FIFA 12: iOS

Everyone knows that tomorrow is the day we’ve all been waiting for… that’s right, the release of FIFA 12! I’m not going to go into any details right now because most of you will know what’s what and we also have a special FIFA 12 review coming up (stay tuned for that)! But until tomorrow, you have the joy of playing FIFA 12 on either your iPod; iPhone or iPad! 

Many of you may have purchased FIFA 11 when that hit iOS devices this time last year and in all honesty, it wasn’t the best. It had the potential, but it wasn’t addressed. Then again, what would you expect from such a small device? However, EA have provided us with a smoother, crisper and more detailed successor this year.

For an iOS device, the graphics are defined and detailed. I mean, it’s not on par with the PS3′s graphics, but it’s not the worst graphics you will ever see. At the end of the day, you play it to enjoy the gameplay; not the graphics.

FIFA 12 has a number of improvements and new additions such as:

Manager Mode – Everyone’s favourite game mode now on the iOS edition! It’s quite remarkable what it offers in the iOS FIFA 12. Player growth/development is well handled; transfers are present and comfortable to orchestrate; staff can be upgraded and scouts can be sent to scour the world for young talent. Quite a lot, isn’t it? Also, the menus are indeed in the same layout as the console version!

New Control Scheme – A more responsive and fluid control system has been implemented to this edition. Touch control is utilized to execute goal kicks, free kicks and penalties! New skill moves are included and the general gameplay is enjoyable.

Great Variety – FIFA 12 boasts a bigger team selection than FIFA 11. 22 leagues, 500 teams and more than 15,000 players are all at your disposal in this year’s iOS edition. Pick your team and pick your players.

I have only just downloaded it for my iPhone – I need to satisfy my FIFA needs – and I’m really enjoying the Manager Mode! It’s always been my favourite FIFA mode and it has been given justice on the iOS devices. The new control method is a vast improvement over the old one, (although it takes some time to get used to), and the general play is smooth and sharp. Not to mention, all the boots are on display – an important factor for us boot fans!

Positives

- Responsive controls

- Smooth gameplay

- Sharp graphics

- Detailed Manager Mode

- Varying difficulties

- All the boots

- Great time consumer

Negatives

- Over 1GB of memory consumed

- Cost (iPad version mainly)

- Download time

- Menus can be annoying to navigate at times

- Some delays in taking shots

- New controls take time to learn

This isn’t such a bad purchase to pass the time until you acquire the heavily praised console version of FIFA 12. Pick it up now for £3.99/$4.99 (iPod/iPhone) and £5.99/$9.99 (iPad) off Apple’s App Store. Please note that it’s only compatible with the iPhone 3GS/4; 3rd/4th generation iPod Touch and the iPad all operating on iOS 3.1 or above.