with three, and Arsenal with 3, and the only other title winner was Blackburn in 1994-95 . So what that says is that unless your name is 'Rooney' or 'Evra' you're probably not going to win the EPL title, just based on the chances available. Love them or hate them, Manchester United know how to win, plain and simple, everybody else just wants to be in contention. It used to be just Man U and Arsenal neck and neck. That is until Chelsea crashed the party a few years ago, followed shortly by Manchester City, and now possibly Liverpool with their current spending spree. Other teams now have more money than ever before from wealthy owners not afraid to spend and Arsenal is now a middle child, not sure of its place in a fast changing environment. Arsenal has a long history of glorious players and triumphant seasons, but also with barren periods of time with little to cheer except the memories of past victories. Unfortunately, it seems, this is one of those times. It is the ebb and flow of life for Gunner fans, that even though their club is not always the most resource rich, it is a group with heart and soul, faithful, hopeful, always supporting their beloved Arsenal. Patience, it's a Gunner fan's best friend. "If you eat caviar everyday, it's difficult to return to sausages." -Arsene Wenger

Danny Graft, I believe sums up the situation rather fitfully from a Gunner fan's perspective: