Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 216 Ratings

  • Summary: FIFA Soccer 12 brings to the pitch a new game-changing Player Impact Engine, which is a physics engine built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Oct 3, 2011
    95
    Finally the PC version of FIFA 12 features the same quality of its console counterpart, both in terms of graphics and gameplay. So you got some new, cool features: from Tactical Defending to Impact Engine, from a brand new career mode to Online Seasons. Maybe FIFA 12 is not the perfect soccer game, but it's damn close.
  2. Oct 7, 2011
    91
    FIFA's series latest version makes enough enhancements to continue the saga forward march to perfect simulation. With the Impact Engine and Tactical Defending, there's too much to learn this time.
  3. Sep 28, 2011
    91
    FIFA 12 takes several small steps forward that make it hard to go back to an older entry of the series in a matter of hours.
  4. 80
    New football sim isn't flawless but it is able to attract fans and revive the spirit of competition in every player again. The weakest link is the referees (as usual). [Oct 2011]

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 47
  2. Negative: 11 out of 47
  1. Ã
  2. This is the best soccer game to date in this gen. Gameplay is amazing and the PC version this time has got the attention it deserves, those guys complaining for the lack of keyboard features, get over it, this kind of games is best played with a pad, no questions about it; and the good thing is that you can get a pad for your pc. This year FIFA 12 is a must buy for your gaming rig if actually enjoy football games! Expand
  3. The gameplay can be as smooth as possible, but there is one problem with the game on PC, which drops the score a lot for me - and that is the controlls. It is superhard to get something going, especially those special moves. The game really isn't physically possible to play with the keyboard. Expand
  4. I'm sure FIFA on consoles is an enjoyable and well-rounded experience, but this isn't a console. This is a PC. And playing on the PC makes you feel like EA is looking down at you with the utmost contempt at every turn.

    It's never mentioned in any of the previews that the game is physically impossible to play with the keyboard, the main peripheral of the PC; they simply ported and expected all PC users to buy a gamepad to accomodate them. Worse, the only tutorials the game contains are regarding their new "Tactical Defending" system, leading to a FIFA newbie like me knowing the theory of how to "jockey" an opposing defender, but being left with no clue on how to take or defend a penalty, or how to dribble, or how to ... do anything, really. I'm left with the feeling that the game's looked at me and said "You haven't played FIFA before? Seriously? You disgust me." Which is fine, learning curve and all that. Except scratch the surface slightly, and you'll find that the more complex moves you need to play the game require you to grow an extra hand to perform them the way they suggest you do.

    Sure, the game looks pretty. The range of animations are very impressive, and the stadium environments and sounds are beautiful. Not that I have much time to admire them; I'm usually occupied with fighting against the clunky, awkward controls which quite often have your players reacting long after you pressed the button, and shouting at the confusing choices which the AI choose to make. Pretty animations are all very well, but if the gameplay isn't smooth, intuitive and controllable, then there's something majorly wrong. If something goes wrong, you need to feel that it's YOUR fault ... not the fault of the controls, or the game.

    It's as if FIFA 12 is trying to be a footballer's wife. It looks gorgeous and oozes sexiness, and you know all your mates will look and go "Yeah man, you're playing with FIFA 12". But after a couple of months of living with her, you'll find yourself wondering what your old girlfriend Ms. Sensible Soccer is up to these days. She's a bit older and wears those funny glasses, but god ... she was fun, wasn't she.
    Expand

See all 47 User Reviews